I'm not a big reality tv guy.
OK I do suggest that The Bachelor actually marries The Bachelorette - and that if they make it together as a couple for a year they get the million bucks - but the REAL reality television that we saw at the Vancouver downtown 'riot' has me reflecting on media and how well they handle mind blowing events such as this.
First off major KUDO's go to CTV's Vancouver affiliate who went wall to wall on the riot for about four hours as they fed the National CTV Newsnet from the centre of the action (more on their locale later).
When you get thrown into such a situation, on mere moments notice, you operate seemingly 'on fumes' because the rule book simply doesn't exist on how to handle this type of event when there are drunk or stoned 'thugs' operating mere feet away from you - while you dodge rocks, sticks, hammers, pepper spray, tear gas, and various accelerants - simply doing your job.
To do it with 'composure' is an art unto itself and the CTV crew were simply amazing as they did continous' play by play' of this most horrific event.
CTV reporters were on almost every corner 'hot spot' with live hits complimented by a reporter chiming in from the news helicopter above. The video was as compelling as anything you'll see in a Jason Bourne movie - except that it was all very REAL.
Cars on fire. Guys jumping over the cars while others flung mailboxes and porta potties at them. Glass breaking everywhere - 'hurt' people (kids) on the ground - and all the while the CTV crew were composed and seemingly calm on the outside while, most likely, worried about their personal safety on the inside.
One vibrant female reporter gagged through a report while fighting back tear gas only to be told "please" stop - get to safety inside - and get back to the station. There's an adrenaline that kicks in during these times and often it is 'viewers needs first' that motivate them...it's a very special skill sort.
CBC, mere steps away from the action as well, seemed to struggle and only had a few of their staff on hand while CTV called in their team and sprang to action with exposure from several fronts throughout the night.
Of note a number of former Edmonton media were involved in the telecast. For example, recent arrival in Vancouver, Lynda Steele (formerly of Global) reported from her condo above the fires. Perry Solkowski, another ex ITV (Global) guy was interviewing the Mayor in the heat of the battle. Rob Brown, ex of A Channel (now CITY) was the guy who carried on in the heart of this insanity for over four hours and didn't even flinch once as he held on to his gas mask while standing beside two 'powerless' security guards and his camera man.
As mentioned, this destruction was going on outside the front door of both of these television stations and could 'easily' have had these same thugs throw bricks threw THEIR windows and take over the television station. It's not beyond the realm of possibilities.
The sad part of this event to me was the complete lack of a game plan from the Vancouver Police. Now I don't mean to be cruel to them because they did the best they could under unimaginable conditions but they certainly did NOT have a formal game plan in force to be ready to guide 100,000 people in a safe manner.
To hear that "it was only a few people doing this" was simply disrespectful to Vancouverites.
To say "we have additional help coming from around the mainland" meant RCMP and surrounding Police forces had to travel for 'at least' an hour to just GET to the melee which, to me, was certainly a sign that there was not enough manpower on hand 'at the beginning' of this sad event.
Then to see them standing in the centre of the riot without proper equipment (many just had on the yellow vests - no helmets - no gas masks) - showed that they were really afraid of the "human rights" cry out from the G8 type gatherings and when these goons saw nobody was getting thumped back by Police simply broke into retail outlets like London Drugs, and The Bay, and 'destroyed' the businesses right in front of the Cops standing mere steps away.
Hard to fathom!
Officers on horseback simply 'moved forward' to force the people out of the 'retail areas' issuing a command for them to go home - which was near impossible because the transit system was virtually shut down and these goons were stranded in the downtown core prolonging the damage.
It was almost impossible to get in to douse the fires - and assist the hurt - because Emergency Services (rightfully so) would also have been targets.
In Europe they have special tank type machines that fire cold water with a special red dye in it on the goons which quickly ends the thuggery AND identifies the goofs as the dye is almost impossible to wash off. Show up to work the next day with red skin and bingo you're off to the slammer.
And this was one of the first riots where "social media" had a major impact.
Several FACEBOOK sites have quickly been set up so people can feed pictures of these idiots on line so that Police can identify and arrest them. Hundreds and hundreds of pictures are allready posted.
