Comments on: This is why Journal earns respect

By: Peabody

Peabody — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:21:43 +0000

Another interesting thing…

Both Rocky and Rochelle have interesting stories about the early days of KQXR 100.3 as Pirate Radio- before it became The X.

The story of the rise and fall of Pirate Radio is probably about as Bizarre as any in the industry, ever.

By: RDS

RDS — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:30:46 +0000

Hey, good to see you here, Kallao. If anyone really wants that story, it’s on my website and can be found here: http://www.engineer-exchange.com/content/view/84/1/

By: Kallao

Kallao — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:58:00 +0000

Rocky is the man. Glad he’s still doing amazing work. He should tell you all his speeding though montana story.

By: RadioActive

RadioActive — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:26:55 +0000

Most everyone who is an engineer or “technician” today is a module puller/replacer. They just do not make engineers like they used to. There is a certain quality to being able to think and want to understand why things work the way they do. Rocky is old school. I also have to admire anyone who likes to take home old technology that most everyone else would have been more than happy to see hauled off to the dump, and give it a new life in the basement – garage. Over the past twenty or so years, I have had many encounters with Rockwell and they have always been pleasant ones. I hope that his
employer(s) will keep that in mind….And also THANK YOU for your many efforts on the Idaho History of Broadcastin website and other contributions!

By: Peabody

Peabody — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:31:03 +0000

Rockwell is one of the most fabulous individuals I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience in countless aspects of the industry- especially engineering. He doesn’t mind sharing it, either.

Rocky is the first person to call in case of an technical catastrophe. He can fix it. If the problem doesn’t want to be fixed, he can rig it! With his small crescent wrench and a roll of electrical tape, he’ll make it work, without losing his cool.

Rockwell makes a damn convincing Santa Clause too!

It’s sad to see old-school radio engineers, like Rockwell, going the way of the dodo. The equipment has changed, and it is far more automated and computerized than in the old days. However, it doesn’t hurt to have someone around that understands the good old fashioned concepts of how this thing we call radio, works. There is still equipment used in broacasting that is not connected to USB ports or network servers.

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:05:04 +0000

While I agree with Don that Rocky and Roxx are awesome, I think the thing that sets Journal Broadcast Group apart is that it is a strong TEAM. It’s not just Rocky spending hours on a phone line or Rochelle’s Myspace work and all of the live in-studio mixes she does. Today for example, we have a big remote with J105 and Jason, a remote tech is not only setting up everything, including two inflate-ables, running the PA and Marti, etc. But he has taken it upon himself to be the “J-Bird” and run around being the mascot. No one asked him to do it. It’s close to triple digits out there! Or, Rocky going to the Knitting Factory to make certain a live “Sound Check” on the X goes off smoothly. And Shannon, the Journal Receptionist. I don’t have to tell any of you who have been in the business for a while what a thankless job that is. But she always is cheerful, answers the callers questions, appeases them, etc. And Kristine Simoni, Promotions Director-Goddess(she also came to Journal from KF95) Not only does she handle promotions for all the Radio and now, doing the same for KIVI TV, she also is the Mid-morning voice of J105! Or Jeff Hoffert, The Lead KIVI TV Engineer, who will go up and work on an FM Transmitter and thinks it’s cool that he is getting to learn about radio and goes over and above the call almost on a daily basis. Lastly, the guy that holds the whole thing together and frankly, I don’t know how he does it. Well, yes I do. He trusts the rest of us to do our jobs…

Thanks, Bob. It’s been a great ride!