Idaho Radio News Etc.

You put up with a lot from me. You read my rantings. You comment on my blog items. You put up with my typos.

So I have something in return — for 10 of you at least. Leave a comment on this item — with your preferred address in the e-mail field (I won’t publish this of course), and I’ll send out the invite. Google says that it takes a few days – so once I send them out, it may take a bit. If we get more than ten comments, I’ll just randomly pick.

A couple of weeks ago, I noted the Boise Weekly’s annual survey of the Best of Boise. I kinda left something out as you might have noticed. The readers of this blog were kind enough to vote IdahoRadioNews.com as #2 in the “best blog” category. We were sandwhiched between TreasuredValley.com and a tie between Betsy Russell and Mike Boss. While BW put my name on its pages – this blog is only partly my endeavour.  The readers – you all – make this possible – with your comments, your pageviews,  your tips and responses to my questions. I’ve already written more than I wanted to — but the bottom line here: thank you.

Oh, and since I’m saying thanks – another one goes out to the excellent Amy Atkins for her write-up of our “Dicks” post.

After a record week of comments, I thought this would be a good time to relaunch the system. We will be using the Disqus system for comments (you may remember I tried this out about six months ago, but it wasn’t fully ready).

This allows some new functionality:
- Sign-in using your Twitter account
- Set up an account with Disqus
- Set an Avatar for yourself
- Reply to existing comments in-line (instead of only at the bottom of the comments thread)
- Ability to change sorting of comments

I would suggest setting up a Disqus profile with your preferred username.

I had to manually move a few comments over on the KQLZ post below – and lost at least one. But we should be back on the rails now. Let me know if you have any issues.

Soon, I hope to allow commenting by signing in with your Facebook account. For now, comment moderation remains in place (meaning I have to approve all comments before they appear), and the rules of the road don’t change:

- Don’t defame or libel another person. Keep it civil
- Avoid profanity
- Use your real name. If you don’t these rules will be more strongly enforced upon you
- Do not change your nickname. You risk being called out if I catch you
- Comments are moderated. Most are approved in 24 hours

I finally changed the header image to something that represents Idaho radio. Extra credit to the first person to name that location…

UPDATE: I think that’s the most comments I’ve bulk approved at once… Points all around. That’s the KFXD (now KIDO) tower site, taken at sunset last week.

Idaho Radio News has added an “Etc.” to its title. When I first launched this site, it was simply called “Idaho Radio” (hence my name in comments – which remains just “Don@IdahoRadio”). I eventually added the “news” to match the domain name. The “Etc.” serves as simple “truth in advertising” for those few non-radio posts. The domain doesn’t change and neither does the content.

I’ve also launched a new look after several weeks of tinkering. I’m on the lookout for a more suitable header image… that’s coming down the road.

This is my once a quarter or so “got stuff?” post. Send me tips, questions and ideas: idahoradio@gmail.com.

PS: A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be a presenter at Ignite Boise – which is an awesome event held at the Egyptian Theater downtown. Here’s my five minutes of fast-talking nervousness:

I’m leaving lots of comments unapproved lately with people bagging on other people. Comments that libel or demean others will not be approved. Please! You can go after ideas or stations or groups… but saying “John Smith is an idiot” or “Jane Doe sucks at her job” isn’t cool – and it’s not fair.

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Comments have been moved to the Disqus platform. You can now log-in and create and account – which gives you the ability to rate comments, create avatars and more. Also – you can even use your Facebook account as your log-in (it’s part of their Facebook Connect platform – and neither I nor Disqus have access to your data).

More on this soon

UPDATE: It’s not working to my liking yet – so the old system is back for now.

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So I thought quitting would be simple – turns out I’m nuts.  I’ve changed comments to strict moderation – meaning the comment doesn’t show up until I OK it.  Also, I’ll probably post 15-20 times per month instead of the old 30-40. Thank you for all your really kind notes, e-mails etc. – it truly means a lot.

That’s a wrap.  After five years and nearly 2,500 posts, I’m shuttering IdahoRadioNews.com.  I’ve become increasingly busy and don’t have the time to dedicate to this project. I’m certainly going to miss bringing you the scoop – but I won’t miss trying to wrangle the comments.

I want to thank the people who fed me tips over the years – you know who you are, and I really appreciate it.

