The secret is out, and it took the New York Times to expose it. One of the problems with the huge corporations that have taken over broadcasting is their new glossary of terms. You see "local" doesn't mean what it used to mean. Apparently, local now means that the host talks about your city even though he or she is 400 or 1,000 miles away.
According to the New York Times, that's exactly what 550am is doing with their afternoon host. When he talks about what the temperature is outside, what he really means is what the temperature is where the audience is, not where he is. When he mentions a monsoon blasting through the valley, it's not even cloudy where he is. When he talks about thousands of immigrants marching in "our" streets, he doesn't disclose that actually there's no one but the mailman walking along the pavement where he lives. When he debates laws proposed in our legislature he doesn't reveal they won't govern him.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with any radio station doing shows from somewhere else. Just don't hide it. Be straight with the audience.
Frankly, we've known for sometime that this is the case. I fall into the camp that thinks this sort of trend in our industry is unethical and wrong. The strength of radio is it's local connection. The person who delivers the news, hosts the talk show, or plays the hits should be someone who shops where the audience shops, drives the streets the audience drives, experiences what the listeners experience.
Take for instance the serial killers story of last year. When all of us were concerned about our safety especially at night, these hosts were safely living somewhere else. Now, as a serial rapist becomes a concern for those of us who have kids, these hosts who live somewhere else act concerned, but they are only acting. There's no serial rapist in their neighborhoods.
I say it's time for full disclosure. When there's not full accuracy with hosts it can lead to questions about your news staff as well. Your credibility is questionable. If one of your talk show hosts doesn't live here maybe your news reporters and anchors don't either. What about the traffic reporters or weather guy? Who does live here? Who else is acting like they are one of "us" and actually is broadcasting from LA, Chicago, or Orlando?
Even though 550am has far fewer listeners than KTAR-FM, the fact is they have worked hard for years to try and build reputable news products and when they are not truthful about things like where they are broadcasting from it damages the entire industry. I could care less about where any radio station gets their programming, as long as they're honest. Don't tell me you're reporting from Baghdad if you're in Paris.
I can assure you that all of the reporters, hosts, anchors, editors, and producers at KTAR-FM LIVE HERE. They are registered to vote in our local elections. They are part of our communities.
KFYI is illiterate, Joe Crummy has some weird grudge against having an articulate president, for a change. And I very much miss the progressive radio voice that brought Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes to Phoenix.
All-conservative radio is BORING. Maybe Phoenix listeners are afraid to hear other views that will challenge your thinking. Hmmm?
Posted by: Pam | April 07, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Joe Crummy,
You ROCK! I can't believe there is a man talking against this 1.5 Trillion dollar bill. Thank you. We can't trust the Wall Street Media anymore... because their buddies in congress obviously have them in their best interest. I'd rather deal with Capitalism than Communism... NO BUSH BAILOUT!!! The Market knows best.
Give Joe a raise.
Posted by: Timmo | September 29, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Why doesn't KTAR talk about when Pakistani President Benazir Bhutto televised spoke with British interviewer David Frost of Osama Bin Laden's death and how he was murdered by Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheik who has been imprisoned since 2002. The audience deserves the truth right?
Posted by: Joe | January 04, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Who the Hell cares where Joe was broadcasting from. LA is almost a suburb of Phoenix! KFYI should have retained Crummy, and ignored the buffoon, J.D. Also KTAR ranks high in the ratings because they broadcast local sports teams. Their news and talk shows are laughable. Yeah, I remember Gerald, he hasn't changed. If KTAR were smart, they would recruit Joe Crummy and actually compete againsted KFYI on the talk radio format. I would change the dial!
Posted by: Gail N | August 08, 2007 at 07:15 PM
Who the Hell cares where Joe was broadcasting from. LA is almost a suburb of Phoenix! KFYI should have retained Crummy, and ignored the buffoon, J.D. Also KTAR ranks high in the ratings because they broadcast local sports teams. Their news and talk shows are laughable. Yeah, I remember Gerald, he hasn't changed. If KTAR were smart, they would recruit Joe Crummy and actually compete againsted KFYI on the talk radio format. I would change the dial!
