Something New, Something Mobile

We're pretty excited here at the ol' Radio Ranch over recognition from our peers on the work we do both on-air and online, and excited over a new addition to our "platform" of bringing you Akron's news.

You've likely read on these pages already how the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters earlier this month awarded the Rubber City Radio Group news team Outstanding Operation Awards both in the news and sports categories, also recognizing the great work individually from Best Reporter Lindsay McCoy and the continued excellent teamwork in covering Akron's political soap-opera in 2009 with the recall and a year the Mayor would likely prefer to forget.

The News and Sports Operation Awards are particularly gratifying, especially in continuing our drive to bring you the most up-to-date and balanced coverage. We've been honored over most of the past six years with these "team" awards, but we've also been blessed to have the individual accomplishments of Lindsay, Larry States (Best Anchor), Joe Jastrzemski (Best Sports Anchor), Tina Kaufmann (Best Reporter) and Pat Kennard (Best Anchor) recognized as well.

Just today, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) announced the winners of the 2010 National Edward R. Murrow Awards, and for the third consecutive year AkronNewsNow has been honored as one of the nation's best websites for electronic journalism. Since rolling out ANN in 2007, we've been working hard to make our site easier to navigate, more topical and a source for your news and information you can count on for fair, original and fresh reporting using not only the audio tools our radio journalists are comfortable with but also video and interactive databases to help Akron citizens better understand what's going on in this local world around us.

This week, AkronNewsNow's Apple app for iPhone and iTouch was approved; you'll find it on iTunes under WAKRNews or AkronNewsNow, giving you greater access to listen and read the news on your Apple-powered mobile devices. We're working to extend the app experience to our radio stations, and even the live program and news streams so you can listen anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

The website is truly our greatest team effort, with the content team producing the stories and features you'll read, hear and see here everyday; Ryan Haidet is our web editor in the morning, Tina Kaufmann takes over at midday and Lindsay McCoy brings her considerable talents and video awareness to play so you won't have to depend on editorial decisions made 40 miles up north to determine if you'll get the value of video here at home. Our news team of Marcy Pappafava, Chris Keppler, Larry States, Christi Nichols, Mike Ward and Aaron Coleman complete the hands-on team who work so hard to get it right and get it to you when you need it.

But there are plenty of folks behind the curtain who also work very hard to make our community service to Akron award-winning; our web team of Bryan Siegfried, Andrew Seese and Lyndse Rae Faba put great effort and creative juice behind the look, feel and function of all our websites. None of this would work if it weren't for the folks who engineer how we get there in the first place: Michelle Thomasson, Dave MacKenzie and Al Hruska making up the IT and engineering effort.

Without the wonderful production team of Chuck Collins, James Smith, Chuck Matthews, Teri Jones, Art Greenberg and Terri Kapper -- as well as the sales staff of WAKR-WONE-WQMX -- we would not be able to bring to life Akron's three-time award winning news website. Contributors such as Scott Wynn, Sandra Miller and Sue Wilson also bring a perspective important to making what we do more than just the news.

All of this also comes with the considerable vision of Nick Anthony, our publisher and Senior VP and of course the continued strong support and forward-thinking of our owner and President, Thom Mandel. Their vision in asking "what's the right thing to do?" and keeping us on track and focused on the mission to the Akron market is critical in keeping the "Akron" in AkronNewsNow.

Akron is a community rich in heritage with a wide range of sometimes very passionate and colorful viewpoints. As one who's had the opportunity to work in a variety of cities and towns and the fortune to see how others approach our business, I can think of few places -- including that city to the north -- offering a greater opportunity to help make a difference.

We are in a market in many ways left to the devices of out-of-towners in determining the flow of information to our neighbors and fellow citizens. Cleveland-based television will always, by necessity, focus on Cleveland issues; our radio stations, WKSU and WNIR fully embrace the "local" part of our mission, but being critically honest most of what passes for local across the board on the dial comes at low cost, low investment and a performance marked more by talk than action. The business decision is understandable; the community service suffers when news and information is relegated to a line item. The troubles faced by newspapers as a whole create great challenges for the Akron Beacon Journal, a community institution that must prosper at the risk of Akron losing it's very identity as more than just another suburb of what regionalism proponents would prefer to think of as simply "northeast Ohio."