UPDATE: I’m going to put together one more post with a final review of the past few years. I probably should have done that today but I had to put out the word before I changed my mind. I’ll work on it this weekend.  Thanks again for all your kind words – it means a lot!

Idaho Radio News is five years old today.  Who would have thought?

We had a little flare up with an out-of-bounds comment.  That institutes a new comment rule:  You may not post a comment in a language other than English.  This is just a ridiculous thing to have to do – but since I don’t speak or read any other language, people think it is cool to lay down a nasty tirade in Spanish to sneak it by.  Unless it’s a simple “adios,” your non-English comment will be nuked on the spot. Period.

This is important: I will have ZERO tolerance for inflammatory comments from here on out.  Some of you know the public pasting I was given on a message board found elsewhere recently.  It wasn’t fun, and knowing that some of the comments came from people I know and even work with stung, frankly.

I’m a firm believer in karma, so whatever you think of me – I don’t go after people on a personal basis here.  From now on, I won’t allow those who comment to either.

I’d rather this site die than for one more person to feel poorly because some anonymous loser decided to show an act of cowardice and try to take them down by typing letters on a keyboard.  I don’t like getting a phone call that indicates someone is hurt because some idiot wrote trash on this site.  You’ve noticed I haven’t posted here just three times in the last twenty days – mostly because I needed some time to think.  Having people demean you because they are jealous, petty, immature, insecure or just plain bored is not fun.  I won’t tolerate it here.

Here are the other comment guidelines you agree to post under:

• You cannot defame, libel or mischaracterize another person. Keep it civil
• Avoid profanity. This is one of those rules that bends a bit – because there are times when coarse language has a place
• If at all possible, use your real name. If you can’t or won’t – that’s fine – but rules are generally going to be more strictly enforced for people who use a pseudonym
• Do not change your nickname
• As a spam and troll prevention measure – each user’s first comment must be approved, and that right can be revoked at any time.
• If your comment gets held in moderation for whatever reason, I usually will approve it within 24 hours.

Anyone have the demo and/or morning show numbers? An Excel spreadsheet sent to idahoradio@gmail.com would be much appreciated. E-mail me if you have something fax-able for the number.

Anonymity very much guaranteed.

The Southwest chapter of the Idaho Press Club has an interesting forum coming up. Here’s the description:

By now, the hand-wringing over the Internet’s impact on print media is a familiar story. But what
about the way the Internet is transforming local television news? Some Idaho stations are jumping
wholeheartedly onto the Web, while others are taking more cautious steps. Could the Internet
provide a level playing field for television and print mediums?

The panel’s interesting…

Mark Danielson, GM of KIFI Idaho Falls
Don Day, KTVB & Idaho Radio News
Vickie Holbrook, Idaho Press Tribune
Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman

Should be lively, since I can safely say that Kevin & I are both loyal to the what our respective employers are doing in the market. Plus, Mark used to be my boss and Vickie Holbrook gives newspapers a good name.

It’s at Beside Bardenay at 5:30pm on August 14. Join us!

Last shameless plug on this topic (for now): We’re up and running with DayPower Media. Aletia Powers and I are offering a full range of Internet solutions – including design, coordination, social networking, blogs, e-commerce, search engine optimization and marketing and more.

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Ever type in a comment – notice a mistake and wish you could fix it? Now you can. You’ll be given four minutes from the time you hit submit to make any adjustments – with a timer ticking down so you know where you stand.

This also seems like a good time for a refresher on the commenting rules of the road – which the vast majority of you are great about. There is a local news site in this town that has created a very negative user community, filled with nasty attacks, lies, distortions and profanity in a bid to try and climb back to the #1 spot. I’m quite proud to say that the users on this site are far more civil – thank you.

• You cannot defame, libel or mischaracterize another person. Keep it civil
• Please avoid profanity. This is one of those rules that bends a bit – because there are times when coarse language has a place
• If at all possible, use your real name. If you can’t or won’t – that’s fine – but rules are generally going to be more strictly enforced for people who use a pseudonym
• Do not change your nickname
• As a spam and troll prevention measure – each user’s first comment must be approved, and that right can be revoked at any time.
• If your comment gets held in moderation for whatever reason, I usually will approve it within 24 hours.