Posted by: Gail N | August 08, 2007 at 07:04 PM
This is a big deal because Arizona Talk Radio didn't put the screws to this station and its performance. It had nothing to do with ratings and the fact that listners were "Making a Move" in the afternoon talk show hours. Heck, Supersnake got shot down for the same reason. You cannot "Dis" Women in Arizona, you cannot make a public spectical about their realistic behaviors when it comes to sex, money, and all the other extra curricular activities that we so desire with or without the confines of marriage and/or boyfriendhood. So what if we have the most thriving divorce rate in the country (Arizonians) and it was being address aloud daily. I mean, it appeared that he was shooting straight and that hit the heart of many especially the clueless of men and women when it came to relationships. Some in a good way and some in a bad way. So the push came from the "Female Gender" The Female Mom, The Female Girlfriend, and all the moms who gave birth, as they do not like to be told about themselves just as men do not like to told or acknowledge the things wrong about them in a relationship. Especially in a forum wherein the reality of the conversation always come to, "You know what Joe," you are absolutely right" She is a....or better yet, Your man is a.... So on that note, I miss the show, it had substance. Reverse psychology but it had truth and substance to it. I think it was helping people, women in general what kind of men and women we really are when it comes to "US".
So don't blame talk radio. Sometime the TRUTH doesn't hurt, it just mortifies people.
Posted by: Roger | July 11, 2007 at 05:16 PM
I have heard Joe form many years because I am from LA. I also knew that he broadcasted on KFYI from his LA home. In the old days at KFI in LA he bantered with Tom Likus (not like Tom the jerk in my book) so Joe was the good guy. Knowing that Joe was not here got to me a little because he would infer that he was but he was a bit of home. I think KFYI is doing a good job especally when they landed Savage. I will keep tuning in.
Posted by: Known Joe for a long time | July 09, 2007 at 04:06 PM
I MISS JOE CRUMMY I REALLY LIKED HIS SHOW
AS I DROVE TO WORK AT NITE AND I COULD
TIME MYSELF BY THE TIME THE EMAIL CAME ON.
I LISTEN TO BRUCE BUT HIS SHOW NEEDS SOME
NEW LIFT TO IT. HE IS STUCK ON ONE THING.
AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT IS. BRUCE YOUR
SHOW IS GOOD BUT WE NEED MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT
DIFFERENT STUFF. BARRY YOUNG IS GOOD ALSO
SOMETIMES I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GO INTO THE
HOUSE BECAUSE HIS SHOW IS GREAT ALSO.
Posted by: christine kilgore | May 23, 2007 at 08:19 AM
I really enjoy KFYI but being a person with an open mind I spent a few days last month listing to KTAR 92.3 and I was amazed how boring and fluffy you guys are. Being born in Arizona I use to watch Wallace & Ladmo and Pat was a weirdo cross dresser then and still is a boring feel good touchy wimp weirdo now. As for the rest of your programming well it just sucks. I went back to KFYI and really enjoy Barry taking shots at your station.
Later LOSER.
Posted by: WILDMAN | May 16, 2007 at 10:40 PM
kfyi is history in my ears...tired of being jerked around with abrupt program changes (or firings) and no clue to what's going on!!
Posted by: Paul | May 12, 2007 at 04:01 PM
"Here's a talk show host that really like...Its the Joe Crummy show" I will miss that song at 5pm. I could care less where Joe lives, he was interesting to listen to. I only have about a 15 minute commute, sometimes longer, but I really did like him. He will be missed.
Posted by: Serge | May 03, 2007 at 08:48 AM
Well in my opinion KFYI has really blown it this time.
I have been a listener since 1986 when I moved here from the San Franscisco area.
While driving in on I-10 I was looking for a talk radio station as a replacement for KGO that I always listened to in Cali.
I found KFYI and have been a listener ever since.
I have seen changes in ownership and many changes in personnel. From Bob to Barry to John Dayl and even Micker Pador (sp?)
I don't care where Crummy broadcast from he had the best drive time show in the valley.
A good mixture of politics, topical issues, local issues and entertainment.
I for one am done with FYI.
From Bruce (who has no command of the english language) to the canned blowhards from the east coast and now our own local blowhard JD...I'm done and you know what KFYI couldn't care less.
Posted by: Ron | May 02, 2007 at 06:18 PM
Joe provided countless hours of humor and enjoyment to this road warrior. I no longer listen in his time slot, and I do not care if he lives on Mars. You have made a huge mistake,
becoming totally boring.
Posted by: Jackie Perry | May 02, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Joe was so much better than JD. JD is a blowhard and a loser. He lost the election and he will lose listeners. You guys made a huge mistake. JD retire if you can. You are and always have been a loser and a rapist of the language. I can't imagine how your wife puts up with your constant talking. She must be the most patient person on the planet.
Posted by: john | April 27, 2007 at 04:24 PM
I dont care where crummy lives he was the best, we care about context not location. Letting Crummy go was a huge mistake!
Posted by: linda j | April 24, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Wow your story must have caused the people at KFYI to rethink this because Joe Crummy is no longer on the air.