That's why this recognition means so much to us; we're local by design and desire and the choices you make in supporting organizations showing a clear commitment to your neighborhoods and hometown does make a difference in keeping those places alive and vibrant. Thanks for your support of what you hear, read and see on your local media -- including us!

Wishing Matt Well

In the old days, rival media outlets never mentioned each other. You still see some of this today in the way some newspapers imagine their readers don't watch news the night before on television, or the way some television stations imagine their viewers don't listen to the radio at work, or the way some radio stations think their listeners live in dark caves until turning the knob.

Glad those days are changing.

We'll find out more details Friday morning but the cat is already out of the bag on Matt Patrick. He'll be stepping away from the microphones he's used for a generation in Akron, with his final shows through December on 98.1 WKDD. Still up in the air is what happens with his talk show on 640 WHLO, but either way it doesn't diminish the big change Matt will be making. It is a big change for Akron radio listeners, too.

There have been soap opera qualities to Matt's life and career, but a constant has been his unabridged, consistent caring and concern for his community. In an industry where it is common for hosts to move from city to city, Matt Patrick has called Akron home. He's worked hard to serve as a voice for those who never had the chance to step behind a piece of electronics and talk to everyone at the same time.

Matt and I actually worked together -- for one day. I was at a station he wanted to work for, and we hit the studio for some promotional announcements. It was a fun day, and we were looking forward to a fun start a couple mornings later. Unfortunately, the station he was working for at the time took a dim view of these music chairs and, an injunction later, Matt was firmly planted back at WKDD. We've been friends since.

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Matt's come under quite a bit of grief lately, mostly for his outspoken comments on his talk show regarding tea parties (he supports 'em), his decision to host a rally on behalf of fire and police in Akron (his video rant can be seen here) and his programs raising questions on issues such as the Mayor's experience with police in front of the Lux nightclub and a late night in Highland Square.

None of this was really new; Matt has had a way of talking about what we were talking about for over 30 years.

There have been a few folks in northeast Ohio who've remained part of Akron even though their reach went beyond the city, even to a region or nation. Jaybird Drennen certainly fits the bill and still, in my opinion, ranks as the top radio person ever to work in the market. He set the standard in terms of class, hard work, and knowing a simple truth: be true to your neighbors and the rewards will follow. Jaybird was one of those unique individuals who understood the word rewards wasn't just about the paycheck. He clearly knew the relationship with Akron worked both ways.

Others in the news and entertainment business understand that as well. You can take Terry Pluto out of Akron, but I believe Terry would be the first to admit you won't ever take the Akron out of Terry. Bob Dyer, Regina Brett, Jewell Cardwell on the print side; Eric Mansfield, Dick Russ, Ted Henry and Virgil Dominic on the television side; Howie Chizek. Stan Piatt, and Ray Horner on the radio side. Each enjoys or built a special relationship with their respective readers, viewers and listeners here in Akron.

But there are a select few who have taken that to the next level. Jack Knight built the Beacon Journal best remembered in the glory years; Fred Anthony at WAKR radio and television and Jaybird on WSLR. I'd add Matt Patrick to that list. I don't believe Matt Patrick's time behind a mic is done; way too many electrons still buzzing through his veins.

So congratulations on a great career at WKDD, my friend. And here's looking to the next remarkable chapter in the journey. To borrow the line from CBS's Charles Osgood -- we'll see you on the radio.

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Note to fans of NewsNight Akron airing on Western Reserve Public Media (you remember them as Channels 45/49) every Friday night. The show is moving, but just a half-hour later from 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. We'll still be yipping and yapping about news and community events in our hometown but we'll be doing so a bit later to make room for a hip new program about the local economy. I know -- the words hip and economy really don't belong together -- but this fresh approach to money mattes in our region adds a new element to programming aimed at showcasing just what makes northeast Ohio tick, and the kinds of things we should think about to help make northeast Ohio improve.

