Welcome to my new-ish resurrected blog. I did this many years ago, but like everything else when schedules get busy, it went by the wayside.
One of my goals for 2025 is to bring this blog back as a way to communicate to you – our valued listeners and members. So, grab a cup of coffee and hang with me a bit, as I take time to share Jazz90.1 happenings and other tidbits that I hope that you find interesting.
In Times Like These – We Need Radio
I sit here on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the day following another school shooting, and the day after the murder of a political activist, wondering why.
Like many of you – I can’t make heads or tails of what’s happening in our world. I fear that my three-year-old daughter will see all of this hatred around her as she grows up. I fear for her safety, and I fear for the world she will have to navigate through eventually on her own.
I remember a time when we came together to support one another in times of heartache and crisis. When political parties were put aside, and when you did what you could to help those around you. When you could carry on a respectful conversation about your views, without fear of harm.
We saw that togetherness in New York City on 9/11/01, and we also saw and heard it throughout the Country on television and radio.
I fondly remember my days in radio and TV news – both at 1180 WHAM and my time with WOKR TV-13 – and I vividly remember what it was like to be in the newsroom when awful events like these unfolded. I remember the excitement of breaking news, as well as the buzz of reporters and anchors rushing to get on the air with important updates, while they swallowed down their own fear, anger and confusion.
That job is (and was) to serve the public with breaking local, national and international news.
Radio has been here for you for over 100 years. Television came into our homes in the late 50’s and 60’s. Along with these new forms of mass media came the promise of service to the citizens. The promise of ethical, truthful and trustworthy news.
In fact – broadcast licenses from The Federal Communications Commission mandate that we operate in the interest of the public.
I can remember September 11, 2001 like it was yesterday. It was a day that our lives forever changed.
I was getting ready to head to class at St. John Fisher University when the world seemed to pause after those planes hit. What we saw on television was shocking and scary.
I drove to campus, listening intently to the news on the radio. The late President of the college had cancelled classes for the day, but we didn’t have the real time alerts that we have now. Students headed to the dining hall for lunch, and there was a buzz about what was happening, while we also watched it on large TV monitors.
I immediately drove to channel 13 where I worked as a web content editor for their “iKnowRochester.com” website. I checked in with my boss to see how I could help, and then also checked in with the newsroom at 1180 WHAM. I remember the sound of my News Director Randy Gorbman’s voice when he answered the newsroom phone. I could hear the shock in his voice, as well as the dedication to deliver the breaking news on one of the most powerful AM stations in the Country.
I felt helpless, and I wanted to do what I could to support my teams at both stations.
I consider it a career highlight to have worked with such passionate professionals during one of the biggest and most tragic events in our history. It’s a fraternity – and one I am happy to be a member of.
We have seen public media attacked and defunded these last few months. An effort to silence the same voices who were there (and are there) for us during the most tragic events.
Events like we’ve seen in recent days and months.
We’ve seen the devastating impact of cuts to public media outlets, which are the same stations that we rely on.
Stations have been forced to cut their news programming due to these federal budget cuts.
Public stations like ours are such an important part of the media landscape, and it’s so important that we do what we can to keep them around.
We’ve been here for you. We will do our best to continue, but we need your help.
But – what if we weren’t here on 9/11/01. What if we didn’t have the ability to bring you the information you need, and also programming to help keep us calm?
As we head into our fall fundraising season, I ask for you to please give what you can to keep independent public media outlets like Jazz90.1 on the air. We’re always here for you, through the good times and the bad.
We need you now – more than ever, and you need us.
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