Vivvo CMS 4.1 http://www.rbr.com/ ©2010 Spoonlabs d.o.o. http://www.rbr.com/files.php?file=rss_logo1_757997737.jpg http://www.rbr.com/ http://www.rbr.com/radio/22202.html Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:10:00 -0500 In Chicago Public Radio's Vocalo.org, Robert Feder reports Tribune CEO Randy Michaels issued a list of 119 words and phrases that must never be uttered Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:24:53 -0500 Has Mr. Michaels had a medical event? Some of these are just common sense, but some are crazy. If you can't say "pedestrian", how do you describe a person crossing a street who is hit by a car? Use four words where one will do? Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:31:14 -0500 Possible sources for Randy's research into these gems he considers trite:His bartender..his wife..his neighbor..the guy who changes his oil...old high school chums..This reminds me of those state broadcast association seminars on copywriting where the expert hands out a list of words never to be used in radio ads because the expert is tired of them. Ask a few questions and you'll discover that the "expert" failed at radio sales. http://paulweyland.com Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:40:15 -0500 We really need to get the cliches out of the newscasts as well as the commercials. I'd like to add another one to Randy's list..."new bundle of joy" every time someone has the first baby on New Year's. All you really have to do is use the "best friend test" on every bit of copy. If you wouldn't say those exact same words to your best friend, don't say it on the air. Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:48:08 -0500 First.. not a fan of Michaels taking "hometown" out of radio and voice-tracking stations from miles away from a town. Not a fan of of many of his business practices in general BUT he is right about wording and terminology (and "hunert" instead of hundred, and "buh-uhns" instead of buttons drives me bananas!) Art Wander (Wanderlich) was a great PD who started Alan Freed in radio at WAKR and continued working in radio until the late 90's, and these were things he taught many of us... to talk WITH a listener and not AT them. Michaels is doing the same thing. Now if he'd actually spend some time on making sure that Tribune was financially sound (pun) and NOT stiffing creditors. By the way, it's just my opinion that the bankruptcy law should make all companies responsible for a long-term repayment (with minimal interest) of the money they've bailed on. Look at KMart who then bought Sears. And now Tribune is still making money, but debt payout is minimal. So Mr. Michaels, though I agree with what you are telling your news folk, how about letting your news directors do the little work and focus on actually running the business portion. Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:00:25 -0500 The jargon generator in indeed in full effect at many all-news stations (notice I didn't say "outlets"). As a former newsman and English major, the number of hackneyed cliches in daily use by members of the news media is maddening.However, I agree that this sort of micro-management (and Soviet-style comrade-spying) is over the top.Props to Paul Weyland - the "best friend test" is the perfect approach. Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:02:05 -0500 I heartily applaud his initiative. Too many radio and news broadcasts use newspaper tabloid headline words that are NOT used by real people. Real people, for example, don't say "flee" or "laud". I also applaud his appreciation that radio is a one-to-one medium, so you don't say "all of you" or any of the other terms mistakenly borrowed from television. Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:13:12 -0500 This is so on target. As Paul points out, we need to get rid of the cliches in radio and talk like we are having a personal conversation with a friend. Also, great point about not saying everybody, etc. When I listen to the radio I'm alone. Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:14:04 -0500 Limbaugh meaning "gasbag" Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:17:15 -0500 This list looks like the result of an all night, drug fueled bender. Randy probably used every one of these words and phrases when he was on the air on WLW in Cincinnati Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:41:33 -0500 "....If you can't say "pedestrian", how do you describe a person crossing a street who is hit by a car?..."This is simply not how PEOPLE TALK. When was the last friggin time you used the word pedestrian in casual language?Bob Feder is the poster child for irrelevency. A golden penned egomaniac from the days when a few ivory tower newspapermen believed they had the rights and responsibilities to control public opinion. But then 'public opinion' went public in new and hi tech ways they couldn't control. Now cast off from a dying daily, he stands at the edge of the crowd jumping up and down for attention, and berating those who don't suck up to 'the good old days'. Randy Michaels stepped in to right a capsizing media battleship as obsolete as those in Pearl Harbor were to airpower. The jury is still way out, but get over the past. It's gone. Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:02:08 -0500 I agree with quite a few of these (especially "5 am in the morning" and "mute point"), but the list is too long. For example, "auto accident" is not redundant, unless Randy's idea is that announcers should refer to "automobiles" rather than "autos." There are other kinds of accidents, and other things that can happen to autos, or automobiles. One has to be able to refer to cars other than as "cars" once in a while, as Randy has banished the word "vehicle." (Why?)In addition, "perpetrator" has a certain crime files charm, and should not be banished from the airwaves by group owner fiat. I dare say that Rush Limbaugh has been known to use at least a third of the expressions on the list, and yet his ratings are not that shabby.Cut the list down to the 40 worst offenders, and you would have something useful. 119 is overkill. I could go on, but have to "flee" right now. Shower activity threatens, if not torrential rain. Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:06:51 -0500 He forgot "at the end of the day"! If you say this off-the-air or on-the-air you should be shot.And Randy Michales is inasane--always has been... Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:14:30 -0500 The phrase I'm tired of hearing newscasters say all to often is: "but for now" instead of "meanwhile". I'm not sure what the problem with "seek" is. "look for" is much less elegant. And why is it that newscasters slip into an Hispanic dialect when saying a Spanish name, but never use an Irish brogue when saying "Mayor Daley"? Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:02:25 -0500 I have one word for Randy...well it's not a word but you know it well..FUyou pontificating bastard carzy old man..why would anyone belive you! Radio News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:37:12 -0500 An interesting requirement from someone who specifically outlawed corporate dictates when he assumed control of Tribune. Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:12:24 -0500 Totally absurd. No one wonder so many people have stopped listening seriously to radio.2 years ago, I retired from that business after 37 years of on-air radio. Don't miss it one iota. It's idiots like this who remind me as to why I bailed. Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:22:29 -0500 While the lenders bang on the front door at least Randy is doing what he does best even if the crew leaks out the homework before completing the assignment in hopes someone will complain to the school board.Back after these crass commercials. http://Voxpower.com Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:35:06 -0500 And they wonder why the state of radio is all but dead! Idiots like this have been turned loose on the inside of our business. Somebody sold Clinton a bill of bads when he de-regulated the radio business. It will never be the same again. Unless they regulate to a reasonable number of stations per company. I have always contended that 25 is a nice number to own, not too big and not too small.Guys that pull this nonsense are like 99.9% of consultants....they were colossal failures when they attempted on air work. Consequently, they just want to tear radio stations down, and torture the successful personalities, because THEY couldn't pull it off. It is a different breed that succeeds in this business. The last point i will make is that sadly radio owners just don't know much or care much, about how radio is supposed to be run. So, when they hire a consultant it is a party of the blind leading the blind.Tim Byrd Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:36:42 -0500 If Fox's Murdoch can dictate even tighter control on content then Randy can have at it. Please remember this banter when "the book burning begins"Control, Control, Control! is "right around the corner" and it's guaranteed to bring you "much, much more My God, What have we become! Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:45:20 -0500 One word obviously not in HIS lexicon: DIET!!! Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:16:27 -0500 I didn't see "Control freak" on the list! Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:52:11 -0500 He's a royal fat-***, like me!!! Good to see I trained him well!!! And he screws over EVERYONE!!! What a delightful lad!!! http://wozz.com Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:53:18 -0500 What I have always loved about Randy is his own style in keeping his content company's personable and relevant to the consumer...I love how he responds...“I feel sorry for Bob. If he thinks it’s wrong for the CEO of a content company to focus on content, that could help explain why he is no longer paid to be in media.”Well Said! Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:10:20 -0500 Randy Michaels, what an arrogant bastard, who does he think he is talking to? We are the industry he mangled as the COO and CEO of Clear Channel, whether the format was News/Talk or music…he mangled it…let’s take a moment to look through the rear-view mirror.Here is a man who: • As CEO of Clear Channel, when describing his vision for the company and the future of their radio stations, compared it to McDonald's Hamburgers by saying “Clear Channel will become the McDonald’s of radio”; • Single handedly gutted terrestrial radio as we knew it prior to the telecommunications act in the 1990's and replaced it with voice-tracking, cookie-cut formats and a syndicated programming strategy that together de-personalized radio and completely destroyed our farm-club training program for jocks otherwise known as ‘overnights’ and “at the end of the day” sent a large segment of our audience looking for another entertainment resource• Contributed mightily to the financial woes facing radio today by his reckless acquisition strategy of buying radio stations at cash flow multiples exceeding 17x trailing cash flows….what a dumb-***! Today the cash flow multiple is hovering around 7x• Changed the radio landscape so significantly it will take us 10 years to undo what that sorry, greedy, *****-of-a-human being has done to our industry!Make no mistake about it….we will overcome his legacy, which is better described as the Randy-Turd that he so masterfully created in his own image!What is SO DAMN funny about all of this WGN-AM business, is now he wants to micro-manage his news people so that they don’t sound like they are reading a script…READING A FRICKN’ SCRIPT….RANDY…..this is the world you created………how does is sound PODNA! Radio News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:35:09 -0500 That rumbling you feel isn't an earthquake, it's Ward Quaal rolling in his grave... http://espninva.com Radio News Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:52:03 -0500 Another word you can't say:"BOOGER"Dr. Johnny Fever -- WKRP Radio News Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:29:55 -0400 Two things that SHOULD be on the list:"of course:- if it's a matter of course, then why are you telling me about it?!"gone missing"- especially when the reporter is talking about an object and not a person! "Gone missing" refers to native eskimos that went off into the tunra and never came back... how does that apply to the streets of Denver?! Radio News Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:35:21 -0400 A note for Sam Zell,Pull the plug on WGN Radio and start over. They are all a bunch of has - beens!! http://www.aftermarketcarparts.biz Radio News Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:36:01 -0400 Some of those words I would of never considered, this is going to the extreme. I'm sure Randy Michaels, even though he is the CEO, has been told this by the owners and other people above him. He's probably just the fall man for the blaim. This just goes to show how the news is so controlled, I don't watch it as much anymore, I rather listen to radio shows late at night or read blogs.