Posted by Cat from Sandwich on April 07, 2009 at 10:27:52:
In Reply to: Cost cutting - a separate news and traffic reader posted by Undertaker on April 07, 2009 at 10:26:45:
Not hard at all. That was standard M.O. on FMs back in the late 70s thru mid 80s - then the 'traffic services' started to proliferate. When all is said and done, it comes down to the sensor placement by IDOT back in the mid 70s. With that...anyone can do an 'ok' job with traffic. But when it comes to differentiating, say, Wacker E, N, S or W...an extra hand would do. Beep beep.....
: While Maura Miles is out - for whatever reason - WLS has opted not to hire a fill-in. John Dempsey is doing news and traffic during Mancow and Cassidy today and yesterday.
: WLS traditionally during the morning drive and afternoon drive, have always had a separate news and traffic person. WIND-AM had two separate news and traffic readers throughout the entire day, I believe, until recently, when they did away with that.
: WGN still has a separate traffic and news person. Is this practice necessary, especially in this economy? Does having a separate traffic anchor really serve a purpose... radio insiders?? I always assume that the traffic people have to get their information from some source, and then they just read it.
: Is it hard for someone doing the news to add traffic to his/her responsibilities?