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http://www.milestoneproductions.50megs.com
http://www.newstalk1220.com
Comedian Dick Smothers (Smothers Brothers) in studio
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9/12/06 IM to Trish:
IM #1: Doug
floralparkmanny: Hi Trish- This is Doug from Thursday's class. Just signing on to IM.
Frenchfleur11: Hi Doug- I've been waiting for someone to IM me back
floralparkmanny: I rarely IM, so I'm glad someone's out there! :-)
Frenchfleur11: How are things going with you and your assignments this week?
Frenchfleur11: I'm doing some research on the last assignment. I haven't decided on the subject matter yet. I think I'm going to look through my favorite's list on my computer and write on something there so I can past in a link for others to see. How about you?
Frenchfleur11: Instead of "past in a link", I meant "paste in a link" into my wiki.
floralparkmanny: Got it :-) I've used quite a few links in my blogs so far. I had never heard of a wiki til this class :-)
Frenchfleur11: I guess you are working on your assignments, so I'll check in with you later.
floralparkmanny: On the narrative assignment, do you know what he means by the remix?
Frenchfleur11: Remix means to refactor, rearrange or change things around. I had to do a lot of that today. I spent several hours getting my whole blog in better order.
floralparkmanny: Do we write the story and then for part 2, rewrite it?
Frenchfleur11: No, you just type in the narrative and post it into your wiki as you create a new page. You don't have to edit it. Other classmates will come in and edit for you as part of their assignment. You go and try to look up another classmates assignment and cut and paste, then correct it for assignment #3. It might help you if you create a new page for each of your assignments and then post them separately on your home page so each of us can see your work.
floralparkmanny: Ok, thanks :-) I'm trying to copy and paste this dialogue, but AIM doesn't let me do that. Are you having trouble with that too?
Frenchfleur11: I haven't tried yet, your the first one to IM today.
When someone comes on to IM, I will connect!
Week 2 Link between 2 classmates blogs:
Trish
Emery
I like the succinct style of writing of Trish and Emery in their respective blogs. They get to the point quickly using a minimum amount of words.
Week 2 Narrative
The past few weeks have been a technical challenge at the radio station where I work. Since we are in a technical writing course, it’s only appropriate to write about some of the technical issues we are dealing with at WIBQ. While I’m not the station’s official engineer, I am awfully close to fulfilling the duties of that particular job title at times.
Several of our programs come to us through satellite downlink. Shows like Dr. Laura and Bruce Williams which are broadcast nationwide to affiliates around the country are sent up to satellites in space by their network distributors. Stations are able to download the signal using satellite dishes positioned on the highest point of the roof on the outside of their buildings.
On September 1st, we added a new program, “The Neil Boortz Show” to our lineup. In addition, we are the affiliate for Florida State football and the NFL game of the week radio broadcasts. All of these programs are fed by satellite. For the past two seasons, we have carried NFL games sent to us by a syndicator called SportsUSA Radio. Since our station is run primarily by computer program for these syndicated shows, all we needed to do was to schedule the automated log used previously and the games would air as before. Unfortunately it wasn’t as easy as that. What we discovered was that the network had changed their tone signaling system which our receiver wasn’t recognizing. We could get the program, but our receiver wouldn’t fire the automation program to put it on the air.
After a lot of head scratching, pushing of many buttons and a few words you can’t actually say on the air, we discovered that the issue came down to simple programming. Our satellite receiver system being more than ten years old was using a program written in DOS format which is considered ancient by today’s standards. The signal was being transmitted in what is called a “wave signal” format. To our DOS programmed system, it was a futuristic foreign language, not yet invented. The immediate solution until we can re-program the system or upgrade to a newer receiver, is to run the games manually with someone on the board. Ah technology! It can be wonderful and frustrating. This week it was wonderfully frustrating!
As I write this tonight, I am also monitoring and rewriting logs via GoToMyPC.com on our station’s computer. We use an automated system called Simian which runs our overnight and syndicated programs on the radio station. This particular task requires piecing together program logs using preset commands using a drop and drag with the mouse.
What a change in radio since I started working in broadcasting back in college at Adelphi University’s campus station. Back then (it wasn’t that long ago) we used reel to reel tape and carts. Typewriters were used to write copy and the only thing resembling a computer was our United Press teletype machine. It probably is better nowadays as far as efficiency is concerned, but there is a part of me that longs for the days of spinning actual records and editing using razor blade and tape. I’ll keep you posted on the saga of technology over frustration.
Week 3 Classmate's paragraph that stood out for me: From Elizabeth's Blog http://enc2210.pbwiki.com/ElizabethMcNelis
"Every Thursday, I have about an hour between classes with nothing to do except feed the parking meter. Last Thursday, I decided to go to class early rather than wandering around aimlessly. The classroom had computers and internet. I was sure I could find a game of Solitaire, Free Cell, or some other mindless endeavor to occupy my time. Cautiously, I made my way to the classroom. I say cautiously because I am still not very familiar with the campus, but I am very familiar with my own ability to easily get lost. My first day of class, I had walked around the outside of an entire building and through the entire first floor before I could figure out how to even get to the second floor. So, you can understand my relief when I found the right door, and you can understand my dread at seeing an ominous note, its words mocking my success, hanging on that very same door. The class had been moved to another room."
