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10 Questions with ... Joe Pagliarulo
March 7, 2006
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TITLE:Morning HostSTATION:WOAIMARKET:San AntonioCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN: Amityville, New York (Insert Joke Here)RAISED:Long Island, NY and Palm Beach County, FL
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I've been broadcasting for 17 years.. radio from the beginning with 12 years of TV at the same time. Started as a jock -- with a constant eye on getting into talk. In the last three years, I've been heard on Clear Channel's WOAI/San Antonio, WIOD/Miami, WFLA/Tampa, WGY/Albany, WHAM/Rochester, WXDX/Detroit, WRVA/Richmond, as well as a fill-in shot on the Glenn Beck Program in December. I also subbed a couple of years ago for Steve Malzberg on WABC/New York. Much of this while doing the main shows at WRGB-TV in Albany, NY.
1. How did you get your start in radio?
I called a radio station in Belle Glade, Florida (hey it was still the Palm Beach market) and got a part time gig right there on that phone call.
2. What are you passionate about?
Knowing a lot about a lot. And, not just heavy topics -- just anything from politics, to fads, to pop culture, to family stuff, to sports to news -- whatever. I love to relate that knowlege to the audience.. and get their take.. challenge them and have them challenge me.
3. You have extensive experience in radio and TV, and you came to WOAI from the CBS affiliate in Albany- what are the best and worst things about making the move into radio? What's better- or worse- about radio as opposed to doing TV news?
Some would see the move I made as a step backward. Not me. I'm a broadcaster -- I love to do it, no matter the medium. I've been doing radio for a long time -- so, I don't see this as a break from TV and a move to radio.. more like I'm just switching the full and part time jobs. TV and radio are not as different as some would have us believe. The major difference is that on TV I could use my hands and eyes to get what I was saying across. On radio, I'm still using my hands and eyes... the listeners just can't see them, so the words take the lead role. At the same time, radio is so much less formal, that relating comes much more naturally. I don't see any of this as "better or worse," just different.
4. If you couldn't do what you're doing- if you couldn't be a radio host- what would you most likely be doing? What would you most like to do?
Batting clean-up for the Yankees. Okay, I can see the next question coming -- if I couldn't do THAT -- I'd, more than likely be wrenching on cars. I'm a good ol' American sports car junkie.
5. You're from Long Island and you've worked in places like Lansing, Saginaw, Grand Rapids and Albany before heading to Texas- what's been the most surprising thing you've found about San Antonio so far?
That it's a really big city (population over a million) and it acts like a small town... and that's a good thing. Plenty of culture.. and southern charm.
6. You've worked in TV and radio in several markets- Lansing, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Albany- and have been filling in for Todd Schnitt (Tampa, Miami) and elsewhere- have you found differences in the kind of callers and audience you get from different areas, or are people more similar than might be assumed from stereotypical regional differences?
Good question. There are big differences -- to a point. The callers in New York City/Albany and Miami are very similar. You can start to hear things get a bit more laid back in Tampa -- and certainly in San Antonio. I did quite a long stint at WHAM in Rochester -- and found the audience to be different still. This time, only really interested in what was happening right there right then. In many of the other markets, local is very important, but branching out is more readily acceptible. I'm honored to do the work I've done and continue to do in all of these markets -- and really embrace the differences all as very positive.
7. Of what are you most proud?
My marriage, kids, and the ability to support them in a solid fashion. Professionally? That so many have felt comfortable enough to turn to me to crack the mic on their stations when there was a need.
8. What do you do for fun?
Movies, go to Spurs (or Heat and Marlins if in So. Fl) games, just hang out with my family, and, my favorite thing -- sampling as many Chinese buffets as possible. You pay one price-- and get to eat as much as you want. Crazy!!
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without __________________.
...Diet Dr. Pepper -- and debating someone on something.
10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
Best advice? (paraphrasing here)
Don't ever forget to be entertaining. That's the job. -- Gabe Hobbs VP/News, Talk, Sports -- Clear Channel Radio
If you want to be taken seriously in talk radio, quit TV and get serious about radio -- Phil Boyce -- WABC/ABC Radio Network
A good topic is a good topic, it doen't matter what it is or where it comes from -- Greg Foster -- OM/PD WGY/Albany
Don't be so intense all the time -- you're going to pop a blood vessel -- Jeff Howlett -- OM/PD WHAM/Rochester
Worst Advice? (paraphrasing again)
Don't do it! -- Neil Rogers responding to my question calling his show when I was a kid in South Florida. The question? "What advice would you have for a kid looking to get into radio?"
Instead of Floor - i- da say Flar-i-da. You're not pronouncing the state correctly -- some dorky PD in Ft. Myers/Naples in the early 90s.
Get a real job! -- my parents, sisters, grandparents, clergy, guidance counselors, little league coach, et al.
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