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10 Questions with ... Sean Sawatzky
August 30, 2005
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NAME:Sean SawatzkyPOSITION:General ManagerSTATION:KLRCMARKET:Fayetteville, ARCOMPANY:John Brown UniversityBORN:Denver, CORAISED:Yukon, OK
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I'm one of those guys who have always known what they wanted to do. My parents would be quick to tell you about my makeshift studio at 7 or 8 years old, the late night radio contests I would play after I was supposedly in bed, etc. My first radio job came when I could legally drive myself to the studio just after my 16th birthday. I haven't taken anytime off of radio since that time, working at KBXR & KWEY/Weatherford, OK, KECO/Elk City, OK, KEZA/Fayetteville, AR, KUOA/Siloam Springs, AR, and KLRC/ Siloam Springs, AR. That's AC, Country, News/ Talk, and the format I'm most passionate about... contemporary Christian music.
1. What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
My first radio job was at KBXR in Weatherford, OK. I worked nights for this AC station while in high school. They were kind enough to give me a contemporary Christian show on Sunday mornings. I'll never forget... this station carried horse race results from a track in Oklahoma City. One of the reports was scheduled during the contemporary Christian show I was doing. No one in management saw any problem with that at all. They did, however, have a problem with the spoof I aired from someone calling in their praise report for winning big thanks to the gambling tip they heard that Sunday morning. That's how I met the new GM /Owner.
I guess my earliest influences would be some of the jocks at KJ-103 out of Oklahoma City. I remember how much fun it was to listen to them - the silly contests, the stunts they'd pull, it all made radio sound like so much fun.
2. What does Christian Radio need to do in order to break through to a mass audience on a more consistent basis?
I think we need to take a good hard look at who we're trying to reach. Is it the crusaders? It should be the people who actually don't feel "good enough" to listen to Christian radio. Jesus set the example of meeting people right where they were - and He never compromised the message in the process.
We also need to be setting the bar high in all we do. We should never use the fact that we're a "Christian" radio station as an excuse for sub par programming, equipment, or staff. We're called to a much higher standard. I'm excited to see so many great Christian stations setting the standard in their market. We've come a long way! I do think we have a lot to learn about how to market our stations as well. We've got to go to our listener rather than expect them to find us.
3. Can you be a boss and also a friend to your employees?
This one's going to be hard to answer in a few sentences. There are certainly those that would disagree with me, but I have to say yes, though it's not always easy. It should not be the goal of a boss to be friends with all employees. There are decisions you have to make that won't always be popular and if your biggest concern is winning everyone over, you'll fail miserably as a boss. With that said, when a mutual respect is present between both the boss and employee, a friendship can most definitely form. The danger is that a friend might sometimes expect preferential treatment, simply because they are a friend. The upside, assuming you're treating everyone equally, is that a staff member who is also a friend is likely to work that much harder at accomplishing station goals. Everyone wins in that scenario.
4. What do you like best about your job? Least?
Wow. There are so many great things about working in this industry. I'd have to say my favorite is how we get to impact so many lives. Radio is such a powerful and intimate tool. I love that at the exact same time, God is using something as simple as a song to speak to so many people in so many different places in their lives. This is an amazing industry! Least favorite part of my job? Dealing with the FCC in the area of non-commercial rules & regulations. Surely there's a better way!
5. What is your favorite radio station outside of your own market?
I love it that we can now listen to stations online - from anywhere in the country. I spend a lot of time listening to KCMS. I really respect the impact they have in their market and see them as a model of an excellent Christian station. There are many other great ones out there - the Fish in Atlanta has a terrific music mix, I have a lot of respect for WAY FM as well as KSBJ, KLTY, KXOJ, etc.
6. If you could add any one full-time position to your budget, with no questions asked, what would it be?
This would definitely be a community relations position. One of the primary tasks would be to form solid relationships with area churches. Our radio station and the local churches are doing very similar things in the community. I'd love to see that relationship strengthened in a way that we were consistently working with area churches to impact the community. The partnership would benefit the community, the church, and there's no denying that cume could increase! We're the only format out there with a weekly gathering of so many P1's.
7. If you were just starting out in radio toady, but you knew what you know now, would you continue forward?
Absolutely! When you love what you do, it's no longer work. The paycheck is a benefit, not the purpose.
8. What book have you read that has touched you or taught you the most?
Let's see - "book" is singular isn't it? I always have a hard time picking a favorite... anything! It wasn't an easy read, but "Good to Great" is well worth the time. "The Fred Factor" teaches some similar concepts. I've enjoyed most everything I've read from John Maxwell. For personal finances, Dave Ramsey can NOT be beat!
9. What is your favorite passage of Scripture?
It's difficult to pick just one, but I really like Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
10. What is it that motivates you to be 'All You Can Be'?
Imagining Christ saying "Well done my good & faithful servant." If you can't do something with excellence, is it really worth doing?
Bonus Questions
What's in your CD player right now?
My CD player is wide open, anxiously waiting for some record rep somewhere to send me a copy of the new Todd Agnew project! Ok, I may have to buy this one.
Cat or Dog person?
Dog. Definitely dog - they're always happy to see you, they love completely unconditionally, and all they want to do is please you! Dogs are great fun.
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