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10 Questions with ... Paul Ihander
August 3, 2010
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started in radio at age of 8, cutting a promo spot for a basketball tournament (Sesame Street bed), worked my way into a weekend shift at KAST-AM, Astoria, OR, at 14. Called play-by-play sports/weekend news shift through graduation at University of Oregon in 1997. Worked at now defunct Hollywood Video for a couple years until taking News Director role at KSND-FM, Newport, OR, in 1999. In 2000, joined KEX-AM, Portland, OR, as a weekend overnight anchor. Worked way through ranks there, and moved to WOAI-AM, San Antonio, TX, as afternoon co-anchor in 2004. Promoted to APD role, then to morning co-anchor. Transitioned to EA Sports in 2007 as part of internet radio/game project. Back to terrestrial radio as morning reporter at KOA-AM, Denver, CO, in mid-2008. Took on KCSJ PD job in June 2010, then added sports duties one month later. Here we are.
1. What made you decide to go into radio?
Initially, the chance to spend time with my father. He called play-by-play for the high school sports teams, and went through a rotating list of color guys. He suggested me to the station managers, and we teamed up for six years. I stayed in radio because I caught the bug. Cracking the mike and delivering the news of the day provided importance to me -- I felt like I naturally belonged in the big chair. I tried to get out -- once through nursing school, the other with video games -- but radio truly does take hold. I pretty much grew up on the air in my hometown of Astoria, Oregon. Not one visit goes by without someone mentioning to me -- "I remember when you and your dad" -- that's incredibly special to me.
2. You've moved from doing the news on KOA to programming down the road. So far, what's been the biggest adjustment? What has it been like getting used to the job?
Having worked at such large heritage stations like KOA, KEX and WOAI, the simple adjustment is having fewer people to bounce things off of. It's a smaller show here - and I'm relying on my early experiences in radio at smaller stations to get me through some of the challenges. I'm the weekday and weekend board op, production guy, call screener, imaging director, PD, news host, producer, station ambassador, and prize securer. The day doesn't end. I find I'm even more of a teacher than ever before. It's showing those I work with the nuances of clocks, where to find downloads, how to transition in and out of breaks. I'm putting in 50-55 hours a week minimum at the office. It's because I want these stations to succeed. I walked into -- quite frankly -- a situation of neglect. Double audio, messy clocks, some imaging dating back nearly 10 years, and no clear direction. We're getting there -- and there's a noticeable difference.
3. At KCSJ, you're programming a station in a market where adjacent-market stations -- namely, your sister Clear Channel stations, KOA (where you worked until recently) and KHOW -- are available. How does that impact your approach? How do you make your station the local go-to outlet, even when some of the programming is duplicated on the Denver stations?
Everyday, I'm reminded KOA is the station to turn to. I knew this after spending a few nights at a hotel when I first came to Pueblo. Inside a community book, there's a list of local TV stations and radio. The only radio station on the list - KOA. 100 miles away. I also see it in my station's ratings. KCSJ's been a part of Southern Colorado for more than 60 years - but in recent years, it's faded away into just another plug and play talk station. We combat KOA and the others by reintroducing ourselves as the station to turn to for news in Southern Colorado. When I-25 floods in Pueblo, we break in. When someone calls in saying there's a black smoke plume on the East side, we find out what it is within minutes, and get it on the air. My best news people are the sales staff sitting outside my office - they know things before or as they happen, and are finding it easier to trust I'll at least make a call on something. A long overdue website (590kcsj.com) overhaul went live two weeks ago. Initial response is good. We're finding new ways to extend our reach to a "need it now" audience there. I don't need a clever catchphrase to bring people back - I need consistency.
When locals here tune to KOA, and they get breaking news - the majority of the time, it is an issue in Denver, not here. We need to remind the area we serve them outside of TOH and BOH, even in syndication. This month, we're installing a new local talk show as a lead-in to Rush. It used to be a program with nothing other than 10-15 of the same people calling in and whining about national and world politics - spewing the same opinions over and over. They'll still get to moan about politics, but it will be more about Southern Colorado than D.C. It'll be a good test for us.
4. Including the shows you have on the station right now, what syndicated shows are your favorites? What's good radio to you?
I never tune away from J.T. The Brick. He's not hiding behind agenda, or politics - he's just rolling off the cuff about sports. I've always been partial to Coast to Coast AM, Art and George. It's something totally unique and different from anything else out there. It's what kept me company at night at KEX, and on long trips across the country. You probably want a political guy here, too, so here's my dark horse -- Ben Ferguson. He's young, motivated and busts his butt to put on a solid three hours on a Sunday night. I don't always agree with him -- but talk radio needs more youth, and Ben's one of those guys who could lead the next generation. I have to admit, I'm a big fan of Loveline. I'm unable to put a finger on it for why, I just enjoy the show. Colin Cowherd has come a long way from Portland. ESPN's lucky to have him as the follow to M&M. My first gig had me running the Jim Bohannon Show on Sunday nights... I can still hear the music bed. I love that guy's voice.
Good radio doesn't yell at me -- it makes me think, but also keeps me entertained, no matter my political or social beliefs. It's why I'm partial to things like Kim Komando and Cigar Dave. Rush, Sean, Glenn -- those guys are at their level because they've honed their craft, worked hard, and have my sincere respect. But - the best radio remains local. There are so many good hosts out there at all levels who get the job done - and you never hear them making waves above the fold or on Extra.
