10 Questions with ... TJ Hart

NAME:TJ Hart TITLE:PD/ND/Online News SHOW:WSKY-FM97.3 The Sky MARKET:Gainesville-Ocala, FL COMPANY:Entercom BORN:2-6-60 RAISED:Brook, IN

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Music radio from 1975 to 1997 with stops at WJCK-FM/Rensselaer, IN; WTHI/Terre Haute, IN; KNET/Palestine, TX; and 14 years at WFMB-FM/Springfield, IL. TV News/weather 1997 to 2004 at WICS/Springfield, IL while at the same time programming and talk hosting at Hot Talk 970 WMAY. Presently enjoying life as PD/ND/Online News at News Talk 97.3 The SKY in Gainesville-Ocala, FL.

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

I heard Larry Lujack doing some amusing cross-talk about a news story with Jeffrey Hendricks on WLS circa 1970, and thought that I should explore broadcasting as a career as opposed to being an Indiana pig farmer.

2. About what are you most passionate these days?

Freedom of speech. I will defend this right to my dying breath!

3. You went from music radio, which you did for a long stretch, to talk radio. How did that transition come about, and what principles of programming from your music radio days have been useful or applicable for your talk hosting and news and talk programming?

The transition came about when I started realizing that most folks go through life not knowing a damn thing about what's going on around them---and thought that I might have been becoming one of them. Principles: Hook them with your opening line, entertain them while delivering the information and opinions, create a spirited engagement with the callers, hit the crescendo -- crush and roll. Know when to hit your exit on a topic.

4. What, if anything, does being on FM mean to WSKY? Are there differences in the way you program and market the station because it's on FM -- different demos, different attitude?

The FM sound certainly makes the listening experience much better with a clear signal, no static, etc. The imaging is greatly enhanced by being on FM. I do use a much more "in-your-face" attitude with the imaging, but in the end-content is still king! The content HAS TO BE GREAT. Our demos are slightly younger, but the attitudes of even the older listeners appear to be much more engaged on FM than they were when I did AM.

5. Of what are you most proud?

I'm actually humbled by being lucky enough to get into this business in the first place. Every day is a blessing.

6. How, if in any way, has WSKY's programming, marketing, and/or promotion changed since the economy went south?

WSKY Programming News and Online News is all about the economy.its realities, its perceived realities, the pros/cons -- praise/condemnations of the economic pulse, policies, legislation and its affects on regular people. We started the WSKY Taxpayer Tea Party Network for those planning tax day protests and we're offering more prizes of cash and free gasoline with our online contesting. Imaging also heavily reflects the current economic situation with fresh news actualities regularly inserted into the imaging.

7. Who are your mentors, influences, and inspirations in the business?

8. What do you do to relax?

I'll have to get back to you on that....

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

...hearing my radio station.

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

Worst: Pay no attention to that internet thing -- it's just a fad. It'll be gone faster than than the leisure suit or the pet rock.