We are nearing the point of no return.
In reaching out to stations before today, there was near 50/50 balance on whether they even have contingency plans ready to go in case their talent gets sick or their facility gets quarantined.
Some of the larger groups and public radio operators have systems in place and are preparing to test or deploy them in the coming days. Others like CBS News Radio, have already had to.
Here are some basic questions that need to be answered if they haven’t been already…
- Does our automation system allow for talent to work remotely without board-ops?
- Do our Program Directors and Traffic Managers have the ability to update music and commercial logs remotely? If not do we have enough backup logs in place to utilize?
- Do we have redundant backups for music scheduling and traffic databases, in the event that someone working from home becomes unable to do so and another person has to take over those duties?
- Who has home studios and ability to broadcast from home whether live or voicetracked?
- Do we have the ability to get the necessary equipment to others that we deem necessary?
- Does our company have any out of market talent or programming to insert on our stations to help assist the burden?
- Can our multi-person shows be produced from multiple home studios?
- Do we have the ability to get service elements (news, traffic, weather) added remotely?
- Do we have the ability to get public officials on the air remotely if necessary?
- Does our city or state have a plan to designate essential personnel?
- Do we have a way to plug-in to a sister station or television partner for breaking news coverage?
Another station operator sent this one which deserves to be highlighted:
Be responsible regarding sharing of information on-air and via social media. Don’t add to the panic but operate as a responsible source of information. Be careful sharing posts that could be detrimental to serving our communities or misconstrued to be interpreted improperly.
If you have any other suggestions to be added to the list please add them in the comments or email us for anonymous inclusion.
In order to assist we have published a list of talents that have a home studio and are able to assist stations needing help during a potential quarantine (live, voicetracking or VO/production). If you wish to be included email [email protected] with name, info, contact, live or tracking ability, rates and either a demo or link to be included on our list.
Lance this is something I’ve been thinking about for days. You run the course with the looseness and seat of the pants attitude radio has as being chastised as an alarmist. Rolling through The Bay Area Earthquake in 1989, The Oakland Hills Fires in 1991 and September 11th – We are never prepared. Rick Sklar wrote about it in his book ROCKIN’ AMERICA; Said totally taken by surprise when Kennedy was shot. News departments in most small market radio stations tend to drift towards what they are comfortable reporting and usually just deals with local government and the community and reject any kind of commentary or OPED in the news stories concerning something like this pandemic. Political views often guide their ignorance or acceptance.