10-25-2012
Back in the day, it took a little time for a radio announcer to say something really stupid that lead to an eventual firing. These days, you can be gone in an instant thanks to social media. Scott Torgeson found that out when he tweeted something he was thinking, most likely before he thought about it too much. Despite apologizing Torgeson was suspended immediately and fired yesterday (see story below).
In addition to their daily to-do list longer than a football field managers now have watch what their employees are doing on Social Media. After all whatever the tweet or post is a reflection on the company and may have an impact with advertisers. So, in light of this additional job responsibility you weren't expecting, we reached out to Social Media expert Danica Kombol from www.beeverywhere.tv for advice on how to prevent this from happening at your station.
Kombol says managers need to understand that their on-air personalities now have a new broadcast channel and it's called Twitter and Facebook. "Just like they pay attention to their radio broadcasts, they need to be aware of what their personalities are sharing on their social feeds. Make sure you have a clear social media policy. Remind all employees that they represent a radio station and what they put out on their social channels is no different from what they share on the air. Train their entire staffs in social media - too many people think their social channels are private. Wake up. They are not. While what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...everything in social media lives on forever .. in a cloud somewhere. Think about your digital footprint and what you are leaving behind. There's no taking back. Didn't we learn that with Anthony Weiner?
On the talent side, to help you avoid losing a job, Kombol also has some rules about Social Media to live by. "Remember, don't put ANYTHING on a social media site you wouldn't be willing to say on the air. In fact, exercise even more caution. Scott Torgeson said, ?My Desmond Howard tweet was a joke. I think if you listen to the show you know that.? Scott's challenge? He didn't understand the subtlety of a "printed word" or a tweet. The nuances and comedic sensibility of the spoken work don't always translate to a Tweet or a Facebook status update."
Follow Danica on Twitter @danicakombol
(10/25/2012 7:49:17 PM)
A few years ago, Bob Struble Twitted that he had taken Ambien on a red-eye flight, and couldn't remember the drive home! LOL!
(10/25/2012 3:54:56 PM)
Spoken like a true talentless manager. I'm a 26 year on air personality in a major market. I use social media to interact with thousands of listeners, it's a personal contact that creates loyalty and they actually HELP with show prep. Might want to walk in our shoes before you bleat.
(10/25/2012 9:59:43 AM)
By all means, keep the talent firmly in chains. Have their off-air, social media comments be as sachrine and p.c. as anything they would be allowed to say on-air.
After all, this is not an entertainment medium that also might challenge listeners - it's a money medium.
That is, unless the talent is a jaundiced, arrogant, fringe talk show host where slander and ridicule are the money-making elements of the program.
Lesson: Spend more time and effort on show prep than on social media quips that might reach less than 5% of the on-air audience. This is not rocket surgery.
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