Radio station manager Jeff Delvaux has his hands full. Like any manager,
he has to look after the financial side of things. He has to make sure the
station remains profitable. This means he has to meet his cash flow objectives.
But there are lots of chances to do fun things, too. The part he likes
the most? "The people, the clients and doing promotions and seeing them a
big success. Free tickets!"
He spends most of his day in the office, but relishes any chance to get
out and meet people. "I love getting out in the public. I believe the station
ultimately benefits when I or any of my staff becomes involved in the community."
There is no special schooling required, but a degree is good to have. "There
are a lot of resources available within the industry to improve your skills,"
he says.
Over at a TV station in Hartford, Connecticut, John Mason is director of
programming and promotions. He spends most of his day in the office, too,
but describes his hours as very flexible.
"The future will bring major change," he says. "Anyone who is not comfortable
with change should look elsewhere. There is always a need for smart hard-working
people."
He has to put himself in the viewer's shoes on a daily basis. It is important
not to lose sight of what people like to watch. "You have to be flexible,
work with people and think like the viewer."
He feels that the "instant gratification when the audience watches a show"
is one of the best parts of his job. But it's not just about the audience.
He enjoys "seeing someone you work with do a great job."
Variety seems to be a large component of a station manager's or program
director's daily routine. For Mason, it can mean working on spreadsheets.
Then he might do some promotions. After that, he could work with the staff
at solving a problem.
Patricia Burke is the executive director at a TV station in Contra Costa,
California. She spends her time in the office and traveling to attend conferences
and meetings. Her hours can be 7 to 5. There is an hour of free overtime thrown
in for good measure most days, too.
"It's estimated that as more and more computers do the work of announcers,
public radio will be one of the few places left to hear local live radio,"
says Catherine Fraser. She works with public radio in Shreveport, Louisiana.
"This will be very important in small markets where local news is hard
to come by. Working in public radio, I know I make a difference in people's
lives, and that's why I do it."
University campus radio station manager Aaron Nakama says his duties are
unbelievably varied. Here are some of the things he does:
- Handling payroll
- Answering all enquiries
- Coordinating the annual membership renewal drive
- Ensuring all databases are maintained
- Maintaining station security through video systems and alarms
- Assisting the program coordinator with training programs for new staff
- Acting as an open-air announcer in emergencies
Good communication skills are vital at a busy place like Nakama's station.
There is a constant "need to delegate, coordinate and organize activities,
events and programming."
He needs his best decision-making skills when it comes to "budgeting, hiring
committees and short- and long-term planning."
Over at the University of Minnesota, station manager Andy Marlow has much
deeper roots. He was hired as public affairs director in 1972. He has served
as a talk show host and program director. He became station manager in 1988.
"My job is to keep the station running smoothly. I am responsible to my
department director and to the university for keeping the station going without
causing any problems for them."
His major duties include supervising six full-time employees directly and
12 part-time employees indirectly.
For Marlow, it's about "working with the students. Seeing them grow and
develop in their years here, and then go on to be successful."
He encourages people to get involved in radio because "radio is becoming
a neglected field."