Same place, different time starting Friday, November 6th. In this case, we'll see you on the television.

Notes On The Recall

Blowout. Not even close. Over when it started. Wiped the floor with 'em.

We've got the cliche wagon pulled over and I'm sure my fellow pundits will exhaust the supply to describe Tuesday's results of the Change Akron Now bid to recall Akron's Don Plusquellic. I don't know anyone (including Warner Mendenhall) who believed CAN could DO it. Citizens For Akron ran a smart campaign -- how could they not with a 22-to-1 money advantage? CFA understood all too well the value of CYA, leaving no stone unturned, the value of a professionally-positioned "grassroots" base and effort to define issues, control the agenda and get out the vote. And they did this all without the one candidate on the ballot stepping out in front of the target painted on his back. Don Plusquellic's defense worked best when his team played offense around him.

In the end, GOTV trumps shouting from the Town Square.

The 20% turnout is nothing to be proud of, summertime or no summertime. In the end it wouldn't have mattered if half that number turned out. A 3-1 advantage spells landslide, especially when "absentee voting" -- why can't we just call it early voting? -- provided everything the anti-recall forces could have hoped for. This is the strategy executed to a "t" by Obama in 2008, by Citizens For Akron in 2009, and future politicians smart enough to understand a 30-day voting window means 30 days to win.

Even with the crushing defeat, Change Akron Now promises a slate of council candidates, one led by oh-so-close Plusquellic opponent Joe Finley in 2007. I'll be very surprised if this works, unless they learn from their defeat in June and turn it into fresh strategy for September. These next few months will see the game continue, only with surrogates now carrying the standards for both sides. Those on the outs still want their piece of those on the inside, and the incumbent machine knows all too well they cannot afford to let their guard down now.

That said, I'm still wondering if this recall election was the reaffirmation of love Mayor Plusquellic needs? Or was the vote more a reflection of what most editorials noted: not really a personal endorsement of Don Plusquellic, and all his personality brings to bear, but rather a rejection of the concept of tossing the bull out from the china shop because he hasn't broken anything?

Despite the branding of "our" mayor for "our" city, there are few who disagreed that Plusquellic's style leaves much to be desired. In between stomping around with hurt feelings after opponents questioned the obvious timing of a flood of pro-Akron announcements, cherry-picking interview opportunities -- did he do ANY radio live or long-form? -- he still managed to rub many the wrong way with behind the scene hardball which lends easily to depictions of him as "The Don." I give him great credit for the rep: he's earned it.

This isn't just my observation; the Beacon Journal, Plain Dealer, WAKR/AkronNewsNow, other bloggers, other media -- all made note of the ill-temper described as "passion" as not enough to warrant being tossed out. His own supporters, at the same time calling the vote a mandate for the mayor, also hope he learns to tamp it down; this scuffle cost a quarter-million dollars and plenty of their time. Which Don comes out of this as the smoke clears? Does he sit down and bury the hatchet with the FOP as they've asked? Will he ever talk with enemy-for-life turned anti-recall ally Don Robart again? Will he ever say the name of his chief opponent in public?

Even Obama knows how to say Cheney. The key to the next chapter in this political soap opera is whether those in support offer honest counsel and not just what he wants to hear. That a head-on approach need not be offensive to be a good offense; that being defensive need not be so offensive. That a legacy politician with an iron grip on the job can and should be satisfied everyone knows he's the driving force without having to tattoo it on their foreheads. Which Don Plusquellic will we see, the statesman elected to represent his nation's mayors or the one stepping into the ring?

This is a legitimate question, and one not so easily glossed over. As owner of the "company," Akron voters are the managers; they decided their highest performing employee gets results and needs to stay, even if he can occasionally be a real piece of work. The stakeholders want to keep him because he gets the job done. Even if he snorts and throws his weight around, so long as the dishes don't break. The main message conveyed with such clarity over the past 90 days has been he leads, even with a few scratches; Akron voters know to not mess up a good thing.

