Morale in media is low because people know they don't matter anymore. How can they feel good about their jobs and feel they make a difference when employers treat them like red ink on a balance sheet. And to make matters worse, it's not just people over 50 anymore with a target on their backs. Younger people, seen by many experts as the new blood rejuvenating media with fresh ideas, are upset with management who ignore those new ideas.

Click here for my On The Kowch blog about unhappy employees in radio.

Haliburton Broadcasting Group (now owned by Vista Broadcasting) owned 24 Ontario radio stations. kowchmedia hosted a news workshop for its anchors from across Ontario. We also conducted a series of one on one aircheck sessions with their anchors. Among the topics discussed during the five hour workshop included breaking news coverage, how to share news stories with other Haliburton stations, the use of audio clips in newscasts, how to do interviews, how to tell stories, how to speak on the radio, understanding media code of ethics to stay out of trouble, how to use the internet as a tip service - not as a legitimate news source and the importance of writing news stories of interest to listeners of different music formats. We also discussed chasing their dream for a successful radio career.

kowchmedia worked with Montreal's Tietolman Tetrault Pancholy Media on its applications to the CRTC for two news talk radio stations in Montreal and for Toronto's last FM license, 88.1FM. The Montreal application was for a French language talk radio license and an English language talk radio license. The TTP Media presentation earned high praise from CRTC commissioners. We were successful in winning the French language license for 940AM. In September the CRTC processed the TTP application at a non-appearance hearing for an English talk station on the heritage 600 AM frequency in Montreal. In November the CRTC awarded TTP Media the license for 600AM. Both stations are expected to be on air in Spring 2013. In May, TTP Media appeared before the CRTC to apply for 88.1FM to launch Toronto's first private FM talk radio station.  More than 20 applications were looked at. The CRTC decided the format should be music and not talk on the FM band. TTP Media is now looking at other Canadian cities to expand its radio operations.

CKNX in Wingham turned to kowchmedia to work with its on air talent. kowchmedia conducted a monitor of the station's talk programming and spent the day at the radio station meeting one on one with the talent and the management team. The one on one coaching sessions were followed by a staff meeting to discuss the results of the monitor and an open discussion about radio, talk radio, formatics and on air presentations.

Aboriginal Voices Radio is a radio network with stations in Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. It's music based programming during the week and talk on weekends. AVR Radio Networks hired kowchmedia to work with its on air talent across the country. We conducted a series of monitors followed by a couple of two day seminars with the staff.  One on one coaching sessions were held with the announcers, news anchors, production crew and management. This was followed by a day long staff meeting to discuss radio, formatics and on air presentations. kowchmedia also wrote imaging liners, promos and show intros for all five stations.

The Ontario Association of Broadcasters represents radio and television stations across Ontario. Among its many projects is the Amber Alert Program to spread the word quickly when a child is abducted. When it came time to update the contact list for Emergency Measures Ontario, the OAB turned to kowchmedia. Every radio and TV station in the province was contacted to get the names, phone numbers and email addresses of those who needed to be informed whenever a child was a victim of abduction in their area.

Juan Fanzio is making a name for himself with local news portals on the internet. TorontoNews24 is just one of the many news portals he has created. kowchmedia wrote news copy for his different news websites. Media 5.0 is responsible for some of the more innovative online news networks across Canada. He distributes news releases on his social media newswire, designs websites and produces corporate videos and bio videos.

kowchmedia has worked with Program Directors, General Managers, talk show hosts, FM music announcers and broadcast journalists

To become a VIP kowchmedia client contact steve@kowchmedia.com or call 647 521-6397

We hope you stay awhile and check out all that we have to offer at kowchmedia.com Bookmark this site and visit often because our content is always changing.

• Evaluate your show clocks to see if you can do a better job where you place your commercials, your show promos and service (news, traffic and weather) liners. If you're in charge of talk radio, find a way to create more talk time with less interruptions.

• Produce new show intros and new promos to promote the different shows or the new on air talent

• Listen to the station and fix what sounds old, boring and predictable

• Sit down with each announcer and listen to a tape of their show together. Discuss how the show or their on air performance can be improved.

• Throw a party for all staff - hosts, producers and their ops to pump them up and create some bonding.  Do the same thing for the news department.