Living and Broadcasting In 3/4 Time

There was a time in my career with public radio when a staff could count on certain times of the year being “slower” than others. Summer, perhaps. Or just prior to – or even after – the winter holiday season.

Chances are, those days are long gone for most public radio stations. I can assure you there’s no such thing as a “slow” season at WNCW. If our work days were displayed as a musical score, most pages would be marked Allegro (fast & lively), Agitato (agitated) Appassionato (passionately), Frescamente (vigorously), and – occasionally – Furiouso (that one is pretty obvious).

As I look back on my first year as WNCW’s General Manager (March 1 will be my anniversary), I see no Largo (slow & stately), no Adagio (slow), or Calmato (tranquil).

What I’d give to see just an occasional Andante (walking pace) at the top of the page. Even a Moderato! But, as Dave Kester (WNCW’s Program/Operations Director) is fond of pointing out as I have these delusions of a slightly less-hectic pace, “That ain’t gonna happen.”

The reality is that the WNCW you hear on your radio or computer speakers is considerably larger than the size of our staff. What you hear is the result of long hours, passionate dedication, and a deep, abiding love not only for WNCW and its programming, but for the concept of WNCW. This emanates from the station’s listeners, members, volunteers, and – as I see every day – from WNCW’s staff.

One of my many mentors (David Penn) schooled me in a supervisory technique known as MBWA…Management By Walking Around. The gist of MBWA is that the most effective way for a manager to know what’s going on is by maintaining a presence in the hallways and offices.

So, let’s walk around (Andante, please) WNCW.

There’s Roger Crawford, WNCW’s Business Manager (often referred to as “Dana’s Brain”), on the phone massaging a purchase through the intricate and occasionally frustrating State of North Carolina purchasing procedures. Behind him sits Kit Strecker assisting with Membership and - no doubt – giving some thought to what music she’ll be programming that evening. Joe Kendrick has little time to recover from his early morning Music Mix shift as he combs through e-mail generated from the previous day’s What It Is feature while listening to the work of a recent ARC Overnite host. Martin Anderson is on the air producing another hand-crafted mid-day Music Mix from WNCW’s control room. Crystal Scruggs is on the phone working out details with one of the many music venues listed on WNCW daily music calendar. Producer Kim Clark, having already delivered regional news headlines to our morning drive time listeners, is in our smaller production room preparing this week’s Local Color. Roland Dierauf has just arrived and is pulling music from WNCW’s vast CD library for his upcoming afternoon Music Mix (and no doubt eyeing what new jazz has arrived for Saturday morning’s Jazz & Beyond). Diane Dezio is on the phone arranging to send out a WNCW duffle bag to a new member (Thank you!) and busily tapping away on her computer keyboard entering information into our database. Next door, Faith Davis is designing another classic WNCW t-shirt and meticulously planning our upcoming Spring pledge drive (March 30-April 5, in case you hadn’t heard). Down the hall, in WNCW’s world-renowned Studio B, Dennis Jones has just finished mixing another outstanding live music performance. Time for a rest? No…even as the musicians who were just on-the-air pull away from the parking lot, Dennis is already returning to mix another past performance for inclusion on WNCW’s annual Crowd Around The Mic CD (available exclusively to members of WNCW, mind you). Where Dennis finds the time and strength to also host Goin’ Across The Mountain and The Gospel Truth, no one knows. Dave Kester sits in another production studio recording voiceovers for this week’s Tower of Song, before previewing a new program from pianist & humorist the Reverend Billy C. Wurtz. Development Director Kate Barkschat sits in her office balancing the handset of her office phone between her shoulder and ear as her fingers dance (Vivace, quickly and lively) about her computer keyboard as she processes a contract for a new business underwriter (Thank you!).

Eventually, Steve Francis will appear to take the helm of The World and World Café and, later, Sander Morrison will take the baton from Steve and steer the bow of the S.S. WNCW into the sunset, toward ARC Overnite and onward to the horizon of another broadcast day.

These are the people who populate WNCW’s “hallowed” halls throughout the week. The part-time, fill-in, weekend and student program hosts, volunteers and Isothermal Community College support staff could – and most likely will – populate a future exploration from this keyboard. Like you, without them we’d be nothing.

