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Living on the air in Lorain CountyRadio is a commodity that is so much a part of our lives, we tend to take it for granted. Most of us have a radio in our car and at least one radio in our house.We take a radio when we go for a picnic or swimming. We strain to listen to baseball scores as we mow the lawn or wash the car.Some of us even work in buildings with piped-in, programmed music.Music, news, weather, sports and special features are one part of radio, the part with which we’re most familiar. However, at every radio station across the country, there are people behind all this, people who talk to us, tell us the weather, play our favoritesongs or engage us in hot, on-the-air debates of current issues.In Lorain County, the disc jockeys who deliver our aural goodies to us, fresh from their control booths through our speakers, in many ways represent the style of the particular station by which they are employed.— Kathy MisicbkoC-TSUtif Writer■v*-’J: -s'Aa*9y yWLRO, Darryl ColemanDarryl Coleman, 27-year-old afternoon jock and program director for WLRO-1380, is the type of person who can’t sit still. Even when talking to a visitor, he shuffles records and papers, answers the phone (“our secretary is sick today, you know how that goes,”) and courteously answers co-workers’ questions.“I took some radio courses in college,” he explains, “then I got a job doing sales for WZLE-FM. Sales and I didn't get along, so I finally ended up on the air I worked there a while, then came to WLRO in October of 1978 ”Leaning back in his chair, he adds, “Working here is just like what you see on ‘WKRP in Cincinnati.’ They do crazy stuff, so do we. Working in radio keeps you young; it’ never dull. There’s no routine to this job; there’s something new every day.”Coleman has the noon-5 p.m. shift weekdays on the “progressive MOR (middle of the road)” station. When not on the air, he’s busy doing air checks of other WLRO jocks, listening to new material, arranging shifts and keeping an ear on the overall sound of the staion.HOW DOES the station serve listeners? “We’reusually the first ones they call to find out about school closings, road detours and local sports We devote about 13% of our airtime to public interest series, such as energy conservation, nutrition for the elderly, and so on.”Although Coleman does not see himself “on the air forever, I’d prefer staying with broadcasting as a career. This is a crazy but exciting business. Sure, I’d eventually like to move on to a bigger station, but that desire exists in any business.”The deejay emphasizes, “I’d advise persons interested in a broadcasting career to forget it. There’s no job security I’d tell them to stay pway from broadcast schools. If you really want a career in radio, however, try a two or four year college.”Sighing and smiling, he adds, “Sometimes, a deejay is two different people — on the air and off the air. You’ve got to sound uptempo and smooth and your mood must consistently be good, no matter what is going down in your life. It’s not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes I feel like a schizophrenic.”He reflects, “This is a very competitive business, but like I said, it’s never dull.”i *'S V** A-lt;•lt;r- *•WZLE, Bruce JohnsonIt’s rough to begin a career with an organization also beginning its career, but that’s just what Bruce Johnson, program director, sports director and afternoon jockey at WZLE-FM, did.“I came here in July of 1975,” says the tall, darkhaired New Jersey native. “The station was just starting and so was I. I've always been interested in sports, but wasn’t a good enough athlete to make a career of it. The closest I could get was reporting sports.”Radio work for Johnson is “all I thought it would be. However, many people are under the impression it’s all fun and we make tons of money. Radio is hard work; it's an ego business.”According to Johnson, “WZLE was rated No 1 in the last official ratings. Perhaps it’s because we’re FM — people put us on in the morning and leave the same station on all day. We broadcast from 5:30 a.m.-mid-night”JOHNSON FEELS he’s the same person both on and off the air. “I don’t try to pretend to be someone else when I’m broadcasting.”WZLE’s format is “meflow gold,” and according to Johnson, “we cater to persons aged 24-48.1 might like a different format for a change, but I feel comfortable with our present structure.” Waving to a stack of albums on the shelf In a control booth, he adds, “See, Streisand, Sinatra, Manilow, real easy listening artists.”If Johnson left radio, he’d still like to be involved with sports, perhaps as a publicity director for a team. I’d like to stay with both sports and communications.”He said he enjoys the Lorain County area, but wouldn’t mind migrationg back East. “It’d be great to crack the New York market, but I’d also enjoy doinesports for a college.”The deejay loves being recognized by listeners. “I have an advantage over other jocks because of my sports programs. I’m seen at games and recognized in other places. It’s great.” Pausing, he adds, When they stop asking you for your autograph, you know you’veqeq it.WOBL, Ken LucasKen Lucas has one of those voices tailor-made for radio. It just so happens he uses that voice as the morning jock on WOBL-1320, Lorain County’s countrymusic station. u .Lucas, who has been with WOBL since November of 1977, began Ws radio career in 1973 at another country music station. “At first, I wasn’t real crazy aboutcountry music,” be admits, “but I've worked with it for so long I enjoy It now. It’s like other music; there’s some trash and there are sane really good songs.”originally from Youngstown, Lucas has acted with Elyria Summer Theatre and other area productions. He finds this experience helpfuL “Sometimes it’s bard to radiate sunshine so early in the morning. Actinghelps put that across,” says, grinning.f*wheo you’re on the radio, you can’t see your audience so you’re never sure just now you’re being taken. I enjoy the theater because the audience is right there, giving an instant reaction.”LUCAS ADMITS an air personality can“develop into an incredible ego trip. It’s fun to be on the air.” However, the morning jock finds the anonymity involved with being heard but not seen “disgusting. I want to be recognized in public. It’s part of the ego thing. Fm not satisfied if people aren’t enjoying my show.”One disadvantage is competition with larger Cleveland stations. “Our advantage is we’re centrally programmed for the Lorain County area. We feature local events, sports and news. We bring all communities into the picture and strive for listener involvement”He cautions those interested in pursuing a radio—. «t*V n T1’„ ___________career: “It’s a long road to haul It’s very competitive and doesn’t pay that well. Take broadcasting courses and learn the basics. Be prepared to start at a smallstation.“Radio is a fun business and 111 probably stay with it Fd like to eventually break into the Cleveland market but then,” he adds with a grin, “who wouldn’t?”■m£ tr,~%r *■-%•k’-;
Newspaper Details
The Chronicle Telegram
Elyria, Ohio, US
Fri, May 09, 1980
Page 22
Full Page
Clipped by
Nathan O.
OH, USA 28 Mar 2022
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