The Idaho Press Club handed out its annual awards last night. Staffers from newspapers, radio outlets and television stations (as well as some PR flacks and others) gather each May to celebrate the best in Idaho journalism. The warm-up comedian worked Paul J. Schneider into his monlogue (with a joke about the media’s coverage of his “ouster” that escapes me), and another riff about NPR’s Diane Josephy Peavy (who lives near Carey). There was also a joke about Idaho Daily Statesman entertainer Michael Deeds – who was actually in the room and also won an award.

Idaho Radio News was given the second place award for Best Website in the online publication/magazine division. The excellent Sun Valley Guide took first place honors.

Pay special attention to second place in the “Use of Sound” category…

GENERAL EXCELLENCE
1st Dave Plourde – KCHQ – FM – “Q102 News”

GENERAL NEWS REPORT
1st Samantha Wright, Sadie Babits, Don Wimberly, Krisi Packer, Adam Cotterell – Boise State Radio – “A Senator in Trouble”
2nd Glenn Mosley – Northwest Public Radio – “Moscow Shooting”
3rd Andrew Jacobson – KUOI FM Moscow 89.3 – “Police Have No Leads in Weekend Murder”

SPOT NEWS REPORT
1st Krisi Packer – NPR News 91/KBSX – “What Do You Think Boise?”
2nd TIE
Samantha Wright – NPR News 91 / KBSX – “Crash!”
Samantha Wright – NPR News 91 / KBSX – “Space Rock”
3rd Adam Cotterell – NPR News 91 / KBSX – “PETA Protest”

SERIOUS FEATURE REPORT
1st Samantha Wright, Krisi Packer – NPR News 91 / KBSX – “Summer Feeding Program”
2nd Andrew Jacobson – KUOI FM Moscow 89.3 – “Goodbye Old Friend”

LIGHT FEATURE REPORT
1st Samantha Wright, Krisi Packer — NPR News 91 / KBSX – “On the Road – Construction”
2nd Adam Cotterell – NPR News 91 / KBSX – “Tamales Not Turkey”
3rd Andrew Jacobson – KUOI FM Moscow 89.3 – “A New Face for Jazzfest”

PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM
1st Sadie Babits – Boise State Radio – “The Power of the B-17″

USE OF SOUND
1st Krisi Packer – NPR News 91 KBSX – “Corn Maize”
2nd Andrew Jacobson – KUOI FM Moscow 89.3 – “Moscow is Quiet”
3rd Sadie Babits – Boise State Radio – “On the Red Carpet”

Disclosure: I’m now on the board of the Idaho Press Club. Amazingly… no one said “nay” while voting on the new slate of directors that includes me.

I’ll be at the National Association of Broadcasters (and RTNDA) conference in Las Vegas from Sunday-Wednesday. I’ll be blogging lots for Lost Remote – but also plan to be on the lookout for radio topics as well.

My requests for you:
- If you’re going to be there – let me know!
- If there’s something you want me to check out and blog about — tell me that too

Hit me up at idahoradio@gmail.com

It’s been a prolific weekend here at Idaho Radio News. Don’t miss:
- Exclusive look at the bids for the BSU radio rights
- What stations the BSU radio network could consist of, including Spanish
- How the KCIX car stunt unrolled, and what it may mean
- Why the KSAS KeKe Luv stunt is making positive waves
- Former KQXR host Mat Diablo has a new home
- KISU could enter Idaho Falls
- KZDX and others about to shift dial positions
- New station sign on in E. Idaho

Notebook’s empty — anyone got anything to share? idahoradio@gmail.com — anonymity guaranteed.

(I won’t post about any more milestones for at least six months, I promise)

We just hit our 10,000th comment here. That’s a whollllle lotta feedback. You have my thanks – because it’s what you write that makes this blog fun.

I’m trying to confirm a “big story” – but nailing down the details is proving tough. If you know something that fits this description, e-mail me. For clarity, I’m not talking about anything mentioned in the mainstream media in recent days.

…Idaho Radio News does not post information on people charged with a crime unless they have been convicted. This has been policy since day one here – and something I have to stick with. So yeah… there’s the crypic note of the morning.

You can always e-mail me at idahoradio@gmail.com if you have concerns or questions about this rule of the road.