Posts Tagged ‘WQLN’

Happy Thanksgiving, Erie Media!

November 25th, 2009 joel

At some times in the past 12 months, these pixels have fraught with negativity. I for one am tired of the gloom and doom, so for a least a moment, lets turn our thoughts to what we can be thankful for from the local media that we produce and consume.

So follow me as I count my blessings in my Erie media Thanksgiving list:

  • I’m thankful for the late John Kanzius, who even as his body deteriorated in his final months, engaged his spirit and drive to ensure that the important work of research surrounding his amazing RF machine to fight cancer would continue on.
  • I’m thankful for Dwight Miller and WQLN, who in the face of devastating budget cuts has continued to maintain a strong programming schedule on the public broadcasting stations, including keeping my radio favorite, Marketplace.
  • I’m thankful for the Dave and Jimmy show, and the mighty Dave Kaelin himself, who is the first direct advertiser on Press and Tower. Wanna join him?

    • (more…)

Posted in From The Editor Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments »

Poll: will you participate in a media fundraiser?

November 10th, 2009 joel

We have our winner from our two-week long poll of the most listened to radio morning shows by our Press and Tower readers. It’s WQLN and Morning Edition, as 12% of our poll respondents said that they listened to most in the past week. Runners up included WERG, WXKC, and WJET all with 9% of the votes cast.

This is the time for bell ringing, non-perishable food item gathering, coat collecting, and turkey-dropping. The Erie media gets involved with helping our fellow man during the holidays, and we want to know if you will be getting into the spirit too.

Will you be participating in a media fundraiser during the holidays?

  • No (64%, 14 Votes)
  • Yes (27%, 6 Votes)
  • Maybe (9%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 22

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Posted in Polls Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment »

County Executive debate tonight on WICU, tomorrow on WQLN

October 28th, 2009 joel

Arguably the most important elected post in our region is Erie County Executive. It is also very rare that two newcomers to politics are the choices for you for such a high office when you go to the ballot machines on Tuesday.

Tonight on WICU-12.1 a debate will be aired at 7:00 PM between Democrat Barry Grossman and Republican Mike Kerner. If you can’t watch tonight, catch the two-some on WQLN-54 Thursday night also at 7:00 PM.

Thanks to Chs.12 & 54 and the rest of the media for this important opportunity to evaluate who best will lead our region into the challenging future that lies ahead.

Posted in Television Tags: , , , , 1 Comment »

State budget: what’s in it for WQLN?

October 13th, 2009 joel
Entrance to WQLN/Erie as seen by Google's Street Mapper

Entrance to WQLN/Erie as seen by Google's Street Mapper

Just one year ago, the Commonwealth’s public television stations were supported by $8 million in state funding to ensure some 12 ½ million Pennsylvanians access to educational and informative programming on their televisions.

Today, after a budget process that took 101 days more than legally allowed, the state legislators have deemed that although education is important, educational television isn’t. The state’s PBS stations this year will be funded at the 12.5% of last year’s appropriation.

Last year: $8M. This year: One million clams.

(more…)

Posted in Television Tags: , , , No Comments »

Lavery shares personal side of layoffs

September 4th, 2009 joel
Tom Lavery

Tom Lavery

How many times have we written about this set of layoffs, that series of buyoffs, those salary freezes and decreases?

Behind every statistic are people. Real people; colleagues, friends, members of our family. We seldom get to hear the thoughts and emotions that these ones in transition are experiencing.

This Labor Day weekend, Tom Lavery has given us a gift of insight sharing what it’s like to lose your job. Lavery is a master control operator at WQLN, and due to a new automation system, will be without work on 9/11. He loses his job after 12 years of service at the Q.

Tom is also the regional correspondent for the Pittsburgh Radio & TV Online site, where over the past couple days has shared some feelings and memories of the station. I don’t know if our colleagues are keeping a “stiff upper lip,” but we rarely hear this side of job loss story.

So inspired by Tom, I would like to invite those who have been through this experience especially over the past year to leave a comment below of how things are going for you and where you were and what you are doing now.

Since it is Labor Day weekend, let’s honor those who invested their time and talents into making our Erie media outlets what they were before the downturn.

Posted in Television Tags: , , , , , 3 Comments »

P&T: the first year

September 1st, 2009 joel

We got our HDTV, and our visit from Ty…along with pain and heartache.

PressandTower Screen Shot

First Press and Tower Post-Sept. 2008

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of this web community devoted to Erie media. Over these last twelve months, through 271 posts, 1,803 approved comments in 12 categories ranging from traditional to new media, we covered the few highs and many lows of a devastating year for local and national media.

First the high notes. This community is a bountifully generous one, and the story that generated the most reaction of a positive nature was our coverage of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build of a home for East Erie resident Clara Ward. Our daily posts, live blog, video, and audio podcasts gave P&T readers an inside view of what it takes to not only build a 3500 square foot home in less than seven days, but to also shoot a one or two hour network reality television show in the process.

(more…)

Posted in From The Editor Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 5 Comments »

WQLN keeps Rogers connection

July 30th, 2009 joel

It’s going to cost more each year, but Rogers Cable in London, ON will continue to show WQLN/Erie as it’s PBS channel, according to a Mike Maciag story in today’s Erie Times-News.

Late Tuesday, Rogers agreed to keep WQLN on their system, provided that the public station now provide a fiber-optic back haul to the Canadian cable giant’s network head end in Toronto. Price tag according to the article is $30-50,000 per year.

Such an investment is worth it to better serve the London community and retain the $200,000 per year the station receives in donations. However, it is an additional cost that comes at a time of great difficulty for funding the public media property. Station officials are quoted as counting on some $250,000 in state funding to be restored when the final PA budget is passed. Gov. Rendell’s original budget had no money for public media which precipiated several layoffs and pay reductions in staff.

Posted in Television Tags: , , , , , 4 Comments »
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