But the danger, if he allows the ego of unchecked incumbency to swell beyond his vision, is in continuing to ride that wave of performance goodwill for those times when the next big challenge comes. When a younger, fresher, more energetic version seizes the moment. When Akron's good name is finally dragged down to the level of the other northeast Ohio big cities. Those times when some with new ideas poses a real threat to more people beyond the 25-30% who always say no.

Blogger Pho's Akron Pages is no fan of Change Akron Now nor it's tilting-at-windmills leader Warner Mendenhall. His observations are pointed, but thoughtful. His post "Whither Akron" reads from the heart: who will step up and challenge the status quo, in this case Plusquellic, in the interest of confronting power? It's a core question: just how healthy is the cult of Don for Akron's function as a democracy over the long haul? Akron, Pho writes, needs a "sensible loyal opposition."

Unlike the fairly universal acknowledgments of Plusquellic's prickly personality, this isn't a concerned aimed at him as a manager, a political leader, or as a person. Few of the serious thinkers in this debate disagree in private that more open debate and decision-making is a bad thing. We just want it to mean something, and drive the community forward in ways that Cleveland and Youngstown just can't seem to figure out. We know Akron is too progressive to be considered a fiefdom, but we fear losing the iron will to fight to keep the train running on time will mean we will be lost having to do it without the conductor ahead.

It's easy now to villify those who dare ask the question, or push the system to hold a midsummer's day vote. But even losing in a landslide, voices wondering about alternatives or even succession planning can be heard. And the conventional wisdom won't be able to drown them out forever.

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A note on the media coverage of the election: what a vacuum we are seeing develop as a city of a quarter-million people boils down to a handful of outlets. Former WKYC-TV producer Chris Hyser notes correctly in his "Diminishing Returns" post the brave new world of learning results. Those good old days of multiple, competing media outlets using all the tools at their disposal have shrunk when it comes to servicing Akron. The blog world hasn't stepped in, and those outlets in a position to step up didn't show it Tuesday night.

I have a very vested interest in this; for the most part we did what we thought was best on Election night, just as the Beacon Journal did in getting results, analysis and coverage to the public. But seeing the region's second biggest city shunted aside to true suburban status on a single, important issue ought to be an eye-opener for all of us.

This was a campaign successfully managed professionally to maximize positives while minimizing risk of damage, which meant no town hall-style forums on cable, broadcast, or digital television. No Press Club luncheons at the Martin Center, where a couple hundred folks could feast on split chicken breasts as the pros and cons were delivered. This was a great example of controlling the message, and not allowing it to get messy. Using websites to position and parry, and employing social media such as Twitter and Facebook to bypass the mainstream. Who needs to sit down with Ray, or Larry, or Howie or Matt? Can't control what they ask, but you can control what others hear and read.

This is the new politics, and Akron's media landscape is not ready for what is to come.

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For those who missed hunky Lt. Governor Lee Fisher's "guns," note YouTube has taken down videos containing the copyright material.

The posts are still up on this blog but you won't be able to see the buff Lee flexing over a late-night video visit while he's answering email.

The Fisher folks worked quickly to flag the video, so it's a no-no now. Fisher followers, rest easy; Brunner backers, at least you had a laugh over the last week.

Back to good government now...

Mayoral Recall: A Media Planning Guide

With two weeks to go before the June 23, 2009 Akron election to determine if Mayor Don Plusquellic will continue in office, here's some thoughts and planning advisories.

When petitions were first delivered then certified, it was pretty clear there would be a vote this summer on the ChangeAkronNow push to recall Plusquellic. No more talking; a deadline to finally put this issue to bed.

Akron Beacon Journal Editor Bruce Winges and I had been having some conversations on issues where it might prove useful for both our respective news organizations to not only coordinate but even collaborate with a joint project. We thought the recall election was one of those issues, and agreed to try and pursue interview opportunities with both sides where our respective reporters would be able to bring multiple views to bear on the key players.

Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out that way.

Mayor Plusquellic's response to WAKR was that we publish (on AkronNewsNow) and broadcast (on WAKR) coverage of his chief opponent's tax troubles before he would accept our joint invitation. The ABJ has already reported the issue, including in a story last year, but we made an editorial decision to skip that issue. It is our view that while Warner Mendenhall's personal finances were certainly fair game for the Mayor to go off on, it wasn't our role to tee up the shot for him. We feel there's been plenty enough childish name-calling and personal attacks on both sides, a viewpoint many individuals on both sides also privately share with us. Our policy has also been exercised in the case of Plusquellic's opponents, who haven't been shy about their own attacks on the personal behavior of mayor and those close to him.

There was also a small matter of accepting conditions for an interview with the mayor, who appeared on our airwaves as a guest on the Ray Horner Morning Show on April 1st. We feel it was inappropriate to accept such conditions, and reserve the right to make up our own minds when it comes to our editorial direction and policies. We respect the right of the mayor to decide who he will talk with, but think Akron deserves more independent voices, not fewer.

Full disclosure: our parent company, through our radio stations, has a business relationship with the city, primarily in the form of a partnership to help promote events and activities such as Lock 3's summertime concerts and events. This type of relationship extends back decades; many will remember when the "WAKR Good Guys" helped promote local concerts and venues. In addition to being good business, we view this as important to our community. That said, it does not influence the editorial decisions made by our newsroom. Anyone who's been around the mayor when those deicisons come up can attest.

As of this week, the mayor's office neither accepted nor rejected the invitation. We decided to move forward. It is the mayor's right to decline our interview request, but our listeners and readers should be fully aware the offer was extended. Both WAKR and the Beacon Journal will offer up their own comprehensive stories, including separate interviews. We have agreed to promote our competing coverage, because the issues involved with the recall are simply too important for one news organization to "own" by itself.

Both of our news organizations already feature extensive coverage with easy-to-navigate special sections online through these links to the Beacon Journal and AkronNewsNow coverage. In some cases, stories date back more than six months. There are also a wealth of other online sites in Akron produced by proponents and critics of the recall, including those of the two main organizations noted below. Some are serious, some are entertaining, but all add to the general debate: what decision should Akron voters make June 23rd?

On Sunday's 1590 WAKR and AkronNewsNow.com will feature portions of what the mayor said in April in addition to a full sit-down with State Senator Tom Sawyer, heading up the anti-recall Citizens for Akron group. Our full interviews with Warner Mendenhall and Patti Longville of ChangeAkronNow will also be broadcast and available online. In addition to our on-air coverage "WAKR Primer: The 2009 Recall" to air Sunday, June 14, 2009 from 12:00 to 2:00, we will also feature repeated webcasts of the audio on our news stream WAKRNewsNow and video on AkronNewsNow. We will also include easier-to-digest podcast "chunks" of these interviews, but feel it is important to present full and complete versions as well.

The Beacon Journal will also feature extensive coverage, including in-depth interviews conducted by Stephanie Warsmith. She and other staffers at the newspaper have done a wonderful job of presenting viewpoints and issues for voters to consider, and on Sunday, June 14 it should be required reading to compare as both Plusquellic and Mendenhall make their respective cases.

On a local journalism note, there may likely be critics of the decision of the Beacon Journal and WAKR in promoting our "competition." But with local television pulling their limited resources closer to home and shrinking news budgets impacting the number of bodies covering stories despite the urgent need for news of our communities, we may be seeing even more collaborative projects in the future. Personally, I hope so; it seems we spend a lot of time worrying more about the masthead or frequency number than what matters most.

Our readers, listeners, viewers and visitors need to know what's going on more than ever.