Beauty!
So - to wrap it up - think of the danger you have to worry about on a day to day basis and compare it to the media who handled this world wide embarrassing night - and I'm sure your respect for these people will climb to the same territory that mine did watching them in action last night.
GREAT broadcasting 'is' reality tv (and radio) and these reporters, anchors, and camera people all deserve our respect and a 'huge raise' for the amazing job they did on covering this event.
Kudos and compliments to those people!
And my thoughts to the 'real' hockey fans and great people from Vancouver who will have to deal with this 'crap' each and every time their sporting teams get to the big show down the road.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Media -Slave Lake
I just want to say a big "thank you" to the Edmonton media for all their thoughtful hard work in regards to the terrible fires in Slave Lake this past week.
First off, my sincere thanks and respect to every radio and television station that quickly rallied around the need to "help" these poor victims of the fire with both fund raising and "filling the 18 wheelers" with essentials.
Big or small it didn't matter - radio "jumped" on the tragedy and provided much needed relief to these families - and it simply is something radio does 'best' at these times of need.
Next another Thank You to the crew of news personnel that quickly got to the scene and gave us such vivid content surrounding the horrible tragedy.
I was out of the country and checking my iPad for updates and it was clear as a bell with information from the media and especially with the over whelming pictures or video.
The US media carried only a snippet of information mainly because they were dealing with severe Mother Nature tragedies of their own with the floods back east.
Of note "social media" was a huge help as people at ground level fed their video to both the media and the web so that viewers could see the 'real' impact that was going on in a community that is simply not 'top of mind' in the big city!
The video was compelling and powerful, to say the least, and certainly made us all realize how horrible this fire was as it raged through their community
When you read industry blogs and related websites it seems all too often the focus is on criticizing media for various reasons - sometimes valid and sometimes just downright stupid - so it's important for me today to say "thank you media" for an amazing job in handling the Slave Lakes event and for the subsequent rescue plans that were put in to place by smart owners; Managers, and Program Directors in Edmonton.
Ditto Editors of the papers; promotion departments and street teams; and to the citizens of Edmonton who donated 'anything' to help the cause.
I hope the Government (both Provincial and Federal) act quickly to help the rebuild. The gift cards were a good step but when you have lost "everything" you are likely going to have to relocate to survive and the Slave Lake area will not only lose good citizens but 'businesses' that are needed to help it thrive and survive down the road.
Now how about a giant media Habitat for Slave Lake building bee to get these people back into homes as quickly as possible?
Lets not forget this area is going to need a massive rebuild quickly because these types of events are quickly forgotten in a busy world - and lord knows the snow will be flying again in mere months adding to the effect of the loss.
First off, my sincere thanks and respect to every radio and television station that quickly rallied around the need to "help" these poor victims of the fire with both fund raising and "filling the 18 wheelers" with essentials.
Big or small it didn't matter - radio "jumped" on the tragedy and provided much needed relief to these families - and it simply is something radio does 'best' at these times of need.
Next another Thank You to the crew of news personnel that quickly got to the scene and gave us such vivid content surrounding the horrible tragedy.
I was out of the country and checking my iPad for updates and it was clear as a bell with information from the media and especially with the over whelming pictures or video.
The US media carried only a snippet of information mainly because they were dealing with severe Mother Nature tragedies of their own with the floods back east.
Of note "social media" was a huge help as people at ground level fed their video to both the media and the web so that viewers could see the 'real' impact that was going on in a community that is simply not 'top of mind' in the big city!
The video was compelling and powerful, to say the least, and certainly made us all realize how horrible this fire was as it raged through their community
When you read industry blogs and related websites it seems all too often the focus is on criticizing media for various reasons - sometimes valid and sometimes just downright stupid - so it's important for me today to say "thank you media" for an amazing job in handling the Slave Lakes event and for the subsequent rescue plans that were put in to place by smart owners; Managers, and Program Directors in Edmonton.
Ditto Editors of the papers; promotion departments and street teams; and to the citizens of Edmonton who donated 'anything' to help the cause.
