[BC] The Employment Issue

[Jeff Johnson]

>So Paul, as a "young guy" in this business I can completely understand how 
>you feel about what happened in Florida..the question is, what do those of 
>us who are passionate about this business DO to improve our situation? 
>We're a large pool of talented people competing for an ever-shrinking 
>amount of jobs. Especially if we want to work in small markets, where 
>stations are more often than not automated or satellite-driven and 
>operating on very small budgets.
>
>Daniel L. Steele
>passionate about quality local broadcasting.

Saddest story is that of WVXA, Rogers City, MI. WVXA was a 2004 NAB Crystal 
Award finalist complete with recognition at the NAB convention and plaque. 
The Crystal Award is for community involvement. Shortly thereafter Xavier 
University decided that public broadcasting was no longer an educational 
activity and sold the entire X-Star Network. I've mentioned this too often 
already. The new owners have zero interest in small city community 
involvement, stopped all local employment and broadcasting immediately, and 
are selling the station. The buyers are planning to raze the fine old 
buildings (ugly siding notwithstanding) and plant a transmitter shack on 
the site.

So Rogers City, MI, lost its local station that broadcast local sports and 
supported the community with local news and other programming. The city 
supported the station in like kind. So, unless the corner office types want 
to do enthusiastic local radio, forget it. Sadness.

Jeff.Johnson at goodnews.net