WNCW is not unlike the ducks that glide seemingly effortlessly across the small, scenic lake that welcomes visitors to the campus of our home, Isothermal Community College here in Spindale. The programming you hear on our airwaves and via the Internet seems to pour smoothly and easily from our studios (Suave, gentle and smooth). It’s what you’ve come to expect from WNCW. It’s what we do…we’re professionals.

It’s not nearly as easy as it sounds, though. Beneath the surface (somewhere behind your radio or computer), WNCW’s dedicated staff paddles vigorously (Presto, very fast) to live up to not only the expectations of you… our valued listeners and members…but, also, to our own expectations and objectives. For you see, we love what we do. It’s hard work – brutally exhausting, at times – but this is not a “normal” radio station.

This is WNCW Spindale.

I’m hopeful you’ll take this into consideration the next time you tune in to WNCW, and especially during our upcoming Spring pledge drive. The people behind WNCW don’t just come to work, punch a time clock and plod through the day. We pour ourselves into our work. Like you, we believe in this station…not only in what WNCW is, but also in what it has the potential to become (Maestoso, majestic).

Tune in. Turn on. But, don't drop out.

Please give generously to WNCW at: http://secure.publicbroadcasting.net/wncw/pledge.pledgemain or during our upcoming on-air pledge drive (March 30-April 5).

This is WNCW Spindale.

DEW

"...in the public interest."

As you've no doubt noticed by reading my previous posts, I have great difficulty separating myself from the message I hope to get across...that WNCW is a noble undertaking, an extraordinary, creative and essential spirit on the airwaves and is worthy and appreciative of your support.

You'll be pleased - perhaps even overjoyed - to know that, at least this time, you'll receive a respite from my meandering introspections and I'll get directly to the point. It'll take great restraint, but bolstered by two cups of coffee to help me focus, I'll somehow suppress my bloated sense of self-importance and get to the matter at hand.

On Monday, February 4th, 2008 - just after 6:00 a.m. - regional news will return to WNCW's morning drive-time programming. Locally-produced headlines will accompany the NPR & BBC newscasts aired each half-hour during WNCW's Morning Music Mix with Joe Kendrick (weekdays, 6-10 a.m.).

Between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., Joe will be joined by Sr. Producer Kim Clark - a no-doubt-familiar voice to long-time WNCW morning listeners and fans of Local Color (Fridays @ 9 p.m. & Sundays @ 7 p.m.) - who'll bring news and information of regional - and even local - significance to our audience.

We at WNCW - and, particularly, Kim - are more than slightly aware that when one's broadcast signal stretches from eastern Tennessee to Charlotte, from the upstate of South Carolina and even northeastern Georgia to southwestern Virgnia - in addition to our main coverage area of Western North Carolina - the terms "regional" and "local" bring with them a significant challenge. What do "regional" and "local" mean when that much territory is covered? This concern affects almost every activity WNCW undertakes. It's familiar territory to us.

So, our goal is to carefully select, tailor and bring to you stories that affect a broad majority of our audience, and to highlight issues and news events that - while seemingly local - have an impact on far more than those within a given city, county or even state. Occasionally, I suspect Kim will find something humorous to share, as well. But, even then, if she gets you to smile or chuckle, chances are there'll be a nugget of information within that - in some manner - will serve you.

Our intent is to do so intelligently, accurately and objectively.

This is no small task. But, WNCW has an obligation - yes, even a duty - to serve the public. Thomas Jefferson's vision of an educated, enlightened public was best expressed when he wrote in 1789, "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government."

That idea is - in no small measure - at the very foundation of why WNCW and public broadcasting exist.

In the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 - which gave birth to public radio and television as we know it - there are ten lines in Subpart D (Sec. 396. [47 U.S.C. 396]), which establish the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the entity which leads, oversees, advocates and - along with you, our listeners - helps fund public broadcasting.

In those ten lines, there are no less than five references to public interest. That's rather difficult to ignore.

So, tomorrow morning, WNCW will further strive to serve the public interest. Regional news coverage returns.

Can 2 to 2-1/2 minutes of regional news every half hour during morning drive time make a difference? We believe it can and - along with you - are about to find out.

You've come to know that WNCW is serious about its commitment to music, arts & culture. That commitment has not - and will not - change. We're also serious about bringing significant and compelling news and information to you...our listeners and supporters.

I think Thomas Jefferson would've look pretty snazzy in a WNCW t-shirt. Don't you?

Tune in. Turn on. But don't drop out.

This is WNCW Spindale.

DEW