I hope the Government (both Provincial and Federal) act quickly to help the rebuild. The gift cards were a good step but when you have lost "everything" you are likely going to have to relocate to survive and the Slave Lake area will not only lose good citizens but 'businesses' that are needed to help it thrive and survive down the road.
Now how about a giant media Habitat for Slave Lake building bee to get these people back into homes as quickly as possible?
Lets not forget this area is going to need a massive rebuild quickly because these types of events are quickly forgotten in a busy world - and lord knows the snow will be flying again in mere months adding to the effect of the loss.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
It's all about you Mom!
If anybody ever wants to debate the effect that divorce has on children I'm the guy to debate.
Very simply our lives changed at exactly 1:30 pm on July 15, 1961 when my Mother and Father divorced in Edmonton and the three boys and Mom boarded a flight to Toronto.
Flights were about 6 or 7 hours to the big smoke back then but I will never forget my first taste of 'jet lag' and moving from a really nice house in Parkview with lots of good friends into the basement of my Aunt Isabels house on Donlands Road in Toronto with 'no' friends.
Over the next several years Mom somehow saved enough money to by a condo for us; then we ultimately moved into a nice small house in the Don Mills area; as we started all over in a totally new environment as a single parent family.
It took me many many years to ask my Mother about those days as I was, at age 10, far too young to understand the impact of what was going on - as were my younger brothers, aged 8 and 5.
Child support for the three of us was $150 a month and Mom worked a full time job to support us too.
I guess we were latch key kids because I remember we would walk to schools then return home after classes where Mom would get home just in time to make us all a good meal.
Throughout the next several years we 'lacked for nothing,' somehow, as Mom found enough money to put all of us into sports; music lessons (accordian Mom - what were you thinking?) buy us each a bicycle, and we had a great 'black and white' tv so that we could watch the two Canadian channels we had and the three from Buffalo that came in over the air before cable.
Mom helped us with our school projects all the time, and we 'squeeked by' each year and eventually got into enough trouble (though nothing serious) that kids that don't have a dominant male around can easily get into. The day we got caught breaking into the Double Bubble company to steal gum (?) was a classic.
About 1964 Mom met a great man, Mike Sheehy, and as a guy who served in the Canadian military brought us that discipline that came in real handy later in life - and that was something that we didn't truly understand or appreciate like we should have until we finally 'grew up' many years later.
I don't want to bore you with all the details of our lives because we were extremely fortunate to have a mother like Noreen Sheehy because it was 'all about us' all the time and I just want to say an overdue "thanks Mom."
I know it must have been tough on you especially every summer on the 'last' day of school in Toronto when we would board the plane back to Edmonton to see Dad and every day on the 'last' day of summer when we would return - robbing you of the summer fun that a normal family would enjoy during theschool break as we were out having fun in Alberta with Dad.
We cried when we left you - we cried when you picked us up again upon our return - that I will never forget.
Mom is now 83 years old and each and every time we chat on the phone she makes me laugh. My brother still has her go 'on the air' with him in Calgary and her Stump My Mom contest is a blast.
She has endured strokes, heart attacks, a brain aneurism, broken bones, and several other maladies that would knock down lesser women but each time she somehow comes back stronger and stronger.
She raised the three of us; bore another great son Neil, and has trained dogs that made it all the way to Hollywood films (James Garner/Mary Tyler Moore flick) and continues to be a grandmother to three more 'boys' in Toronto to this day while she trains yet 'another puppy' in the household.
I've written several times publicly how much my late father Jerry Forbes influenced me in my life; ditto the very positive things I learned from my step father Mike Sheehy - but I just realized today that I've never done a 'written' tribute to one very special lady - Noreen Elizabeth Sheehy.
Mom, may you live to be 100 - we need you around until we finally grown up and really appreciate how much of a huge influence you were and are to us as being good 'people' in this world.
Enjoy the flowers - they really can't say enough about how much you mean to Gord (Josh, Joel, Cally) , Gerry, Neil, my daughters Lauren and Rayanne; your three grandchildren in house and of course ME!
