Earlier this week we explored how left wing listener supported radio station KPFA in Berkeley is debating Republican libertarian candidate Ron Paul. Just to be bi-partisan, now let’s see how conservative talk radio guy Michael Savage is handling the Texas Congressional representative. Keep in mind that several months ago, Savage offered Newt Gingrich a million […]
Archive | Op-Ed
Opinions, editorials and fun stuff.
Racist or empire foe (or both?); KPFA vets the Ron Paul question
Berkeley, California based listener supported station KPFA did an interesting and informative program on the candidacy of libertarian Republican Ron Paul on Tuesday. KFPA talk show host, Mitch Jeserich, hosted the discussion on his Letters and Politics show as Republicans (including Paul) compete for favor in the Iowa Caucuses. [UPDATE 10:41 PM CST: Paul comes […]
12 Days of Radio Station Signage Recap – Match the Station with Its Sign
Happy Impending New Year! Now that I’ve wrapped up my 12 Days of Radio Station Signage series, here’s an opportunity for you to match each sign with its corresponding station. Some of them are obvious if you look closely at the pictures, others may be a bit more challenging. Ready, set, go! Day 1: Do […]
12 Days of Radio Station Signage: Day 12 – Don’t Go Back Here or Touch Anything
Leave it to DJs to fiddle with things that they are not supposed to. Signs at KFJC warn against adjusting turntable weights (since people always seem to mess them up) and other stations have posted notices about leaving computers and equipment alone. My favorite in this genre is this catch-all sign that commands DJs to […]
12 Days of Radio Station Signage: Day 11 – When this Light is on…Shut Up!
Most radio stations have an “on-air” sign that lights up automatically when the microphone is turned on so that people wandering about the studio have a visual cue that it’s not the best time to carry on loud conversations. In addition to “on-air” lights, some stations go a step further by posting instructions reminding radio […]
12 Days of Radio Station Signage: Day 10 – CD and LP Library Alphabetization
Many of the signs posted in radio stations are similar to signs that you might see in any other workplace. Often they issue directives to staff/employees about undesirable behaviors. However, some of the more interesting signs that I’ve seen at radio stations are radio-specific, often to the point of being somewhat arcane to everyday folks. […]
12 Days of Radio Station Signage: Day 9 – Seven Deadly Words
I’ve been to a few radio stations that have posted handy lists of all of the forbidden naughty words which can never be uttered over the air. I’m sure that program directors get a vicarious thrill out of putting these nasty words up on the wall. On this sign, posted in a station’s music review […]
12 Days of Radio Station Signage: Day 8 – Mic Technique
It’s so clever when radio station management has to resort to drawings and diagrams in order to explain proper radio and engineering techniques to DJs. In one of my favorites, this sign portrays proper mic technique, saying: “do not speak into the top of the mic! Tilt it up!” The same station also had a […]
What does the Radio Flyer wagon have to do with radio?
The gift giving under the holiday tree is done around my neck of the woods, and is as often the case on Christmas Day, I’m suddenly beset by a perplexing holiday question. What the heck do Radio Flyer wagons have to do with radio? The answer, as per the Radio Flyer company’s history website, is […]
12 Days of Radio Station Signage – Day 7: File Your Records Diagram
Today’s sign is sort of a companion piece to yesterday’s warning sign about putting records and CDs back. What’s great about this schematic is that it clearly demonstrates proper filing techniques using stick figures to portray the concept of flagging records in the vinyl library: 1. Select a Record 2. Grab the Record Next to […]