Tooting Our Own Horn

The news department of the Rubber City Radio Group (WAKR-AM; WONE-FM; WQMX-FM and www.AkronNewsNow.com) has been recognized as finalists in twelve categories by the 2008 Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Awards. The finalists will learn the actual finish in the awards (first or second) during the OAPB annual convention on Sunday, June 7, 2009 in Columbus, when finalists for Outstanding News Operation will also be announced.

Among the Medium Market – Radio categories where judges awarded either first or second place:

Best Web Site: News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron “AkronNewsNow.com”
Best Spot News Coverage: News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron “Fallen Officer Josh Miktarian”; Jim Michaels, WKBN-AM Youngstown “Youngstown Fire”
Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event: News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron “2008 Election”; News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron: “Not Too Fat To Die: Richard Cooey”
Best Continuing Coverage: News Staff, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron, “Bobby Cutts, Jr.”; Tana Weingartner and Gary Scott, WMUB-FM, Oxford, “Windstorm Aftermath”
Best Investigative Reporting: Tina Kaufmann, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron, “Bungalo Five”; Cynthia Sperberg-Hart, WYSO-FM, Yellow Springs, “Springfield Strays”
Best Enterprise Reporting: Tina Kaufmann, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron, “Bungalo Five and Hot Spots”; Gary Scott, WMUB-FM, Oxford, “Sewing for Soldiers”;
Best Anchor: Larry States, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron; Tana Weingartner, WMUB-FM, Oxford
Best Reporter: Tina Kaufmann, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron; Tana Weingartner, WMUB-FM, Oxford
Best Regularly Scheduled Sports: Joe Jastrzemski, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron; Brian Deitz, WOBL-AM/WDLW-AM, Oberlin
Best Sports Broadcaster: Joe Jastrzemski, WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron and Brian Deitz, WOBL-AM/WDLW-AM, Oberlin
Outstanding Sports Operation: WAKR-WONE-WQMX, Akron; WOBL-AM/WDLW-AM, Oberlin; Sports Staff

“We are especially grateful for the judge’s consideration of individual hard work and reporting by Tina Kaufmann, Larry States and Joe Jastrzemski as well as recognition for our entire news staff and operation,” said Rubber City Radio Group Vice-President for Information Media Edward L. Esposito. “Despite much consternation that news may not be valued by our audiences, the strong showing by our news department and excellent work as shown by honors for our colleagues at WKBN, WMUB, WYSO, WOBL and others in the smaller and larger radio markets reflects the continuing commitment of local broadcasters to serve their communities.”

The Rubber City Radio Group news and sports departments also won recognition by the OAPB as Outstanding News Operation in 2006, 2007 and 2008. www.AkronNewsNow.com was honored with a national Edward R. Murrow Award in 2008 as Best Website – Broadcast.

OMG -- How This All Started

Many thanks to YouTube and my pal Tom Petner at TVSpy.com for a most welcome reminder of how what you are reading, watching and listening to now all started with the clunk of computers we would laugh at now -- and horrible waits to read scrappy text.

For old geezers such as myself this throwback to San Francisco's KRON-TV report on LBW (Life Before Web) is a knee-slapping walk down memory lane; if you are under 35, however, this slice of history may very well remind you of the silver set griping they went to school when it snowed a foot -- by walking barefoot, uphills both ways...



We've been spending the better part of the past month here at AkronNewsNow.com getting ready for our next digital media rollout...a streamed version of an Akron-centered all-news radio station but without the radio. WAKRNewsNow is a hybrid of sorts, featuring updated newscasts every hour from the Akron Radio Center via 1590 WAKR, a mix of community-centered interviews from WAKR's Ray Horner Morning Show, entertainment features from our staff including ANN Editor Ryan Haidet's Reality Check, WQMX air personality George McFly's Nashville Minute, WONE air personality Sandra Miller's Daily Buzz and plenty more.

It'll also be a prime source for live coverage of local events and stories, giving our reporters the opportunity to do longer versions of more complicated issues that don't quite fit into a six-minute newscast. It will also allow us to bring you more of the coverage you'd like to hear, such as replays of Governor Strickland's recent State of the State address or even live coverage of Mayor Plusquellic's upcoming State of the City address next month.