Happy Mothers Day!
Very simply our lives changed at exactly 1:30 pm on July 15, 1961 when my Mother and Father divorced in Edmonton and the three boys and Mom boarded a flight to Toronto.
Flights were about 6 or 7 hours to the big smoke back then but I will never forget my first taste of 'jet lag' and moving from a really nice house in Parkview with lots of good friends into the basement of my Aunt Isabels house on Donlands Road in Toronto with 'no' friends.
Over the next several years Mom somehow saved enough money to by a condo for us; then we ultimately moved into a nice small house in the Don Mills area; as we started all over in a totally new environment as a single parent family.
It took me many many years to ask my Mother about those days as I was, at age 10, far too young to understand the impact of what was going on - as were my younger brothers, aged 8 and 5.
Child support for the three of us was $150 a month and Mom worked a full time job to support us too.
I guess we were latch key kids because I remember we would walk to schools then return home after classes where Mom would get home just in time to make us all a good meal.
Throughout the next several years we 'lacked for nothing,' somehow, as Mom found enough money to put all of us into sports; music lessons (accordian Mom - what were you thinking?) buy us each a bicycle, and we had a great 'black and white' tv so that we could watch the two Canadian channels we had and the three from Buffalo that came in over the air before cable.
Mom helped us with our school projects all the time, and we 'squeeked by' each year and eventually got into enough trouble (though nothing serious) that kids that don't have a dominant male around can easily get into. The day we got caught breaking into the Double Bubble company to steal gum (?) was a classic.
About 1964 Mom met a great man, Mike Sheehy, and as a guy who served in the Canadian military brought us that discipline that came in real handy later in life - and that was something that we didn't truly understand or appreciate like we should have until we finally 'grew up' many years later.
I don't want to bore you with all the details of our lives because we were extremely fortunate to have a mother like Noreen Sheehy because it was 'all about us' all the time and I just want to say an overdue "thanks Mom."
I know it must have been tough on you especially every summer on the 'last' day of school in Toronto when we would board the plane back to Edmonton to see Dad and every day on the 'last' day of summer when we would return - robbing you of the summer fun that a normal family would enjoy during theschool break as we were out having fun in Alberta with Dad.
We cried when we left you - we cried when you picked us up again upon our return - that I will never forget.
Mom is now 83 years old and each and every time we chat on the phone she makes me laugh. My brother still has her go 'on the air' with him in Calgary and her Stump My Mom contest is a blast.
She has endured strokes, heart attacks, a brain aneurism, broken bones, and several other maladies that would knock down lesser women but each time she somehow comes back stronger and stronger.
She raised the three of us; bore another great son Neil, and has trained dogs that made it all the way to Hollywood films (James Garner/Mary Tyler Moore flick) and continues to be a grandmother to three more 'boys' in Toronto to this day while she trains yet 'another puppy' in the household.
I've written several times publicly how much my late father Jerry Forbes influenced me in my life; ditto the very positive things I learned from my step father Mike Sheehy - but I just realized today that I've never done a 'written' tribute to one very special lady - Noreen Elizabeth Sheehy.
Mom, may you live to be 100 - we need you around until we finally grown up and really appreciate how much of a huge influence you were and are to us as being good 'people' in this world.
Enjoy the flowers - they really can't say enough about how much you mean to Gord (Josh, Joel, Cally) , Gerry, Neil, my daughters Lauren and Rayanne; your three grandchildren in house and of course ME!
Happy Mothers Day!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
You can call me Al, ah, Charles Adler!
Back in 1974 I worked with an evening announcer at CKXL Calgary named Al Adler. He seemed ‘way too smart’ to be introducing Donnie Osmond records and a few years later it was pretty clear that Al, or as he is known today, Charles Adler was a smart cookie and has made a very big name for himself as Canada’s premier talk show host on radio – and soon on “Sun Television” which launches this week.
Charles did the smart thing and worked his way up the radio food chain at various properties both big and small, which meant taking gigs honing his skills in both Canada and The United States.
