10 Questions with ... Andrew Paul

NAME:Andrew Paul TITLE:Program Director SHOW:KBOI-A and KTIK-A MARKET:Boise, Idaho COMPANY:Citadel Broadcasting BORN:New York RAISED:Northern California

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Been PD of KBOI/KTIK since December 2002. Prior to that was in Albuquerque as PD of KNML since February of 1995. Hosted sports talk show on KKOB-AM beginning in 1997, when started with Citadel. Prior to that with XTRA in San Diego and KMEN in Riverside.

1. What made you decide to go into radio? Why radio?

When I was young I always dreamed of being a sports announcer. When I had the first opportunity to work at the college radio station at UC Santa Barbara, KCSB, I loved it instantly. What an amazing adrenaline rush the first time I was on the air. I've been in radio ever since.

2. About what are you most passionate?

I would say that's evolved over the years. It used to be sports... football, baseball, basketball, all of it. I still am passionate about sports, especially KBOI's involvement in Boise State football, but my interests have grown. I love our all-talk format, where anything goes. In the sports world, the subject matter is so limited. There are no limits to what we can address on the air each day, and the impact we can make on the community.

3. You've been at KBOI for about six years -- what's the biggest change at the station in that time? How have things changed there during your time at the station?

The biggest changes just happened within the past six months. First, KBOI lost the Boise State broadcast rights to a competitor across town. Now, we have secured the rights to Rush Limbaugh effective January 1, 2009. Overall, the station has had many changes. For example, going from a local afternoon show to nationally syndicated, and now back to local again. I'm most proud of how we've expanded and greatly improved our news department. We had only one full-timer in the news department when I got here, and now we have four. We are able to break news, report live on the scene, advance today's news throughout the day, use a ton of natural sound... all of the things we did not do when I started here. I'm also really proud of how KBOI has become synonymous with Boise State football. We really cemented the brand over the past six years, to the point where now we don't have the rights, and we still own the brand in town with our pre-game and post-game coverage.

4. You have a fierce competitor across town, and you've lately struck a blow by grabbing Rush Limbaugh away after losing Boise State sports to them; what does having that kind of competition mean to your station?

Personally, I love competition of any kind. They have been a fierce competitor of KBOI for a long time, well before I got here. No question, it's intensified recently, with former KBOI management now over there. It makes it pretty easy for me to motivate my staff. Our team has always given me everything they have every day. I wouldn't trade any one of them.

5. You were a host as well as a PD in Albuquerque -- do you miss being a regular on the air? What, if anything, do you miss about being a host?

I really don't miss being on the air regularly. I get my fix by hosting KBOI's three-hour pre-game show before Boise State games and I fill in for our morning hosts on KBOI and our afternoon host on KTIK. I'm a much better PD, not being on the air every day, so I wouldn't change a thing.

6. Who are your influences, inspirations, and/or mentors?

My mentors are Brian Jennings, Pat Frisch, Bob Shomper, Howard Freedman, Bob Agnew... I've been very lucky to have worked for some of the best Program Directors in the country. As I've grown as a manager, I have been influenced greatly by some great General Managers, including Cindy Schloss, Bob Proffitt, and Kevin Godwin, among others. When I think of inspirations, I think of my days in college, when I hoped to follow in the footsteps of guys like Jim Rome and Steve Czaban, and then my early days at XTRA working with Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton and so many other great talents.

7. Of what are you most proud?

Great question. Probably because I haven't really ever answered it before. I'm proud of what I've accomplished in my career, not any one thing in particular. But I really feel I have so many more dreams and aspirations to fulfill, that I hope to answer that question much better in the years to come.

8. What do you do for fun?

Be with friends and family, golf, ski, travel... watching sports, etc.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _____________.

...making someone laugh.

10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?

"Don't screw it up"... probably could answer both questions. The best advice I've received as a manager has come from those who have preached... lead, follow and get out of the way... delegate and empower. Definitely has been easier said than done.