I can relate to Elizabeth's situation she wrote about in her narrative. I too spent about a half hour walking around campus before our second class trying to find our new classroom. I went into the bookstore and asked the woman behind the counter if she could direct me to where FCT was. She said she didn't know! I eventually found it while attempting to dodge the raindrops.
Elizabeth's writing style here is very good and captured her frustration for me the reader. One of the hardest things to do in writing is finding the first person voice and she did it well here.
Free Sound Exercise
http://enc2210.pbwiki.com/f/jazzdj.wav
Week 4 Narrative Remixes and Grading:
Doug's remix and grading of Frank's narrative
Doug's Remix and grading of Elizabeth's narrative
Doug's Remix and grading of Trish's Narrative
Doug's Remix of Doug's Narrative
Definition:
Customer service is the backbone of a successful relationship between a business and it's clients. A company providing excellent customer service will have it's clients wanting to do more business with that company by creating word of mouth advertising extolling the virtues of that company. A company that does a mediocre job of customer service will keep some clients and lose some. A company that does a lousy job or provides no customer service will surely drive away business and create negative word of mouth that will keep customers from ever doing business with that company.
Recently my trusty car that had given me tremendous service for many years, went to auto heaven. The engine gasket blew and the cost to repair was not worth the expense. Suddenly I was in the market for a new car. I would now have to enter the uneasy world of visiting auto dealers and car salesmen.
I did as much research online and scouring through car ads as possible before entering that uncertain world of the auto dealer. Fortunately this is the time of year where car companies are offering the best deals on last year's models. Lucky me!
I found the car I wanted and with some uneasiness, visited the dealer near where I work. I have to say, with some surprise, the salesman that greeted me in the lot, was very low key. He was not a high pressure, phony type at all. He saw the newspaper ad in my hand and immediately showed me a couple of the models that were available. I took a test drive and decided, I had made the right choice in vehicles and went inside to buy the car.
The entire process was very easy and painless. No high pressure sales gimmicks to get me to buy unnecessary options or "undercoating". The price the salesman came back with was even lower than I had budgeted in my mind. I got a great deal and felt reassured that this dealership would stand behind its product. Excellent customer service. What a concept!
I found this website which does an outstanding job of explaining the virtues of good customer service:
http://www.iusmentis.com/business/ecommerce/customerservice/
This line near the top of the website says it best: "The simplest way to provide good customer service is to provide the customer with information he needs. " In other words, be honest with your customers. Use the motto, "under promise and over
deliver!"
Link to classmates definition:
Maria
I thought Maria did a great job on her definition about animal cruelty. She explained it well and backed up her statements with the website she linked.
Group 1 Mission Statement Blog page: Doug Mission statement
Week 7 Blog:
We've recently moved our radio station to a new location at the Westfield Sarasota Square Mall. It's been a technical challenge to say the least. We set up a temporary studio in a conference room in our offices while the new studio is being built down the hall.
The logistics of moving broadcast and satellite receivers is never simple. While we were able to get the station back on the air within less than two days, it has been a series of technical frustrations dealing with the phone company and satellite construction services.
While I'm not the engineer, I have assisted in the reconstruction of our studio. I have to say, much of the technical writing in the broadcast engineering manuals I've seen at the station could be improved to make it more understandable to the layman. We don't always have an engineer on duty at the premises, so it would be beneficial to have technical manuals written so other staffers without an engineering background could understand them better.
Yesterday I assisted our engineer as he aimed our satellite receiver skyward to reset it on the roof and capture the signals for our syndicated shows on the radio station. One thing I've noticed in dealing with technical issues in broadcasting, is that no matter how well written the instructions may be in a manual, there are times when trial and error is the only way to get things done. Sometimes I think computers and equipment have a mind of their own and are laughing at us humans trying to figure out how to make them work properly.
December 6, 2006:
It's been a busy and hectic semester. The radio station I work at is still building it's studios. We moved to the Westfield Sarasota Square Mall. We're right next to Penney's if you're planning on doing some Xmas shopping.
I do a daily talk show where I interview people. This past week I had an opportunity to talk to former Senator Gary Hart about the state of the Democratic Party, Mandy Patinkin about his CBS TV show "Criminal Minds" and his upcoming concert in Sarasota, Buddy Martin about his book on the Florida Gators football program and former CBS White House Correspondent Gary Schuster on the goings on in Washington, DC.
I've enjoyed this class and the opportunity to work with some great new friends and colleagues. It has been a different experience than any other writing class I've taken at USF and very worthwhile.
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