His evolution into the talk mode actually happened in Calgary in the early 90’s, when then he launched a syndicated show called Hot Talk in 1992.
“Calgary was my first on air job when I worked with you and also where I reinvented myself as a talk show host so on top of everything else it's why Alberta always has a soft spot in my heart....It's where I fell in love with doing radio and talk radio.”
In Toronto at Newstalk giant CFRB, Charles worked with legendary radio guy Roy Hennessey, as he noted for the ‘fourth time’ and it was Roy who helped him gain a foothold in the news talk format.
“Roy's one of my very favorite radio people. He always spoke glowingly of Edmonton where he loved being PD of CHED and working for the Cowboy - Vern Trail”
Flash forward to today and Charles Adler is now heard on Corus Radio’s talk network, as well as on a few independent station's, covering 14 markets that literally are ‘coast to coast’ from Halifax to Victoria.
It’s already a huge amount of work to remain current and compelling on the air on a daily basis so I asked Charles how he is going to be able to juggle the workload with two very high profile positions.
“The two shows will be seamless. Many of the ideas that we discuss on the radio we will also do on TV. The Sun is providing me with great resources both human and content to make it possible.
I am incredibly thankful to Corus for giving me the green light. Without the Corus platforms this could never have happened. I am energized by my different projects and so the columns and radio and tv shows all energize each other. As far as the Citizen of Adler Nation is concerned, I am just Chuck, Uncle Chuck and I am available to them on various media platforms. The brand is the SAME. I have a very deep connection to my listeners and I love the idea of having access to them at various times of day on several platforms.”
When asked “where do you see SUN TV sitting in the Canadian tv landscape?” his response was…
“It won't have an Eastern focus or Eastern Bias. It will be much more people oriented. Much less Ivory Tower. Much less political chattering class. Much fewer professional lobbyist talking heads. Much more personal. Much more like the Talk Radio our listeners love to hear. Spontaneous, Real, Passionate, and Pro Canada. I won't be advocating that we take all our cues from the United Nations before our country decides to get involved in helping people in another country. That's an interesting Canadian Elitist position espoused by the Liberal Party leader others. It's not my idea of the Canada that citizens of Adler Nation feel so strongly about.”
I noted that Sun Television has put together a staff of some top notch broadcast talent, several with RADIO backgrounds, and asked “do you think that's essential in this type of offering now?”
“Yes I think it is. People with Radio backgrounds are far better trained to connect with audiences than some of the professional talking heads who have populated the TV landscape. In radio if you don't connect with a large audience, you don't stay on the air. Radio people have been tested and they know the difference between connecting with the Ivory Tower and real every day people working hard to pay the bills and worried about real life issues not the abstract esoteric duller than dishwater stuff that takes up so much time on elite chattering class tv.”
Finally, “what's Canada's BIGGEST hurdle in your mind these days?”
“What Canada needs to do most is have genuine national conversations that are far less worried about being polite and far more concerned about telling the truth.
Let's tell the truth to Quebec about how much we support Quebec with our dollars and cents. Let's tell the truth to people who come to Canada about Canadian standards, about the work ethic and about the rule of law about our respect for diverse points of view and having discussions without the need to incite hatred and threaten violence.
Let’s not fear telling the truth about how proud we are of our country and why. Let's not wait until we have another Olympic Games on Canadian soil before we express how much love we have for Canadian Excellence and Canadian Talent.
So 'thank you' Al, I mean "Charles." Old habits run deep.
We're long overdue for a face to face visit again after all these years and I can safely and confidently say "you've come a long way from those evening radio gigs in Cowtown my friend."
I have a deep respect for what you have built in your career and I'm very much looking forward to seeing your radio face on television with the brand spanking new Sun Television debuting this week in Canada.
*PS: The rest of the team at CKXL at that time were a pretty talented bunch too. People like Donnie Burns, Rob Christie, Ted Pound, Greg Haroldson, Jim Jackson, Tom Tompkins, Myke Thomas, GM Tom McBride, Johnnie Walker, the legendary Dr. Dan, PD Bob Robertson and news folks like Hal Gardiner Ron Wood, and J Paul Huddelston. In Sales CFL perennial all star Herm Harrison; and Skip Hudson, GM Keith James Sr. came on in the mid 70's as well.
