[WXBH-Discuss] Rant on Programming

[brian manley]

This week I'll get some ideas/outlines together for a possible training
manuel-lish looking type of thing, including FCC guidelines DJs will need to
know, but worded in less legalese.  I'll also draw up some ideas surrounding
the thoughts of station policies, at least as far as on-air content is
concerned.  Paul had mentioned that we may fall under different rules due to
the LPFM classification (although I think Kristen (sp?) said she'd try and
get me a copy of the updated manuel she had already printed, or I can
probably try and access it online, as well), but I'm sure rules as far as
on-air conduct go are similiar, if not the exact same, to public/community
FM stations.

As far as on the thoughts and/or station policies front--some of what I may
come up with might cross into the discussed need for some kind of Rules of
Governance for the station.  Rules of conduct while at the facilities, with
equipment, towards fellow members, etc. I remember the question being
brought up (I believe it was by Robert) last night about what a Program
Director actually is or does...At WRFL, one of the positions I served there
for a time was as Program Director.  I'm sure every station in every market
of every classification is different, and the positions can mean different
duties, and even at WRFL that position has changed over the years.  What I
was always taught, and the way things ran at WRFL, at least from the early
to mid 90s, was that the Program Director basically served one core
function, and that was the monitoring and control of ALL on-air content.

Basically the way that station was set, as far as administrations go, was
the General Manager was considered in charge of all major station decisions,
and was in complete control of any money coming into or leaving the
station--all budgetary decisions.  The Program Director, for his own hell,
seemed to be in charge of everything else.  This meant any aspect of on-air
existence; meaning making sure the station was on the air (at all hours),
monitoring DJs (at all hours) for content/training/profanity/aesthetics,
creating/deciding the program schedule, approving trained DJs for on-air
work, and (the main reason why I launched into this description of the
position in the first place) maintaining station rules, FCC regulations, and
deciding and implementing disciplinary actions in the case there were
violations of any such rules.

Like I said, those of you who have worked at other radio stations have
probably seen this position used in a completely different manner, and half
the time it seemed to change and alter here and there every year at WRFL,
too. And I'm not even throwing any of this out there as a suggestion as to
how WXBH should be run as far the possibilties of an  adminsitration.  I was
just thinking about it after our discussion last night as it floated through
the fog of rules, regulations, governance, training, on-air conduct, and the
idea of directors and their specific duties.

Oh, and that Robert had actually brought up the question last night, too.
And that I'm wired on coffee at 9:50am, and avoiding my work.  Which is bad,
so I should go...

Uh, right.  FCC training stuff...I'll work on it.

Later guys.  Glad to be back in the mix.

-Brian.
On 6/20/06, Aron Conaway <aronconaway at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> This all sounds like good conversation.
>
> Once we pull content together that everyone is hopefully currently getting
> friends and other connections to create, we can put it up and see what we
> have. Soon thereafter a whole slew of program applications should pour in
> with the ensuing enthusiasm. We will have to consider some serious press
> outreach at that point to promote the project. People think its dead. I'll
> talk to Stephen George today and see if he's intersted in another story.
> We
> should start looking at the calander and consider a countdown to when we
> will being streaming. The website is going to need to be up and looking
> good
> with a clear explaination/ connection to the stream.
>
> The Stream setup will require good strong tech and graphic/web design
> work.
> Corey i want to work more with you on that and John, you will be important
> in doing this. Anyone else who sees a place in the process of setting this
> up please let us know how you can be involved.
>
> Soon we are going to need to look at collecting the previously mentioned
> show pilots and start reviewing them for our first round of progamming and
> streaming/ broadcasting. A point person to collect this stuff will be
> good.
> I think that getting a computer up and running strong in the radio office
> will get this ball rolling. I wold like to work with some people to make
> this setup happen soon. Then we can start dumping content onto a
> harddrive.
>
> So I have several things on my mind here that I see as very inmportant to
> taking our next big step:
> -Content Production and Collection
> -Web/ Stream Setup
> -Office Computer Setup for Program and Content Storage/ Management
> -PR/ Outreach to the Press to get the word out and bring public up to
> speed
> about station. (Press release I'll work on
>
>
> That's all for now. Great work everyone! Good to see the dialogue about
> content. Things are looking up. Oh, and my two cents... this is our
> opportunity to REALLY educate the folks in the East End and show 'em what
> soul is. I saw a dance troop the other day at my work at St. Joes. It was
> straight out of the East End and was so lilly white and superficial. Don't
> get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that they are in the performing arts,
> but it was full that Jesus Juice and made me so excited about sending our
> message to those young impressionable minds in the East End. There is $$$
> out there and educated people who are not just SE Christain types. If we
> tap
> these people and remind them that we have some problems out here and yet
> we
> are soooo much cooler over here in the West Side, we might be able to pump
> some degree of life into these people and bring 'em back to the city, The
> urban core  is where the $$ needs flow to. In order to excite them, we
> gotta
> think about image and give off the impression that we have great things
> going on here in the South and West and draw them out of the mainstream
> hell
> they so love. So fuck it. Lets subvert the East!!! Everyone in?
>
> Sorry if that offended anyone.
>
> I
>
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