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10 Questions with ... Mike Bendixen
April 4, 2006
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NAME:Mike BendixenTITLE:News and Program DirectorSTATION:CJADMARKET:Montreal, CanadaCOMPANY:Standard RadioBORN:August 11, 1978RAISED:Toronto, Canada
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started volunteering at Canada's Talk Radio monster CFRB 1010 in Toronto. After convincing the program director that they had to hire me, I was hired in 2000 as the morning show producer. After a couple years of that, I also branched out to do some reporting, including from Sri Lanka following the Tsunami.
Was offered the job of news and program director at CFRB's sister station CJAD 800 in Montreal in May of 2005, and moved to Montreal in July 2005.
1. How did you get your start in radio?
I began volunteering in the CFRB promotions department and after about 6 months was volunteer producing the morning show.
2. What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about live breaking news stories. Live local talk shows. Love being able to tell someone a story for the first time.
3. CJAD is your first PD job after a long stretch producing at CFRB- what about the job has been the biggest surprise so far? What's been the toughest thing about it?
The biggest surprise so far has been the amount of "things" that go into running a radio station. I am also very surprised about how passionate our listeners are, and so the toughest thing is trying to keep current listeners happy, while working to attain a new audience.
4. If you hadn't gone into radio, what would you be doing today?
Not an option. Once I walked in the doors I knew that I had to be involved in some way or another.
5. Before you joined CJAD, you were pressed into action covering the aftermath of the tsunami firsthand. What have been the most lasting memories from that trip?
The most lasting memories are simply traveling across Sri Lanka and seeing how people were impacted. Sure, we all saw the images on television, but it was nothing like actually being there. I couldn't believe that after such a disaster the people were still so hopeful. It was an assignment that truly changed my life, and made me appreciate what I have.
6. Who are your mentors and/or your inspirations?
My mentors are the people that I have worked with, and the people that I currently work with. Steve Kowch, the PD at CFRB, was, and is, probably my biggest mentor; he taught me a lot about how news/talk radio works. Ted Woloshyn, the morning show host at CFRB, also taught me a ton about radio. He's been in the business for a long time and loves to share and teach.
The people that I currently work with at CJAD 800 are also very influential and have taught me a lot about working in the unique market that is Montreal.
7. CJAD is the heritage English-language news-talker in a predominantly French-speaking market, and it has competition from several sources, including a recently retooled English language talker. So far, what do you perceive as CJAD's most critical challenge? What are the things CJAD needs to do to retain its position as a leading station?
Our most critical challenge is probably trying to make our long-time listeners happy while trying to attract new listeners. CJAD 800 will continue to retain our position as the leading station because our staff is the best in the city. We know how to do this thing called news, talk radio and the competition is still trying to figure it out.
8. What do you do for fun?
I love to snowboard, and surf. And yes, you can do both in Montreal.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _____________.
...meeting with staff. Talking to the people that make CJAD 800 great. I love talking to hosts, news reporters, anchors and find out how things are with them. I love to add suggestions to talk show hosts, I guess it's the producer in me coming out.
10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
The best advice I ever got was from Ted Woloshyn, the morning show host at CFRB, who told me "Always be nice to the people on the way up, because you'll see them again on the way down."
The worst advice I ever got was from a high school teacher who told me that I would never become anything if I didn't try harder at math.
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