Charles did the smart thing and worked his way up the radio food chain at various properties both big and small, which meant taking gigs honing his skills in both Canada and The United States.
His evolution into the talk mode actually happened in Calgary in the early 90’s, when then he launched a syndicated show called Hot Talk in 1992.
“Calgary was my first on air job when I worked with you and also where I reinvented myself as a talk show host so on top of everything else it's why Alberta always has a soft spot in my heart....It's where I fell in love with doing radio and talk radio.”
In Toronto at Newstalk giant CFRB, Charles worked with legendary radio guy Roy Hennessey, as he noted for the ‘fourth time’ and it was Roy who helped him gain a foothold in the news talk format.
“Roy's one of my very favorite radio people. He always spoke glowingly of Edmonton where he loved being PD of CHED and working for the Cowboy - Vern Trail”
Flash forward to today and Charles Adler is now heard on Corus Radio’s talk network, as well as on a few independent station's, covering 14 markets that literally are ‘coast to coast’ from Halifax to Victoria.
It’s already a huge amount of work to remain current and compelling on the air on a daily basis so I asked Charles how he is going to be able to juggle the workload with two very high profile positions.
“The two shows will be seamless. Many of the ideas that we discuss on the radio we will also do on TV. The Sun is providing me with great resources both human and content to make it possible.
I am incredibly thankful to Corus for giving me the green light. Without the Corus platforms this could never have happened. I am energized by my different projects and so the columns and radio and tv shows all energize each other. As far as the Citizen of Adler Nation is concerned, I am just Chuck, Uncle Chuck and I am available to them on various media platforms. The brand is the SAME. I have a very deep connection to my listeners and I love the idea of having access to them at various times of day on several platforms.”
When asked “where do you see SUN TV sitting in the Canadian tv landscape?” his response was…
“It won't have an Eastern focus or Eastern Bias. It will be much more people oriented. Much less Ivory Tower. Much less political chattering class. Much fewer professional lobbyist talking heads. Much more personal. Much more like the Talk Radio our listeners love to hear. Spontaneous, Real, Passionate, and Pro Canada. I won't be advocating that we take all our cues from the United Nations before our country decides to get involved in helping people in another country. That's an interesting Canadian Elitist position espoused by the Liberal Party leader others. It's not my idea of the Canada that citizens of Adler Nation feel so strongly about.”
I noted that Sun Television has put together a staff of some top notch broadcast talent, several with RADIO backgrounds, and asked “do you think that's essential in this type of offering now?”
“Yes I think it is. People with Radio backgrounds are far better trained to connect with audiences than some of the professional talking heads who have populated the TV landscape. In radio if you don't connect with a large audience, you don't stay on the air. Radio people have been tested and they know the difference between connecting with the Ivory Tower and real every day people working hard to pay the bills and worried about real life issues not the abstract esoteric duller than dishwater stuff that takes up so much time on elite chattering class tv.”
Finally, “what's Canada's BIGGEST hurdle in your mind these days?”
“What Canada needs to do most is have genuine national conversations that are far less worried about being polite and far more concerned about telling the truth.
Let's tell the truth to Quebec about how much we support Quebec with our dollars and cents. Let's tell the truth to people who come to Canada about Canadian standards, about the work ethic and about the rule of law about our respect for diverse points of view and having discussions without the need to incite hatred and threaten violence.
Let’s not fear telling the truth about how proud we are of our country and why. Let's not wait until we have another Olympic Games on Canadian soil before we express how much love we have for Canadian Excellence and Canadian Talent.
So 'thank you' Al, I mean "Charles." Old habits run deep.
We're long overdue for a face to face visit again after all these years and I can safely and confidently say "you've come a long way from those evening radio gigs in Cowtown my friend."
I have a deep respect for what you have built in your career and I'm very much looking forward to seeing your radio face on television with the brand spanking new Sun Television debuting this week in Canada.
