In Memoriam: RKZ (1933-2007)

This week, I lost a hero, a teacher, a mentor, and a friend.

Mr. Zimmerman was a good man. I can't think of any basic way to say it. He was a radio mentor who taught me everything I know about the radio business. He loved his students at Penn State and respected his employees. He encouraged a true work ethic in his students and was able to reach young minds with energetic anecdotes. I will always remember his personality that commanded respect and to his rivals it was formidable intimidation.

He had a long list of broadcasting success stories ranging from radio station ownership, College of Communications Alumni Society Board, founder and co-chairman of the college's Dollars for Scholars Golf Classic, and secured a home for the Pennsylvania Broadcasting Hall of Fame at State College, PA.

My only regret is that he was not able to live long enough to be proud of me and see me ascend to broadcasting success.

On a visit to PSU last December, I had a chance meeting with him outside the new State Theatre on College Ave and told him how much he meant to me. Little did I know, that will be the last time I will ever see him.

The radio broadcasting world is all the poorer for his passing. My sincerest condolences to the family.

[Via: Vineyard Gazette]

Morning Show Promotion Tragedy

Rarely do local radio stations make national news, but Entercom's KDND in Sacramento, CA has caused a really big stir in the broadcasting world. Their alleged crime now puts the spotlight on shock-jocks like never before.

The Morning Rave, the stations radio morning show program, decided on a weird promotional contest where contestants who held back their urine the longest would be awarded a Nintendo Wii video game console. But the ill-advised stunt allegedly caused the death of a young mother bringing the unintended focus the wrong kind of attention/rating seeking stunt that radio jocks don't want.

After some reflection of my own, I wondered why a Top 40 station would green light a promotion so stupid and risky in the first place. Most Top 40 stations are bland and never deviate from the family-oriented entertaining content. "Holding Wee for a Wii" is clever but gross. Wouldn't a simple high score on a Wii game be more of a safer alternative?

I doubt it was worth the risk. It cost everyone involved with the Morning Rave program to be summarily dismissed. But the infection of a stunt gone wrong doesnt end there. The black cloud of this tragedy will seep upward to station management where they too will have to answer to justice.

EDIT:

The family of Jennifer Strange urged the FCC to shut down the station and punish the parent company Entercom. On January 24, 2007 The FCC announced that they will investigate the station to see if it violated the terms of its license. If KDND is found guilty the station will have their license stripped and be ordered off the air.

[Via: Wikipedia]