Balancing

This week:
* I conducted aircheck week this week as part of my position as Program Director. This will give me a chance to listen to and critique and help the on-air personalities improve on their on air skills. I'm excited about listening to all of them.

*I helped shoot, edit and reported a television package this week. I have primarily taken myself out of tv, but I like to do packages occasionally. I did a package on the dress code in a public school, or Wilmington High school. The interview was good, but I had to rush around to get all the shots in that I wanted for my package. It aired on our News magazine, "The County Line." I enjoyed the switch from radio to tv for a brief moment.

*This was a huge week at Froggy for me. I have to admit that I am worn out, but I love this business and I will do anything to get ahead! I worked the midnight to 5 shift twice this week and I'm going to be on Saturday night from 7 to midnight. I will be on Saturday 7 to midnight for the rest of October. Sounds good to me! A prime shift in a #23 Market!

*I have my morning show on Friday! Sebastian agreed to cook Karen Waldo and I dinner since on our morning show "Driver in the Fast Lane" last week he said women should always cook dinner. We had a little contest and if a women called in first, he had to cook me and the winner dinner. He hasn't done it yet, but it sure will be something to talk about on our show. I love our morning show! This is something I would absolutely LOVE to do when I graduate. Stations are largely identified by their morning shows and I would love to be a part of that!

*I have my presentation in capstone and I will be talking about my internship experience.

*The Dean of Student Affairs contacted me about conducting a lead seminar about music and radio in our culture today with officials, faculty, and students. This is happening on October 14th at 11:35AM. I will keep my blog updated with more information!


ARTICLE:

*The NAB will "probably prevail" again in preventing further regulation of broadcasting, Sen. JOHN McCAIN (R-AZ) said after the TUESDAY SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE hearing on media ownership consolidation.
McCAIN's resignation to a lack of major rollbacks to the FCC's ownership rules came after testimony by several speakers from the academic world, including PENN law professor C. EDWIN BAKER, who called restrictions on media ownership "vitally important to democracy" and advocated taking ownership out of the hands of large companies.
On the other hand, argued CATO INSTITUTE Dir./Telecommunications Studies ADAM THIERER, the explosion of alternate media sources via cable, satellite, and the Internet mean that concentration of broadcast ownership has had less effect on public choices. McCAIN said he would not "give up the fight" because at some point, the public will "be disturbed by the situation."

*I agree with the fact that ownership has had less effect on public choices. With advanced technology, broadcast ownership seems not to affect the public anymore. I also think though that ownership out of the hands of large companies could be a good thing. We migth begin to hear the radio and watch television and see some new things.

MY PROJECT

Senior Project Proposal

I believe there are many things that I can do with my career. I do have goals, but if something comes up that I may really enjoy, my goals may change. I love radio the most, but if I had an opportunity to be a feature reporter or a morning co-host on a talk show like Kelly with Regis, I would love that as well. I also have a lot of plans to move up executively. My drive is in music and radio, but I would do the news if I had to.

I want to work on programming, promotion, production, producing, television reporting, and radio news, and my talent skills as an announcer.

Announcer/ On-air personality/ Morning show host

• Perform my on-air shifts as a professional. Make my on-air personality conversational for the audience to relate to by being enthusiastic, informative, and entertaining.
• I will air check all my shifts here and at Froggy to get them ready for resume tapes.Gather and prepare a compelling, clean, attention grabbing resume tape, compiling my best moments as an on-air personality to apply for and submit to commercial stations for full time positions.
• Create a separate resume tape specifically to apply for morning show positions as a co-host to submit to radio stations.Prepare my tapes for this semester seeing as I want to apply for jobs as soon as possible.
  

Producing/Production

• Produce at least 2 promo spots that are exciting and that grab the audience attention.Complete my promos this semester to have done for a production resume tape sometime during this semester to apply for any production job.Create these spots using other tactics than my voice. I may use others voices, sound effects, a special idea, nat sound, etc.
  

Promotion

• Create 2 large events that either interest the audience or benefit the community or some organization. Will create through local businesses, or some public service organizations.Will join the event with promo spots and on-air promos for the Disk Jockeys to read.
• Make sure all people involved sound enthusiastic.Will perform remotes or live action broadcasts for these events.
• Will save the promos and the contacts to have so I can apply for a promotion related position.
  

Television Reporting

• Report, write, and produce 2 interesting, entertaining, topical packages for the County Line this year.Include these packages on my resume tape. Complete these packages by the end of the semester to send out to stations if openings are available.
  