5. You worked for a time at EA Sports (under radio legend Nate Lundy, now up the road at KKFN in Denver), working on the company's online trivia game. What, if anything, did you learn during your time in the video game business? How alike or different was it from working in radio?
EA opened my eyes. My time there showed me there are no bad ideas. It's great to hear 40 people come together in a room -- spitball a stream of concepts, and not have any one of them shot down. I also learned I'm okay not being in a comfort zone. I'm a pure novice when it comes to video game programming, and some meetings felt like I spoke German, and they spoke Spanish. But, I survived and learned a lot from people who possess passion for their craft and their business. Their enthusiasm became contagious. It paralleled radio in its desire to be creative and provide an experience. It's what talk radio sometimes forgets about -- we find ourselves bouncing needles without knowing why.
6. You've been a reporter at major stations in Portland, San Antonio, and Denver with relatively large news operations. With the economy, consolidation, and regionalization having an impact on the radio news business, do you see radio news as essential and growing again in the future, or are you less optimistic? Where do you see radio news, ten years from now?
This could be the Jerry Maguire moment of this 10Q. I've been fortunate to have worked at those heritage stations - where local news finds a home nearly around the clock. But if I got into the business now, there's no place for me to start in such a large market. Overnight news usually gets farmed out. Radio news and talk will die on the vine if we don't figure out a way to get fresh voices and perspective on the air. And those voices need someone with the time to listen and teach. Older reporters retire, newsrooms downsize and the knowledge leaves the building. I had the luck of getting started early, running boards, writing up copy for spots, producing and anchoring and soaking up what I could from the veterans. Those opportunities are limited now - because everyone wants the same job - and I know I can get a hardened news hound at the same price as a fresh face. There's the non-optimistic real economic side of things.
Radio News 2020 will lean on many of the cornerstones it's developing now - and yes, it is essential. Sitting in the car, on the bus, in the middle seat on a flight to Miami - there will be plenty of ways, and newer ways to access what's happening back home. News on-demand, video/audio podcasting, and shows with a heavy emphasis on social media-internet interaction. Radio news needs to grow. I'd love to see a web team member head out with a street reporter on a big story. Ta-da - instant team coverage. TV already does it with a camera engineer and a reporter - and there's a web guy waiting for the video in-studio. I envision more shows like my friend Ryan Lindsay's "Sports Interactive" at KTAR-AM in Phoenix. It relies on social media and turns an already in-touch local audience into active participants, even when the phone lines are busy. There's a guy who works hard at his craft, and needs to ascend.
7. Who are your mentors and inspirations in the business?
Let's start with Nate (Lundy). He and I have known each other for more than 10 years. He's always thought while I've been a great news anchor, my mind thinks more like a programmer. We've always been honest with each other- and he's never turned me away when advice is needed. He's one of my closest friends.
I'm thankful for people like Ken Charles, Steve Versnick and Mike Dirkx. They've always been open to my e-mails and phone calls - and I listen to their stations. I'm a radio station collector, taking the best from each station I sample and using it to my advantage. It makes for interesting car rides with the wife. "Honey, could you write something down for me?"
I'm inspired by many of the news people I've worked with in my career so far. Greg Jarrett at WGN pulled me aside early in my KEX run and helped me with my writing. Here's a guy who gets let go from KGO -- another great heritage station -- hangs in there, and transforms himself into one of the top dogs in Chicago. There's inspiration. I look to guys like the now-retired Jim Howe (KEX) and still reigning news directors Brad Ford (KEX) and Jim Forsyth (WOAI), who hold their passion for radio throughout their careers.
8. Of what are you most proud right now?
I tell this story to anyone who will listen and it's what really hit home about the power of radio. September 2005 -- Hurricane Rita roars ashore in SE Texas/SW Louisiana. I pull a 2p-4a shift anchoring news and helping produce Jason and Rob Thompson, who are also handing marathon storm coverage at WOAI. About 11p or so, we take a call from a local who says he can't get through to family in the Lake Charles area on his cell phone. We offer up advice, and remind him sometimes texts have an easier time getting through. An hour later, he calls back, saying his text made it through, his family is okay - huddled in the dark on a second floor and listening to us. We also get an early morning call from a woman who asks if we can help in getting messages through to Louisiana state guard troops about 40 or so people trapped in a flooded New Orleans church. At the time, we had a direct email link with a Governor's spokesperson. That person was able to confirm later in the day, the church had been reached, and those people accounted for. We kept people company - and told them things would be okay in the worst conditions imaginable.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________.
...laughing with my wife at least once and reminding myself life can be really simple and enjoyable.
10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
Best advice: It's a simple philosophy, but "just be yourself and leave it all on the table." It's gotten me to this point in my career. It's why I can go back to the stations I used to work at, and walk in the door and get a handshake without an awkward smile. It's why there's always one person at those stations who says they'll still go to war with me.
I'm also a fan of Jessica Biel's: "If you want big rewards, you gotta take big risks" from "Summer Catch". Not advice - but kind of something I live by.
Worst advice: It came from the inner voice. It told me to give up piano in third-grade. I took up trombone instead. Not a lot of dinner parties on this planet where you can unpack a trombone and get people to sing along. But I can play the A-Team theme, and a little Herbie Hancock.
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