Background Story (courtesy North Platte Bulletin)
This post originally appeared on the Kyle Cooper: Sportscaster Facebook page, 20 October 2014
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One of the distinct differences between working in radio and working in television is the employees' goodbyes.
In TV, it's standard practice to note the impending departure of an on-air personality with plaudits, and maybe a video retrospective. In radio, whether an on-air personality leaves by choice or by management decision, there is no farewell. Once the decision is made the personality is almost invariably pulled off the air. Immediately.
Not sure why that difference exists. But it does.
Like anyone else who's worked in radio, I've been fired. Twice. Once because of a change in ownership, the other due to budgetary reasons. These things happen.
The first time, management gave me 15 minutes to collect my belongings and leave. The second time went better -- I was told to "take all the time you need." In both cases, there were no farewells.
On the other side of the departure spectrum, I've voluntarily left one gig for a better job twice., and submitted the requisite two weeks' notice. The first time, I worked the final fortnight, and had a chance to say goodbye, on the air, to my coworkers and listeners. The second time, the GM said, "If you don't want to work here anymore, you should just leave now," gave me a few minutes to gather up my stuff (while watching the whole time, arms folded) and escorted me out the door. These things happen.
Watching the YouTube video of Joe Swift bidding farewell to his colleagues, it's implausible to think he even came close to hinting they were being "forced out." Swift was genuine and heartfelt in his desire to acknowledge people with whom he's worked and for whom he feels great respect.
For Swift to be sacked over this is unconscionable and indefensible. If life is fair, the decision to fire him will generate some sort of blowback -- a viewers' boycott, or sponsors going elsewhere with their advertising budgets. Especially in such a small town/small market, where, as the cliche says, everybody knows everybody else and they stand up for their own.
Are you listening, karma? Nebraska is calling.
This post originally appeared on the Kyle Cooper: Sportscaster Facebook page, 20 October 2014
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the distinct differences between working in radio and working in television is the employees' goodbyes.
In TV, it's standard practice to note the impending departure of an on-air personality with plaudits, and maybe a video retrospective. In radio, whether an on-air personality leaves by choice or by management decision, there is no farewell. Once the decision is made the personality is almost invariably pulled off the air. Immediately.
Not sure why that difference exists. But it does.
Like anyone else who's worked in radio, I've been fired. Twice. Once because of a change in ownership, the other due to budgetary reasons. These things happen.
The first time, management gave me 15 minutes to collect my belongings and leave. The second time went better -- I was told to "take all the time you need." In both cases, there were no farewells.
On the other side of the departure spectrum, I've voluntarily left one gig for a better job twice., and submitted the requisite two weeks' notice. The first time, I worked the final fortnight, and had a chance to say goodbye, on the air, to my coworkers and listeners. The second time, the GM said, "If you don't want to work here anymore, you should just leave now," gave me a few minutes to gather up my stuff (while watching the whole time, arms folded) and escorted me out the door. These things happen.
Watching the YouTube video of Joe Swift bidding farewell to his colleagues, it's implausible to think he even came close to hinting they were being "forced out." Swift was genuine and heartfelt in his desire to acknowledge people with whom he's worked and for whom he feels great respect.
For Swift to be sacked over this is unconscionable and indefensible. If life is fair, the decision to fire him will generate some sort of blowback -- a viewers' boycott, or sponsors going elsewhere with their advertising budgets. Especially in such a small town/small market, where, as the cliche says, everybody knows everybody else and they stand up for their own.
Are you listening, karma? Nebraska is calling.
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