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10 Questions with ... Jeff Wolf
June 2, 2009
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NAME:Jeff WolfTITLE:Program DirectorSTATION:1240/1270 WINK News RadioMARKET:Fort Myers/Naples, FLCOMPANY:Meridian BroadcastingBORN:Fort Myers, FLRAISED:Cape Coral, FL
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I worked my way up the ladder here at WINK News Radio in Fort Myers, FL. I started as just a weekend board op in late 2003. Then in 2005 I was made full time and started producing the morning show. In October 2008 I was promoted to Program Director.
1. You started at WINK while still in high school and have stayed there; how did you get your start, and what drew you to working in radio? Why radio?
Well, both my parents are in the radio biz. My dad is an engineer and my mom has been a personality in music radio for more than 20 years. As a kid I was always mesmerized by all the shiny buttons, CD players, and cart machines (remember those?). Sometimes the disk jockeys would let me board op if I was there late at night with my dad, and I loved it. Flash foward to when I was a senior in high school and I realized I needed some sort of job but I didn't feel like doing any heavy lifting. So I was hired at WINK as a board op for the weekends in late 2003 -- that's how my professional career in radio started.
2. About what are you most passionate these days?
As far as the station is concerned -- I'm always obsessed with our imaging. It's so important for a news/talk station to capture the emotions of the hosts and what's going on in the news. It's something that I'm very passionate about and I always will be as long as I'm in radio. You gotta keep it fresh.Outside of radio I'm really into baseball even though my Tampa Bay Rays are struggling right now. I love music and it was my first love. I'm a drummer and I play at bars with a guitarist every once in a while, and that's always a lot of fun and such a release.
3. In your experience producing the morning show and now programming the station, what makes a great talk show -- what, to your ear, takes a show from average to special? Which shows, other than the one you work on, are your favorites?
Just about anyone can search for news, read some stories, and tell you what they think. The thing that makes a show great is when you have a host who can do all of that and be incredibly entertaining. News/Talk is the last place on the radio where real personalities come alive. I love the unpredictability that you can get from a great talk show. It's unscripted and that means anything can happen. I think that really appeals to people.My favorite syndicated show by far... Glenn Beck. He connects with you over the radio unlike anyone else does. His comedy is hip and the quality of his show production is the best in talk radio. You sick twisted freak!
4. In an area where everyone's from someplace else, you grew up right there in the Fort Myers area. As a local, what do you think would surprise outsiders the most about Southwest Florida?
We're not all old people! It's actually getting younger and younger down here. And summers here suck, it's way too hot and humid. The snowbirds have the right idea, come here in the winter and leave in the summer.
5. You juggle a lot of duties at WINK. What tends to take up the largest chunk of your time these days?
Well for the last week I've been worried about making sure we have quality guest hosts filling in on our morning show since Mandy Connell just had her baby and will be off for a few weeks. I've been very concerned about what effect this will have on our spring book, but I feel confident now that I have a good mix of hosts ready to fill in.Since we have a pretty small staff (like most stations nowadays), I spend a lot of time organizing our promotions and contests. Maintaining our website is always a constant challenge too. I no longer get to spend most of my time working on the morning show and I miss that.
6. If you hadn't gone into radio, what would you be doing today?
I think I'd be a drummer in an alternative rock band struggling to make it big. If that didn't work out I'd just be a local musician trying to make ends meet.
7. Who are your mentors, influences, and inspirations?
I gotta start with my parents first. They instilled in me a strong work ethic and of course the love of radio.My good friend E.J. Becker was a great mentor to me as well. He had a short stint as our afternoon news anchor before he moved on to KMBZ in Kansas City. He shared with me his formulas on how to make great radio and was always very encouraging. He's one of the best talents out there.
8. What do you do for fun?
It's always important to take a break from work. My girlfriend and I like to take trips around Florida and other parts of the country to get away. I love playing my drums when I get the chance, and I love chillin' with my Olde English Bulldogge.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _______________.
...my afternoon nap (mornings are hard for me).
10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
Best advice: "Work hard and never steal" "If you want it done right, do it yourself."Worst advice: "Dude, let me set you up with this girl."
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