Subject: a warning about WARW and Christie Banks
From: Mark Howell
Date: Sat, Mar 13, 2004 2:03 PM
Message-id:

On 13 Mar 2004 06:23:48 GMT, wrote:


Being from the DC/VA/MD area I have been looking for a gig in my
hometown area for a long time. The WARW position sounded like the
"opportunity of a lifetime" that they claim in the headline. I
responded to the ad and got an email from Christie, that in turn lead
to a few phone calls in which Christie said she would "love to talk"
to me. So, I flew to Baltimore at my own expense, (about $350) and
upon my arrival in Baltimore called to make an appointment. Well, Ms
Banks did not take my calls, or return my voicemails, when I did
finally get through on the phone she told me she was "too busy" to
talk, and to try in the next few days.

I have the feeling that I'm not getting the whole story here.
Why didn't you make an appointment before you got on the plane?
Did Ms. Banks ask you to fly to Baltimore without one and just show up
at your own convenience?

Most hiring managers, especially in large corporations in major
markets, will pay transportation to the interview for an out-of-town
applicant who interests them. That's certainly been my experience as
an applicant in the past. And yes, managers are "too busy" to just
drop everything for somebody who shows up unexpectedly from out of
town without the courtesy of making an appointment first.

I don't know Christie Banks, and I have no intention of trying to get
a job at her station or anywhere else in that market, but I bet her
side of this story would read a lot differently.

Mark Howell
------------------
So Mr. Know It all...
how about the GM from a NYC station WHO CALLED ME some years back. Come on
in..fast get on a plane...we'll reimburse you when you get here. Come see me
first thing in the morning.
Flew in from Chicago...for my "first thing in the morning appointment" and they
guy wouldn't see me...and didn't even have the courtesy to let me see someone
else. I was left hanging at the locked office door.
Didn't get my money back either.
So...what did I do wrong here...huh?
That's this business...I don't think you know it all.
Either that or you're another PBS dude working at my expense and spending most
of your time posting here against real broadcasting folks.

On 14 Mar 2004 17:16:27 GMT, (Foxsrus1) wrote:

Flew in from Chicago...for my "first thing in the morning appointment" and they
guy wouldn't see me...and didn't even have the courtesy to let me see someone
else. I was left hanging at the locked office door.
Didn't get my money back either.
So...what did I do wrong here...huh?

It sounds like your situation was different than the one detailed
earlier in this thread...again, assuming you had an actual
appointment.

In the case of the original poster and WARW, it appears - by his own
account - the program director told him she'd "love to talk to him"
but without any specific time or date. He took it upon HIMSELF to fly
to BWI and basically just dropped in. No wonder he wasn't given the
red carpet!

"I'd love to talk to you." Fine. Give me a time and a date, and I'll
be there! Coming out there without a firm appointment was his
problem, not the problem of WARW's PD or the station itself.

That's this business...I don't think you know it all.
Either that or you're another PBS dude working at my expense and spending most
of your time posting here against real broadcasting folks.

Mr. Howell is the well-awarded news director of a dominant commercial
station in Central California. Do a Google search on his name with
the acronym APTRA and you'll pick up a few of 'em.

Hey, there are whackjobs in this business, and some of them have
hiring responsibility. But the *usual* experience at reputable
broadcast outlets is far from what either of you describe.

Mike

"Foxsrus1" wrote in message
...

That's this business...I don't think you know it all.
Either that or you're another PBS dude working at my expense and spending
most
of your time posting here against real broadcasting folks.

Mark is a many-time award winning journalist at the #1 commercial station in
a very competitive California market. His credentials are unquestionable.

And he posts with his real name, unlike you. No name, moans and ducks.

On 14 Mar 2004 17:16:27 GMT, (Foxsrus1) wrote:


So Mr. Know It all...
how about the GM from a NYC station WHO CALLED ME some years back. Come on
in..fast get on a plane...we'll reimburse you when you get here. Come see me
first thing in the morning.
Flew in from Chicago...for my "first thing in the morning appointment" and they
guy wouldn't see me...and didn't even have the courtesy to let me see someone
else. I was left hanging at the locked office door.
Didn't get my money back either.
So...what did I do wrong here...huh?
That's this business...I don't think you know it all.
Either that or you're another PBS dude working at my expense and spending most
of your time posting here against real broadcasting folks.

First of all, I've been in commercial broadcasting for 39 years,
(never worked for PBS or NPR for that matter) and currently occupy a
middle-management position in a top-rated, independently-owned, medium
market station. So much for my bona fides. Your story seems
different from that told by the original poster, who got on the damn
plane WITHOUT BEING ASKED! I never said that nobody gets screwed in
this business. I just said the account as posted didn't seem, shall we
say, fair and balanced? There are two sides to every story, probably
even yours, but I really don't want to go there.

Mark Howell