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Why Broadcasting Misses Mentors
I well remember the day when I got my first big job at CFTR, during the height of its Top 40 era. To this day, I thank God that I got to work with the late and much missed Clint Nickerson, who taught me so much I didn't know and made me a better broadcaster at a place that didn't tolerate amateurs.
Which leads to my inevitable question - where are the Clint Nickersons of today?
I ask because of some of what I've seen in the past few days on CFTO's various newscasts. This is not to single out reporter/anchor Rahim Ladhani, but the examples unfortunately all surround him. Not long ago, there were two separate stories over a matter of a week that involved something happening on Trethewey Dr.
Both times, on separate days, Ladhani mispronounced the name of the street, calling it "Treth-Away" when it's actually pronounced Tra-thoo-ee" (rhymes with "phooey".) I'm not casting blame on him for this, but my real question is why no producer took him aside after the first mistake to correct him. The fact he made the same error a few days later shows no one did, and it hurts CTV's credibility when an anchor doesn't know how to pronounce one of the city's major streets.
(Don't get me started on Strachan Ave. and Balliol St!)
Then, on Wednesday's noon, he kept referring to Hurricane Helen heading to Florida. He said it at least twice. But it's actually Hurricane Helene, as in "Hey-Lean." Again, why did no one take him aside after the show and remind him so it doesn't happen again?
That's what a mentor would have done and it's a sad commentary that these people don't seem to exist anymore, perhaps all fired in endless Bell budget cuts.
I'm glad I was at 'TR when I was. I wouldn't have been as good at my job - and future ones - without someone helping me in those early days.
We're all poorer for their absence.
- BowmanvilleBob
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Re: Why Broadcasting Misses Mentors
I read your observations with interest RA because I had just finished an article by former journalist turned podcast host and entrepreneur Erin Trafford about much the same subject. If you ignore the heavy upsell for her company's services, her observations about the lack of seasoned staff in many broadcast newsrooms these days are pretty much bang-on.
Last edited by BowmanvilleBob (September 26, 2024 9:13 am)
- RadioActive
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Re: Why Broadcasting Misses Mentors
Thanks for the link. And she's right.
I remember just starting at a Toronto TV newsroom, sometime in the mid-80s. Nobody knew me and I was an unknown quantity. I'd only been there about a week or two.
Not long after I started, the female anchor was reading some copy on our 6 o'clock news and badly mispronounced the name of a street that was very well known.
After the show was over, I timidly went up to her - because, I was a real nobody - and just said, "Excuse me. I'm new here and all, but I just wanted to tell you I think you may have said that street name wrong." And then I told her what it really was.
I expected her to dump all over me, and say. "Who the hell are you to correct me?"
But she didn't. Instead, she thanked me profusely, knowing the story was going to be repeated on the 11 and she really wanted to get it right.
I took a chance and it paid off. But to me, it wasn't my chutzpah, but her reaction that I still remember. She cared about doing it correctly on air.
I have to wonder if that would still happen today.
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Thread Starter- Saul
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Re: Why Broadcasting Misses Mentors
RA, what's great about what you did is you showed her that you had her back. A mature individual will recognize and appreciate that. And the best mentorships are a two-way street where each party - perhaps in a different situation in the workplace with different skills and expertise - learns from and assists each other.
- newsguy1
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And then there are those who cannot be mentored.
Years ago my newsroom hired a new guy who happened to come from North Bay.
His Toronto job was the biggest he'd ever had, but he was hired because he did a pretty good job and our bosses felt he could do well with some "seasoning."
Not to be.
He came in with a "you can't tell me anything" attitude.
He started off doing some newscasting and some reporting.
One day I heard him read a story where he referred to southern Ontario, but pronounced it SOW-thern.
Sow as in a female hog.
After he got off air I diplomatically told him he should say SUH-thern.
He blew me off, replying, "well that's the way we say it up north."
He soon got a reputation for having the gall to lecture and advise several of our most senior desk editors.
They were on the verge of strangling him.
Then he sexually harassed a couple of the women staffers.
He was gone not long after that.
- Binson Echorec
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Re: Why Broadcasting Misses Mentors
I'd argue editors are missed as well - I get the position is an easy salary cut but the effect can be profound.
- newsguy1
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Oh yeas, indeed. when I first moved to Toronto from Vancouver I made the dire mistake of pronouncing it RAWNS VALL.
I am still horrified to this day that it is RONS is vales.
I also lived briefly in Windsor where one of the main streets is Pierre, pronounced PEER ee.
But when you are a local radio reporter you better get the home town names right.
- RadioActive
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Re: Why Broadcasting Misses Mentors
Thanks to SOWNY member Mace for the following blast from the past (2011) on the weird road pronunciations in Toronto. Not much has changed since then!
Taronna names: How our city leaves us tongue-tied
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