A big part of my job during my early days at Learfield was affiate relations. Periodically, I would survey the stations to learn more about how they used our news and sports. Here’s a snapshot from 1988.
2/3 of stations had a full-time news person (I’ll bet it’s not 1/3 today)
I was insinsitive or stupid or both in asking about sex. It was a different time.
Almost half had a wire service?! Amazing. Can’t be more than 10% now.
“Cassette recorders” – Ah, my favorite. A world before digital recording.
Back in those pre-web days, we also did a newsletter each month. One page, front and back. I typed it on a typewriter, made copies and put them in the mail (here are the newsletters from 1987). I’ll be posting more as we get them scanned.
The whole process now seems … quaint. Typewriters and envelopes, once a month. But there was a simplicity that seems appealing in retrospec.
Today marks the beginning of my 27th year at Learfield, the company I work for. There’s not much to say that I haven’t shared here already. On my drive to the Coffee Zone, I made a mental list of those who have been with the company longer: Clyde, Clarice, Joyce, Roger, Greg, Charlie, Bob… that’s about it.
The nature of our business has changed a good bit but the culture is –remarkably– still pretty much intact. No small feat, given that we now have hundreds of employees in offices scattered throughout the company. But our senior managers make a real effort at sharing the best of who we are as a company with new employees.
So this is one of those “If you’re happy and you know it, grab your ass!” posts. And if pushed to finish with a bit of wisdom, it might be that the company you work for and the people you work with are as important as the work you are doing.
Meet Ryan Famuliner, the newest anchor/reporter at The Missourinet. Ryan worked weekends in the newsroom while in college and returns full-time after several years in TV. Nice guy.
My friend and colleague Bob Priddy received some much deserved recognition at the opening session of the the Radio Television Digital News Assn/National Assn of Broadcasters annual meeting.
Bob, a 27-year member of the RTDNA board, is stepping down this year and they gave him not one, but TWO awards.
The John Hogan Award, named for the founder of RTDNA, is given for distinguished service to the organization.
The second award, the newly introduced Bob Priddy award, was presented to Priddy and will now be given to board members who exemplify Priddy’s distinguished and consistent service to RTDNA.
Bob is probably the best reporter I’ve ever met. More importantly, he is one of the best people I have ever met.