Radio News

• Perform my radio news shifts with enthusiasm and appropriate mood to the story.
• Create, produce, report, anchor, and write good scripts for at least 2 topical, compelling newscasts this semester.
• Complete radio news resume this semester to submit to stations for full time jobs after graduation.
  

Programming

• Conduct a management position with enthusiasm, determination, and communication.Searching and paying attention to what other radio stations are doing that have the same format and to other radio stations in general to see what the audience reacts to.
• Get ideas for Titan Radio by being knowledgeable about the radio industry and the music that works for the HOT AC format.Communicate and be professional about dealing with staff members. Make sure people respect me as a leader, but also know that I will be available at all times to help the staff solve any problems they may have.
• Make sure the radio station runs smoothly with new and fresh music, good knowledgeable disk jockeys that are technically advanced as well as advanced on the air.Help new people become more confident on the air through training on the board and being in front of the microphone.Making sure all the promotional spots are up to date and topical.
• Critique on-air personalities through air check weeks.Make sure my Program Director position is clearly defined on my paper resume to show that I can take on a lot of responsibility. It should grab the attention of the employer when applying for jobs as a music director or program director.

MORNING SHOW CRAZINESS!

MORNING SHOW:
Sebastian Driver Salazar and myself have a morning show every Friday that we ever so cleverly named "Driver in the Fast Lane." My last name is Lane and his is Driver, so it works! We have centered our morning show around relationships and how they work and we have battle of the sexes every week. We work very well together and we play off of each other. I think that is the success of our morning show so far. We've had some great feedback! All the morning shows run Monday through Friday from 7AM to 10AM.

WHAT I DID THIS WEEK:
This has been a busy week, but what's new? I say that every week! I produced reported and anchored the newscasts at 4 and 5 on Monday. I had my fun radio shift on Monday, which was wonderful. That is where I love to be, playing music and relating to the audience. I trained a new on air personality this week. I made a promo for the weekly Westminster College news magazine through our saw editing program. I loaded in and scheduled music this week. The biggest event that happened this week was that we got our new computer! We have two production studios and our master control studio. We were using one of the studios as a back up, so we were down to one production room! It has been chaos for about a month. But, we got the new computer this week and everything in the station is running great! I loaded in new music and new promos, it was wonderful! The best part about the whole ordeal was that the audience never knew that we were having problems and that is a HUGE lesson in radio and broadcasting in general. Never let the audience know there is something wrong! I had a music meeting this week and next week as the Program Director I am starting Aircheck week! I had an e-mail from a job prospect in Maryland. I'll keep everyone updated on that!

OH NO BRITNEY AND JANET:
Two ladies that always seem to be in the headlines were there again this week! Janet had the largest fine ever from the FCC if everything follows through with her exposed breast at last year's Superbowl. Britney is married again, but it's not legal yet. She's always pulling stunts to make news. I know people either love her or hate her, but you can't help but be intigued by her.

FROGGY:
Long week this week, but that's good! The program director from Froggy called and he wants to get me more hours, so I'm on two week days this week! Tune in for Betty Croaker on 104.3, 103.5, 94.9, or 98.3! I'll be on Sunday to Monday from 12AM-5AM, and I'll be on Wednesday to Thursday from 12AM-5AM. Tune in!


*TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING WEEK IN THE WORLD OF BROADCASTING!

My Career Goals

SHORT AND LONG TERM!

SHORT TERM:

I want to create dynamic attention grabbing resume tapes. I want resume tapes that include one for announcing, one for radio news, and on for tv packages, and one for production skills. I want to excel in my Titan Radio program director position as much as possible. I want take advantage of all my resources while I can. I can do everything here at Westminster and I will only be performing one certain job when I get out of college. I want to do really well at Froggy, so that could possibly turn into a full time job upon graduation. I want to meet people and network with those in the business. I want to be in Virgnia or someplace warm, or I would love to stay in Pittsburgh. In an ADI 23 right now part time. I would like to be on air in a top 30 Market upon graduation.