The idea for the all-news radio without the radio originated with our Senior VP Nick Anthony and boosted up a notch by our owner and GM Thom Mandel in recognition of the wide variety of content we produce both on-air and online. The media mantra lately has been to downplay the platform we use -- whether it be paper, transmitter or Ethernet -- and look to make our content more accessible regardless of how you get there. It's why AkronNewsNow.com recently extended ourselves to Facebook and our increasing use and consideration of Twitter as another way to provide you with the news and information you need.

We've also updated our mobile version of AkronNewsNow.com as well (calling it ANN Mobi in house but don't necessarily look for that online) to be more user-friendly to Blackberry, Palm, MotoQ, iPhone and other mobile devices. It is more of a headache since there's no set absolute standard -- phone manufacturers often tweak their specific products for improvements, which impacts what you read on the mini-screen -- but it clearly is a demand we need to meet to stay in touch with you when all you may have handy is a cellphone.

The technology changes are challenging but also inspiring; after all, we're end users too. More on WAKRNewsNow in the next few weeks...

Why Barack Again?

The short answer: because we didn't the first time. We arrived at an interesting program decision today on the radio station side, likely to provoke some discussion but there is a strong belief it's the right thing to do.

The issue surrounds broadcasting last Thursday's acceptance speech by Democrat presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama, followed by coverage of Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain's speech before his convention.

As much as we'd like to say it comes at the thought of presenting both in an "equal time" setting, it has more to do with poor timing on our part, in particular planning during vacation time and not paying enough attention to a calendar.

Many stations such as WAKR with complicated programming of sports find themselves trying to squeeze must-listen to coverage between must-carry sports obligations. The culture here at the stations has been one to encourage community debate and discussion, and carriage of the acceptance speeches by the candidates certainly fits that mission (even IF most people may be watching on television or ignoring altogether) of service.

Unfortunately our top news manager (me) was out of town last Thursday, and we didn't catch the fact that Thursday was in fact an open night: we should have been presenting the Obama speech live. Add to that oversight the discomfort of carrying one candidate (in this case McCain) while not carrying the other (Obama)...that simply is not an option, but we couldn't turn back the clock -- or can we?

Our decision: re-broadcast Senator Obama's Denver speech in its entirety, without the normal commentary from a broadcast team, then join ABC's coverage tonight minutes before Senator McCain does the same thing in St. Paul.

It isn't perfect but in some aspect is gives our listeners the opportunity to listen again and compare both in a shorter, more compact time frame. We're leaning toward posting both speeches, unedited and in full, on the website as a reference point for listeners and voters who may be on the electoral see-saw over the next two months.

Broadcast Day For The Boys

Mornings were made for kvetching -- whether you are the challenger or the incumbent.

Just about all you can stand here at the AkronNewsNow link with full video and audio of Joe Finley and Mayor Plusquellic from their appearances this morning on WAKR's Ray Horner Show. If you haven't made up your mind yet -- or just have a hankering to here the subtle digs each other throws at the other -- this one's for you, bud.

Top points:

1. Both agree Akron hired more police but both disagree on the actual number. Reality: both are right because Plusquellic notes he hired 25 new officers and Finley is using his math to note the net result because of attrition on the force.
2. Local government should do more to help with predatory lending and mortgage woes. Reality: Finley says the City should hand out free advice to folks with problems and Plusquellic says they already do that in partnership with the County.
3. We Love Akron. Reality: both do.

Really not much new to all of this; Finley says we're broke, Plusquellic says debt is moderate and manageable. Joe says downtown gets too much and the neighborhoods suffer for it, Don says downtown needs to be healthy to anchor successful neighborhoods. Both says seniors deserve more help and are important. Both want economic development although Joe's alot more vague than Don. Finley doesn't have a long record of government leadership (four years in council) but he also doesn't have a rep for being a bully. Plusquellic as a long and enviable record of government leadership in this very job but as for the last part...uh, see below.

