The Daily Orange - April 8, 1983
WAER staff sets date for format decision
By Sharon Baker
WAER-FM88's senior staff will announce on April 22 whether they want to implement the station's new format.
Last week, Station Manager David Anderson said a jazz oriented format, with a major focus on news and information, will be adopted at the Syracuse University by June 1. The senior staff had voiced objections to the format, and Anderson asked them to make a decision about implementing it.
Anderson said he would like them to remain as staff members at the station. If however. The staff felt they did not want to implement the new format, Anderson said they could resign or be fired, and he would find students who would implement it.
At Wednesday's staff meeting, Anderson asked the senior staff to specifically tell him what their objections to the new format are.
"I want to better understand your position," Anderson said to the senior staff. "I hear a lot of rhetoric, but no substance."
Chief Announcer Sean McDonough again said that the staff objected to the way the new format was arrived at, the fact that Anderson listed receiving an education at the station as third priority and the hiring of full-time professionals.
Anderson said he plans to hire four full-time professionals, a developer, a producer, an engineer and a news director within one year. He said he would like to hire the developer by July 1.
Staff members also said they feel professionals will take away from the "learning managerial experience" they now receive at the station and will not allow them to learn from their mistakes.
"You're taking us in the direction where we won't have the opportunity to call the shots," said Operations Director Bill Darron. "I think we learn from every mistake we make. With one person dictating policy, we won't have individuals sitting together and thinking out their mistakes."
Anderson said the only position he feels will have any impact on student input is the news director because students will be responsible to the news director. He said full-time professionals will "provide a better learning experience for the students and provide better consistent quality for the station."
Anderson also said the station's budget will be increased by hiring professionals. By having five full-time professionals working at WAER, Anderson said the station will be eligible for federal aid in one year and state aid within three years.
"We can get close to $100,000 and double our budget in three years," Anderson said. "We want to be able to do more kinds of things at the station and will need more money to make that happen."
Before April 22, McDonough said the senior staff will try to make the public aware of their objections. "Until the deadline, we'll do everything we can to change the Chancellor's and Anderson's minds," he said.
Program Director Joel Thierstein said he plans to meet with Chancellor Melvin A. Eggers on Tuesday to voice students' objections and learn where the chancellor stands on the format.
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Last Modified October 14, 2005 |