*PS: The rest of the team at CKXL at that time were a pretty talented bunch too. People like Donnie Burns, Rob Christie, Ted Pound, Greg Haroldson, Jim Jackson, Tom Tompkins, Myke Thomas, GM Tom McBride, Johnnie Walker, the legendary Dr. Dan, PD Bob Robertson and news folks like Hal Gardiner Ron Wood, and J Paul Huddelston. In Sales CFL perennial all star Herm Harrison; and Skip Hudson, GM Keith James Sr. came on in the mid 70's as well.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
For somebody who wants to be a real Programmer -great gig!
Content Director
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Content Director is responsible for the strategic vision, management and implementation of CKUA content, including on-air programming, digital video and web initiatives across all platforms. The Content Director manages a team that includes on-air staff and contractors, web content development, traffic, technical production and creative writing services. The Content Director is responsible for the user’s content experience in engaging with the CKUA both on-air and on-line.
Key Responsibilities:
• Develops and implements a long range, strategic content plan for CKUA in keeping with the following:
o Preserving and enhancing the programming mandate and integrity of CKUA
o The promise of performance requirements & policies of the CRTC
o The directive and vision set forth by the board and CEO
o The needs of the audience
• Develops and promotes strategies to leverage the production and distribution of CKUA content across all platforms
• Monitor, assess and oversee development, production of all content for CKUA and proactively seeks new content opportunities for CKUA
• Contributes ideas for online elements of terrestrial programs and works with station partners to create and maintain a long-term editorial direction and schedule
• Helps define CKUA’s voice in the social media space and works in conjunction with marketing to develop social media strategies.
• Leads, manages and supervises the performance of CKUA staff involved in content creation, which includes announcer/producers, contractors, news team, web team, traffic, technical production and creative writing services. Provides regular feedback and assessment, including conducting formal performance reviews on an annual basis.
• In consultation with the COO, recruits and hires staff to support the mandate of the content plan for CKUA
• Provides regular reports and analysis about CKUA content, to internal and external audiences (ie SOCAN data)
• Keep abreast of industry trends and issues including technological trends and prepare reports as needed for the COO, CEO and Board.
• Manage announcer scheduling
• Develop annual budget and manage expenditures for the content department
• Work with the Director of Marketing and the Executive Producer of Community & Special Projects to develop and promote strategies to strength CKUA’s community relationships and enhance the CKUA brand across Alberta
• Contribute to the senior management team and work with the team to set operational plans and budgets on an annual basis.
Desired Knowledge, Education and Experience:
• Degree or diploma from accredited broadcasting institution, with a focus on Radio
• A seasoned professional with 10+ years of experience in progressively responsible roles in the Radio broadcasting industry. Preference is given to not for profit or non-commercial broadcasting environments.
• Experience in managing a team
• Strong leadership, mentorship, coaching and consensus building skills
• Tech savvy, with a high degree of skills in basic computer applications, including spreadsheets and databases.
• Knowledge and experience with overseeing the production of digital content for the web and mobile platforms.
• Comfortable with social media.
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills
• Comfortable with change
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize activities to deliver on commitments.
• Understand the fiscal constraints of a non-profit and is able to deploy resources efficiently to obtain the maximum results given limited budgets.
• Familiar with CKUA’s history, programming and culture
Working Relationships:
• Reports to the Chief Operating Officer
• Works closely with the management team and other staff at CKUA to support departmental marketing needs
• Works collaboratively with the Executive Producer of Community and Special Projects to co-create content from CKUA’s live performance initiatives
Desired Competencies:
The Content Director is expected to demonstrate the following competencies and behaviours in order to successfully meet the requirements of the position and to support the goals and objectives of CKUA Radio.
• Ability to work cooperatively as a member of the CKUA team, to assist and support other staff, and to facilitate a team environment through work contributions and the sharing of expertise and knowledge.
• Ability to demonstrate conduct appropriate to the occasion, when representing CKUA on a formal or informal basis.
• Ability to support, coach, develop and encourage fellow staff
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills (verbal & written) in dealing with staff, suppliers, sponsors and other stakeholders. Exercises discretion and diplomacy.