This election comes down not to the issues glossed over (above) or even those reported on ad nauseum by us and others. My NewsNight Akron comrades discuss tonight the real decision awaiting voters: do you vote against Plusquellic because he may go off on a tear now and then and get a parking lot attendant fired or call reporters and fellow politicians a-holes? Then you are voting against a guy who also gets the job done -- albeit sometimes like a herd of buffalo tramping through the dining room. Do you vote for Finley because you think Plusquellic's act has grown tired and you want to take a chance on a nice guy with an unproven record -- a big gamble if, as Finley says, the City is broke?

Folks from both sides tell me they're out in force this weekend but Akron's already decided and the only job left to do now is get out the vote. Plusquellic Democrats wouldn't mind seeing their business GOP pals cross over in the primary next Tuesday and keep The Don on the throne; Finley Democrats think there's a sign their reformist GOP pals will cross over, too and make a regular Joe the boss.

Gettin' High With Chrissie

There's been plenty of coverage (AkronNewsNow with video and audio) on Chrissie Hynde's return to Akron with her new restaurant, sans Pretenders, and kudos to our favorite daughter to putting her money where her mouth is.

The meeting with no meat was expected from the PETA supporter and vocal vegetarian (don't expect a beef or bison burger at her Northside eatery) but among the great sidebars that didn't make the cut in the coverage you saw, an absolutely hilarious exchange from the Rock Hall of Famer where she congratulated the City for working to restore the historic Glendale steps. Chrissie's all in favor of it because those steps, WAKR's Larry States told me, are where she used to hide to catch a buzz in her teen years. Translation for the buzz-impaired: that's getting high by smoking marijuana, aka weed, dope, smoke, ganja, etc. Too bad the Doobie Brothers aren't the opening act.

Larry says the Mayor and police on hand at North Main looked a bit uncomfortable when Chrissie joked she'd like to revisit the steps and relive some personal history. Just jokin' about tokin', Don! Don't worry, it won't be a campaign issue just five days before Primary Day.

Speaking of the Mayor's race, both Plusquellic and Finley are on WAKR's Ray Horner show Friday morning; Finley 7:10a-7:58a with Plusquellic getting a dozen minutes of separation and holding court 8:10a-8:58a. Ray tells me he tried for both at the same time but one debate was apparently enough (guess which side demurred?) for what is likely the final major broadcast availability before the September 11th Primary.

Another Chapter for WAKR's Kennard

Pat Kennard has taken another opportunity and will be leaving the Rubber City Radio Group; her last day broadcasting on WAKR will be Friday, August 24th, 2007. At this point I’ll leave it to Pat’s discretion on discussing her next career step, but will note this is an excellent opportunity for Pat and we are very happy for her. We will certainly miss Pat’s commitment to our community and her professionalism as a broadcast journalist; I will miss Pat’s contributions to our news department and seeing her daily as a friend.

During Pat’s tenure on WAKR (both radio and television) dating back more than a generation she has been on the cusp of some truly great reporting and community service. A highlight was this past June’s Ohio Associated Press award for “Best Anchor”, I’m glad we were all able to take part in the support of Pat’s work as anchor and reporter leading to this year’s AP award.

Other highlights certainly include Pat’s Cleveland Press Club “Ohio Excellence in Journalism” first place award in 2001 for “Voices From South Africa”, a documentary drawn from Pat’s travels across South Africa. Her work was a critical part of our overall news, community affairs and public service programs that earned our news department significant acclaim over the past years, including Outstanding News Operation for two straight years.

Pat’s work in the community both on and off the air is well documented, and certainly played a role in her long-overdue recognition by her peers. As a one of the first panelists on NewsNight Akron, as a panelist on President Clinton’s Town Hall Meeting on Race, as a mentor to hundreds of students in local schools, as a tireless worker for programs benefiting people, and as an advocate for education Pat has brought our radio operation dignity and a strong presence in the local community. She will be missed on the air but will still be a vital part of our community -- stay tuned for more!