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10 Questions with ... Greg Tantum
September 23, 2008
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NAME:Greg TantumTITLE:Program DirectorCOMPANY:Red Zebra BroadcastingMARKET:Washington, DCBORN:Plainfield, New JerseyRAISED:New Jersey and Ohio
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started in high school at a local station in Greenville, Ohio (beat baling hay). Anchor, reporter and news director in Ohio and Indiana. Then out to San Diego, eventually becoming program director of KSDO, then news director and morning anchor at KOGO. Program Director at KING in Seattle. On to Philadelphia to Operations and Program Director at WCAU and later assistant Program Director at WIP. Seven years at KFWB as Executive Editor/Program Director. Seven years News Director at KGO, San Francisco. Couldn't resist the urge to give up a great station and paradise to help create and launch Washington Post Radio with Bonneville. It was a noble experiment. Now having fun programming a conservative and a "progressive" talk station during the most interesting and important election in my lifetime, and doing it in Washington DC!
1. How did you get your start in radio? Why radio?
Like many in our business, I started at the hometown station. I was 14 or 15 years old. On weekends I would sign the radio station on at 6 a.m., working until 2 p.m. when my older brother would relieve me and work until sign off. In retrospect, it is quite scary that the crazy Tantum Brothers had control of a Federally licensed facility. That's another story. Although I was majoring in speech and hearing therapy at Miami University (Ohio), I worked at the small commercial radio station in Oxford. The staff included Rick Ludwin, now an executive vice president of programming at NBC (and given credit by many for saving Seinfeld in it's first season), and Bob Nave of the Lemon Pipers.
2. About what are you most passionate these days?
My family, my faith and spoken word radio. Oh, I have an increased passion for the Washington Redskins these days.
3. What's the biggest change you've seen in radio since you started your career back in Ohio?
Of course, the biggest change has been deregulation and consolidation. Technology. The loss of so many small market opportunities for talent to develop. I joke about my early days in Greenville but by the time I got to college I had been on the air, done play by play sports, covered city council meetings, actually sold advertising and even learned to change ribbons on AP and UPI machines. (Perhaps we should expain what those were for the readers).
4. You've worked at some of the great radio stations in the industry, notably at KGO. What, in your opinion, makes a great news and/or talk radio station?
Mickey Luckoff and Jack Swanson. In other words, real leaders at the station level who understand you need to be a part of the community. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but it is one of the best ways to research what your listeners are talking about and becoming a true reflection of your market. Leadership to fight your own company for what you believe in. This kind of leadership permeates through the whole building down to the folks in the mailroom. In the end, it results in long term ratings and revenue not just a good report for the next quarter.
5. Your new stations have syndicated lineups with new and unique imaging for the election season. That raises the question: What makes a good syndicated show? What do you look for in a syndicated show that elevates it from the pack?
Does the personality cut through the radio? (how many times have we heard that line used but it is true) Is the personality unique beyond the ideology. How willing is the host (and or syndicater) of the show willing to support your station? It is pretty basic. Does the show (host) make you laugh, cry, mad, sad? Will the host or syndicator listen to your input?
6. Who are your influences, mentors, inspirations in the business?
There are so many. I always like to mention Roy Dittman, who was my first large market News Director at the old WING in Dayton (I was G. Paul Tantum). Roy had (and still does) the ability to make you want to charge the hill for him. He was able to get you to work 110% while seldom raising his voice. I also appreciated the way he balanced his family life with work. I have worked for and with the best in the business. From the aforementioned Luckoff and Swanson, to the late John Bayliss and Jay Cook. Chris Claus, my GM at KFWB. Walter Sabo has helped me look at things in a different way.
7. Of what are you most proud?
Raising three kids and spoiling four granddaughters. Professionally, I'm very proud of Washington Post Radio. It was short-lived, but the work and the passion everyone put into it was very special both at Bonneville and at the Washington Post. I'm proud both sides gave it a shot.
8. What do you do for fun?
I do the tennis and the golf when time allows. Enjoy weekends with my wife going to movies taking advantage of everything to see and do in the DC area.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ___________.
...doing at least the Washington Post and New York Times crossword puzzles. I'm still struggling with Sudoku but figure I don't need another puzzle addiction.
10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
The best advice, I guess, is summed by and old friend who said, "Learn to roll with the punches".
The worst? Buy Cisco at 68.00; it can only go up!
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