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10 Questions with ... Ron Baker
May 22, 2007
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NAME:Ron BakerLAST WITH:Prettyman Broadcasting, WICL/Hagerstown, MD, Program DirectorPHONE:(304) 676-7965EMAIL:ronbaker33@verizon.net
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I surround myself with positive people. Staying motivated is a self discipline that I have always had. I get a certain satisfaction from knowing that the job I did was well done and to someone else's satisfaction as well as my own.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Eating animal crackers and watching Bugs Bunny reruns. Oh ... and I coach Little League Girls Softball which has been the most fulfilling hobby that I have had. It's great having a kid you coached get a college scholarship to play ball and knowing you had something to do with that.
3) Some people get discouraged or enlightened with the business when they actually step out of it for a while. Tell us your observations from the outside.
Public Radio is killing itself. There is no locality to radio anymore. There is no interaction with the listener. The listener has no personal relationship with local radio anymore. Is it any wonder satellite radio market shares are growing. Local Public radio used to offer something that Satellite didn't. Now too many local radio stations are run by "bean counters."
4) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
So far my best source has been former General Managers. I have gotten a few leads and a few voice over gigs from them. Never burn bridges and always be professional, no matter how disgruntled you may be. It will pay off in the end.
5) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I have done small and medium market for years. I'm ready to move to a major market now. I'd love to work at one of the stations in DC or Baltimore. I listen to some of the talent on the air in those two markets and think to myself, hey, I'm better than that.
6) Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?
I am finding the salaries to be about the same as they were five years ago. The big difference now is that General Managers want you to wear so many different hats. Program Directors are spread so thin now. They usually end up programming the station they are on, while doing an airshift six days a week while doing a live broadcast on the seventh day. Promotions, some sales, maintaining the Public File, two hours of production, developing and updating the station website ... the list goes on and on. At my last gig, I would be at the station about nine hours a day and go home and sit in my home studio and do another two hours of show prep for the next day.
7) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
I try to convey my work ethic and loyalty. I worked for my last employer for a total of 10 1/2 years.
8) Are you able to slow down and enjoy free time doing things with your family and friends that you probably did not have time to do while you were working?
Oh yeah! Over the last few weeks, I've come to realize how much of watching my children grow up that I have missed out on doing radio seven days a week for 11 hours a day. I am hoping my next job will allow me to work to live instead of live to work.
9) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
I would say programming my first radio station at the age of 25. Plus, I have met some really fascinating people.
10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
This is easy. For those of you spending money on broadcast schools ... save it. Go to your local radio station, and ask them if you can help them. Tell them that you want to learn. Some of my best employee's were right out of high school, no experience at all. Just about every station has an AM sister station that needs a ball game or some other type of programming produced. Heck, my first gig was a "board-op" gig!
Bonus Questions
BONUS QUESTION: Great movies I've recently seen...
"We Are Marshall." Great movie. The critics are idiots. One of the best movies I have seen.
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