Now you get to compete against JD Hayworth. You get what you asked for. This man has an ability to tear libs down inch by inch. I have a feeling dirty Harry Mitchell will become very alienated with JD before long.
KTAR does nothing but talk about fluff. They are the AZ Republic of radio.
With someone by the name of Kid or kid rock whatever it is you have to be joking?
Posted by: You get what you ask for | April 23, 2007 at 02:01 PM
I am a former KFYI employee who left only a few weeks ago. KFYI has no more reporters. Sometimes one of our anchors will go out on a story, but that's only a couple days a week. Mr. Hill is unfortunately right about this one.
KFYI had 2 full time reporters out getting stories last year but they both left and were not replaced. You may be seeing some Metro reporters as well sometimes. But, that's only a few times a year. This town is dying when it comes to radio news. Only KTAR is left with a full news staff.
Posted by: Radio Guy | April 11, 2007 at 08:58 PM
Mr. Hill,
You are very good at spinning the facts to fit your assertions, but when you accuse other radio stations of lying because their people are not where they say they are, you are dangerously close to hypocrisy. I am at news conferences nearly every day and I see your reporters, standing next to the other radio reporters who are also at the same news conferences. True, KTAR has more reporters, but they don't have the only reporters. Also, I have seen your capitol reporter filing stories from the senate building, tagging out with a location miles from the place he is recording his story. True, he was there before, but at this point he is not. Is that not a bit disingenuous?
Posted by: AZRadioReporter | April 11, 2007 at 04:44 PM
Russ:
So, it's about ethics, huh?
Ok, let's talk about ethics. What about when KTAR said: "Arizona's heritage news/talk station KTAR announces plans to separate news and sports programming to create the state's first local FM news/talk station on 92.3 and the market's first major league sports station at 620 AM."
Now we find out that some games will still be heard on 92.3, the place where Hip/Hop used to live. So, did you lie to us about separating news and sports, or did you just withold that information in your press release? Kind of like KFYI not telling its listeners that Crummey often does his show from Studio City, CA?
Posted by: Radio Buff | March 29, 2007 at 09:13 AM
If one of the voicetracked music shows could tailor its content to my day, I'd be happy. But they don't. Joe's show is specifically for you, and that's what makes local radio. (If the sales staff needs him at a remote, that could be a problem. Fly him out once a month for a meet-and-greet.) The strengths of the show are that he tailors his topics and handpicks the info for one audience. That's local radio.
Posted by: Vermont Neighbor | March 28, 2007 at 10:46 PM
Please explain how your fall 2006 12+ numbers appear to be a complete opposite of the book as posted on R&R where KFYI has a 12+ rating that is nearly one whole number higher than KTAR (which elected to fold FM and AM into one listing, so I've been told).
I'm not using the actual numbers here as R.B. Tron might not approve.
Posted by: oldiesfan6479 | March 28, 2007 at 09:32 PM
Oldiesfan:
According to Arbitron KTAR has approximately 425,000 listeners. Our nearest news/talk competitor is 550AM with 215,000 listeners. These are the latest numbers from the Fall Arbitron Book 12+. In the key A25-54 demo, KTAR has approximately 50,000 more listeners than any other news/talk competitor.
Posted by: Russ Hill | March 28, 2007 at 09:12 PM
When I first moved to the valley I was a huge KFYI fan. I liked the dedication to brining news. I wanted to get to know pheonix.
However, after awhile when I started listening to programming, it sucked cuz NO ONE is local except (and i'm talking about 2 years since i last listened) a semi-crazy funny guy in the morning. 10am-till 6 am the following day all out of town crap. I tried Air America, but same issue, one morning guy for drive time... then for the rest of the day and night... all out of town crap. (though it was liberal crap... still crap).
I then found KTAR, which had mix of talk and sports... not bad... it was all local though wahoo! awsome. Local issues, local teams, and it has hooked me for the last year. When it moved to FM I followed and I switch between 92.3FM and 620am regularly. But for the love of all that is good in radio... PLEASE FIX the RDS on the station... I hate having to turn my RDS off just to tune into the station!
Posted by: JR | March 28, 2007 at 08:44 PM
Why don't you do more shows with psychics and UFO abductees? Those really get ratings!
Posted by: Woo Woo | March 28, 2007 at 07:47 PM
Who cares about KFYI? They went down the drain years ago. Now KTAR is following suit, with wingnuts and wackjobs like Ankarlo and Gaydos, who have destroyed whatever credibility KTAR may once have had. The only time worth listening to KTAR is weekdays from noon to 7pm. Bring back the old KTAR and unload the current bad batch of KFYI-wannabes and yahoos.
Posted by: Dr. Reality | March 28, 2007 at 07:31 PM