LONG TERM:

In the long run, I really have a strong desire to become an executive. I like being a leader and I think I am a good leader. As long as I am knowledgable and confident, I can make the station I'm in charge of have the same feel. When I graduate, I want to be on the air full time, then I want to move up to being an on-air personality as well as a Program Director or Music Director. One Day, I want to be the Vice President of a Broadcasting Corporation. I love Infinity Broadcasting. I would love to be the Vice President of that corporation. I will work as hard as I can and I will always be on the lookout for jobs in fields that I want. I have no problem moving around and relocating to get the job I've always longed for. I would love to work in a CHR Pop format in a top 20 ADI. I am a competitive person and I want to end up in New York in the # 1 Market! I want sastisfaction and happiness in my job. I could love this business, but the day I stop loving means I'm working at the wrong station because there is no way I could lose my drive to strive for an executive position in the radio industry. I also want to make sure I enjoy the little things about my jobs on the way up because if I'm happy somewhere, maybe my long term goal will change. I'll see on my way up the ladder!

ALL IS WELL!

JOB SEARCHING ALWAYS!

I started hardcore job searching this week! I applied for 8 jobs this week that ranged from Program Director positions to Music Director Positions, to on-air positions! All of them suit me well! I know it's early to apply for jobs since I don't graduate until May, but I don't want to get behind or to lose momentum. If there is a job posted and it looks good....I'm going for it! So watch out radio industry....Here I come! This process was done on my own time this week, which was difficult, but I did complete it and got everything sent out today!


LEADER ON CAMPUS!

I was invited to a dinner among leader's on the Westminster campus with the President of the college. There were many "Presidents" there. It was an honor to be invited though. I'm finding the certain privleges that come with being program director quite nice! That goes without saying that I've worked very hard to get this position and to have these perks!

Reguardless of the "perks" I still have a very strong work ethic. I've been raised to be that way! I just realized this week how much I'm like my Dad when it comes to work. We both love our jobs, but we work hard to get what we want! Go Lane family!

THIS WEEK!

This week I applied myself more towards my Program Director duties, but I still had my News reporter duties as well! I am really enjoying my Broadcast Journalism class because it's hands on, doing what we're learning, without lectures and power points. I think that is the best way to learn in this business.

I wrote and produced newscasts this week. I wrote and got sound for a lot of stories about possible flooding from Hurricane Ivan because we are supposed to get a lot of rain. The meteorologists at the National Weather Service are my new best friends. I think I've called them about 10 times since last week!

In programming we had our first Music committee meeting this week and it went very well! I want to stay up to date with music since that is our main sell for Titan Radio! We are the only Hot AC station around and we are the only station that plays commercial free music!

I updated the on-air shift schedule as fellow program directors know that can be a hassle. It'll probably change again next week, but I'll stay on top of it! I've been listening to the DJ's and I've made some critiques, but everyone is still getting the hang of it!

Soon I am having an Aircheck week meaning everyone has to aircheck their shift that week and give it to me and I will critique it via e-mail. I am going to pick these weeks at random to make sure people don't slack off.

I have been approached by the Dean of Student Affairs to talk at a Lead Luncheon. I am going to talk about the different genres of music and why different demographics tend to listen to certain genres of music. This will take place on October 14th and it'll be very interesting. Outsiders of the community are welcome to come. I will keep you updated!

I had my on-air shifts this week, which I LOVE having! I get to have my own on-air personality and I am comfortable with being on the air!


TV!

I don't very often get to watch tv other than the news because I am always listening to the radio, but I taped the Apprectice this evening and I'm excited to watch it! I love it when Donald fires people! I really respect Donald Trump as a Business Man!

FROGGY!

Make sure you all listen for Betty Croaker this Saturday night from 7 to midnight and Monday from midnight to 5 on 103.5, 104.3, 94.9, and 98.3!

I made the AP wire!

I'M A NEWS REPORTER TOO!

This was a fun and different week for me in the broadcast realm og things. I still attended to my duties as Program Director, but this was the week for NEWS for me!

I produced, reported, and anchored the newscast at 4PM on Monday, did the same for 7,8,and 9 Tuesday morning, and I went out to do a live report that day as well! I also helped multiple people prepare their newscasts and work the equipment since this was the first week for news..some people needed help, but all of us Seniors and our great News Director Megan Marshall helped the "newbies" to make some great newscasts.

CHRIS HEINZ AND AP!

On Tuesday, we recieved a Press release about the fact that Chris Heinz the stepson of John Kerry was going to be at nearby Slippery Rock University for a rally to get college students to register to vote.