• Personal initiative and creativity/innovation to facilitate the marketing of CKUA.
• Excellent planning and organization skills.
• A desire to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
Contact in Confidence
Ed Davies
Partner
Davies Turpin & Associates
780 903-1488
ecd@daviesturpin.com
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Content Director is responsible for the strategic vision, management and implementation of CKUA content, including on-air programming, digital video and web initiatives across all platforms. The Content Director manages a team that includes on-air staff and contractors, web content development, traffic, technical production and creative writing services. The Content Director is responsible for the user’s content experience in engaging with the CKUA both on-air and on-line.
Key Responsibilities:
• Develops and implements a long range, strategic content plan for CKUA in keeping with the following:
o Preserving and enhancing the programming mandate and integrity of CKUA
o The promise of performance requirements & policies of the CRTC
o The directive and vision set forth by the board and CEO
o The needs of the audience
• Develops and promotes strategies to leverage the production and distribution of CKUA content across all platforms
• Monitor, assess and oversee development, production of all content for CKUA and proactively seeks new content opportunities for CKUA
• Contributes ideas for online elements of terrestrial programs and works with station partners to create and maintain a long-term editorial direction and schedule
• Helps define CKUA’s voice in the social media space and works in conjunction with marketing to develop social media strategies.
• Leads, manages and supervises the performance of CKUA staff involved in content creation, which includes announcer/producers, contractors, news team, web team, traffic, technical production and creative writing services. Provides regular feedback and assessment, including conducting formal performance reviews on an annual basis.
• In consultation with the COO, recruits and hires staff to support the mandate of the content plan for CKUA
• Provides regular reports and analysis about CKUA content, to internal and external audiences (ie SOCAN data)
• Keep abreast of industry trends and issues including technological trends and prepare reports as needed for the COO, CEO and Board.
• Manage announcer scheduling
• Develop annual budget and manage expenditures for the content department
• Work with the Director of Marketing and the Executive Producer of Community & Special Projects to develop and promote strategies to strength CKUA’s community relationships and enhance the CKUA brand across Alberta
• Contribute to the senior management team and work with the team to set operational plans and budgets on an annual basis.
Desired Knowledge, Education and Experience:
• Degree or diploma from accredited broadcasting institution, with a focus on Radio
• A seasoned professional with 10+ years of experience in progressively responsible roles in the Radio broadcasting industry. Preference is given to not for profit or non-commercial broadcasting environments.
• Experience in managing a team
• Strong leadership, mentorship, coaching and consensus building skills
• Tech savvy, with a high degree of skills in basic computer applications, including spreadsheets and databases.
• Knowledge and experience with overseeing the production of digital content for the web and mobile platforms.
• Comfortable with social media.
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills
• Comfortable with change
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize activities to deliver on commitments.
• Understand the fiscal constraints of a non-profit and is able to deploy resources efficiently to obtain the maximum results given limited budgets.
• Familiar with CKUA’s history, programming and culture
Working Relationships:
• Reports to the Chief Operating Officer
• Works closely with the management team and other staff at CKUA to support departmental marketing needs
• Works collaboratively with the Executive Producer of Community and Special Projects to co-create content from CKUA’s live performance initiatives
Desired Competencies:
The Content Director is expected to demonstrate the following competencies and behaviours in order to successfully meet the requirements of the position and to support the goals and objectives of CKUA Radio.
• Ability to work cooperatively as a member of the CKUA team, to assist and support other staff, and to facilitate a team environment through work contributions and the sharing of expertise and knowledge.
• Ability to demonstrate conduct appropriate to the occasion, when representing CKUA on a formal or informal basis.
• Ability to support, coach, develop and encourage fellow staff
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills (verbal & written) in dealing with staff, suppliers, sponsors and other stakeholders. Exercises discretion and diplomacy.
• Personal initiative and creativity/innovation to facilitate the marketing of CKUA.
• Excellent planning and organization skills.
• A desire to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
Contact in Confidence
Ed Davies
Partner
Davies Turpin & Associates
780 903-1488
ecd@daviesturpin.com
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