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Being a Geek is a Good Thing? |
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Written by Chris Boylan
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Page 3 of 4
GMs and PDs know that this situation might occur. When it is time to
pick a part-timer, they’ll take the one that makes them feel more
comfortable. Normally, the more skilled and reliable person makes them
comfortable. However, if all other things are equal, and your web
skills give them even a temporary backup in case something happens to
the current webmaster, that comforting hire could be you. In addition,
your web skills could be an addition to their current web setup. Maybe
you could take over the station’s Photo Gallery or Event Calendar,
freeing up the current web master to focus on bigger projects.
Now this has greater benefits for you as well. If you want to move up
at a station, you have to be in a PD’s top of mind awareness. For the
same reason companies advertise on the radio, when the PD needs someone
to fill in for a sick jock or do that last minute remote – you want to
be thought of first. What better way to be top of mind than by sending
and replying to emails every day about the website?
Many part-timers, especially weekenders, see the PD only once a week at
aircheck meetings, and sometimes even less. If you want them to be
thinking of you, you can’t just pester them, or they’ll avoid you
more. The website is a great reason to be in daily contact with a PD
even if you are not physically at the station more than a few days a
week.
For full-timers, I’m sure you have gotten frustrated when you have
wanted to add content to the website when it takes days or even weeks
for the web master to get it there. If it’s just a simple link or
picture, it’s not hard to do it yourself. Many people can learn to do
that in just a few minutes.
Besides, I once survived a format flip mostly because I was the only
person who knew how to maintain the cluster’s sites. In addition, one
of the hidden benefits is that you may learn of format flips a little
sooner than others because someone has to design the website. You also
are more likely to know when you’re about to be fired. If you change
the passwords to the website, management will have to ask for copies of
those new passwords. Normally, they don’t care – but when they start
coming up with reasons to make sure that they have all the passwords –
start tightening up that resume.
How do you start?
There are many ways to get a basic understanding of web design. First,
don’t expect to design beautiful sites right out of the box. It takes
practice and experience. However, you should expect to be able to make
small alterations to the text and designs you like after the first
day. And just changing the text on the front page of a station site is
50% of the job anyway.
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is Senior Editor and Renegade of Funk at Preppermint. Amber got started off in radio as most do, driving around a van and slinging T-shirts. After locking herself out of said van, she was tagged as management material and promoted to Morning Show Producer in Detroit. From there it was just short steps to Traffic Chick and then Morning Show Chick. She has also been Midday Girl and Night Girl. She can work and work it at any time of day. She currently writes, edits and submits material for Preppermint and works at G-105 in Raleigh to keep her mad skills fresh.
is an Editor at Preppermint and the brand new mother of a brand new baby Drew. Vegas started off as a stand-up comic in New York City, wowing crowds and performing on HBO. Sick of standing, she took a swing at sitting in front of a radio mic and began instantly blowing up ratings. In her last gig, she more than doubled the ratings - from a 9.5 to a 21.0 Males 25-49 in her first book! She is also on the verge of achieving her dream of becoming a Roller Derby Girl.
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