Tip of the week - 06 03 2017: Whose point of view?
You know the feeling. It’s the end of your shift. You’re dead-tired. You’re so hungry 
it feels like your stomach is chatting with your backbone. But should that influence the way you end
your programme? No!
In fact, announcers that focus too much on what they’re planning to do after the show—well, that’s one of my ‘pet peeves.’ A pet peeve is something you love to hate; an irritating or annoying thing that another person often does, that makes you about as happy as fingernails on a chalk-board.
Here’s an example. One evening I was walking down the hallway in our studio building, when I heard the presenter say something like, “You’re with XYZ FM, and I’m Erik. I’m with you for the next thirty minutes, then I’m out the door for dinner….” I cringed, then went on up to the production studio and got to work. A bit later I had to go to Traffic and pick up something, so out I went, down the stairs, and past the studio.
“…this is Erik, and we’ve got just fifteen minutes left until my programme is finished.” Into Traffic, got what I needed, then back to Production. You guessed it!
“…and in eight minutes I’ll be outta here, and Dinah will be with you for Studio Ten!”
Can you see why I call this a ‘pet peeve’? This sort of thing comes all too often from announcers who only see things from their own perspective. They’re tired—and they sound it. They’re bored—and you know all about their attitude. They want to go home—and they never stop telling you (the listener). I hate shows like that; it’s enough to make me tune out for good.
This is all about perspective. Are we viewing our show from our own perspective? Or do we make the effort to imagine it from the listener’s point of view? If our listener hears us going on (and on and on) about leaving the studio, it sends two very undesirable messages: 1) the announcer doesn’t enjoy her or his job, and can’t wait to get away from me…and 2) when the end of the programme comes, it’s time to leave.
That’s not what I’d call a happy ending to a radio show.
So next time you’re hungry and exhausted—don’t show it. Think about the programme from your listener’s point of view, and speak to build a bridge of relationship that will keep her or him enjoying your station even longer.
Happy broadcasting!
Janice Reid
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