I was eager to take on this task! I went with my professor, Bradley Weaver and I recorded everything I could and I recieved multiple usable soundbites from both Chris Heinz and the Pennsylvania State representative Frank LaGrotta. They were both very passionate and it was thrilling to be at this event. I did a live report from the rally and I came back to the station and cut 2 stories to run for newscasts later that day! What was even more thrilling was that Mr. Weaver sent my stories into the Associated Press and they took it! My Chris Heinz story appeared on the AP wire at 1:36AM and I got credit for it! This made me enjoy reporting! I love going out and being with people! The Slippery Rock Paper took a picture of me with Chris Heinz and it will be on their front page this Friday! Their paper is called "The Rocket." I realized that I might like doing news too. I may not have as much of a love for it as I do announcing and being on the air as an on-air personality, but I do love it too! It's quite a rush!

*Here is a picture of Chris Heinz talking to students and a website that you should check out that encourages students to vote...

www.Johnkerry.com/communities/students/


PROGRAMMING:

I also held my weekly music commitee meeting with my music direcotr and we made some decisions based on the HotAC charts.

I trained someone new and eager to learn about radio.

I have my morning show with Sebastian on Friday "Driver in the Fast Lane," which should be a good time!

I listened and critiqued morning shows and disc jockeys on-air personalities. They need more enthusiasm or the audience will change the station and we don't want that to happen!

We also ran a poster sale contest this week! Listeners had to be the 8th caller and they won a music poster. They were posters of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, the Beatles, and many others!

FROGGY

I'm heading back out to Froggy this Friday night! I'll be on from midinight to 6AM on 98.3, 104.3, 103.5, and 94.9! Please tune in! You'll even get to hear me use my lovely froggy name! I'll keep you in suspense!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA BATULIS!

Melissa is a friend of mine that is an assistant producer at WTAE, channel 4 in Pittsburgh! She is also a Westminster Alumni and it's her birthday on Saturday! She'll be 24! We're going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner and to the Southside for some fun and dancing!

My First Job in the biz

FROGGY






Last night was my first night at Froggy 98.3 in Pittsburgh!

Over the summer, I sent my resume and tape into Froggy after seeing a post online that they needed part time weekend people. At the time, I was interning with Y108 and Froggy is Y108's biggest competitor. I sent my stuff in on a Thursday, it probably got there by Friday and to my SUPRISE, the Program Director, Jimmy Hoppa called me on Monday!

*I am doing over nights there on Saturdays and he said he would move me up to daytime if I sounded good on the air. He said he really liked my resume tape and that is why he hired me! This made me very excited and happy!

*I trained last night and it was a little overwhelming because commcercial radio is a lot different from Titan radio, but the concepts were the same. I learned pretty quickly. Annephibian trained me and she was very patient and helpful.

*I learned the Maestro system and it was very interesting.

*I then found out that I am put on network hours meaning I am on all 4 Froggy stations at the same time! I'm ready to jump right in though.

*I have to say I am proud of myself. I created my resume and resume tape to cater to the job, I sent it out, I got a call, and I followed through! I'm on the air in Pittsburgh, a #23 market at a 4th ranked station! This is awesome!

*I love this business! I think my name is going to be Betty Croaker, but that is not certain yet! Listen for me on Saturday nights starting at midnight! I would appreciate it! I'll be on 94.9, 103.5, 104.3, and 98.3! Call me while I'm there on the studio line 1-866-983-9898. I'll keep you updated on my ventures at Froggy!

Goodbye Summer, Hello School!

FIRST WEEK FOR EVERYTHING!

Wow! This has been a crazy, but exciting week! Everyone came back to school this week and as the Program Director for Titan Radio, a lot had to be done! And here's what I did....

1) I had to first make a Mandatory Meeting for all the students that wanted to be DJ's and have a shift on the first day of school. I set this up and communicated this through e-mail.

2) I made sheets and guidelines for the DJ's to follow. Everyone seemed really enthusiastic to get back in gear and get back on the air.

3) I had a meeting with just the Morning show personalities as well this week. They have all had great morning shows so far! This makes me a VERY HAPPY Program Director!

4) Everyone was on the air the first day of school and it has been a very long time since that has happened. We usually wait a couple weeks until we start shifts! This also made me happy!

5) All the morning shows and shifts have been great. I just need the newer DJ's to focus on giving information that pertains to the whole listening audience and not just the campus listening audience.

I have worked myself very hard this week, but I'm not complaining. Everybody needs my advice and my help and that's good. I feel I am advancing in my leadership skills as a Program Director.

I definately want to become a Director of some sort, whether it be music director or program director, or eventually VP of Programming later. I still have a strong passion for announcing as well! We'll see what this upcoming week has to bring! I'm sure it'll be full of excitement just like every other week!