David, Thanks for the summary. That all sounds great. I look forward to listening to WJJO once in a while (see, they got a new customer out of the deal!!) and hearing a PSA.
-India ----- Original Message ----- From: David Vogt <[email protected]> Date: Monday, March 30, 2009 4:26 pm Subject: [Bikies] Summary of Meeting with WJJO To: [email protected], Mad Cross Group <[email protected]> > All: > > I am pleased to report that my meeting with WJJO Operation Manager Randy > Hawke and station owner Tom Walker went extremely well and will likely > yield > several positive results. > > First and foremost, Mid-West Family Broadcasting will produce 2 bicycle > safety PSAs and air them no fewer than 200 times at all times of the > day. I > was assured that they take their role in airing community service messages > seriously, and the spots will not be relegated to 4:17 AM airings. The > scripts for both PSAs will be sent to the Bike Fed to ensure factual > depiction of Wisconsin bicycle law and accuracy of content. While > they are > nowhere near writing actual scripts yet, the frequent themes that will > be > emphasized are: > > 1. Bicycles are legal vehicles under Wisconsin State Law, and > entitled to > all the rights and responsibilities as other users of the road. > 2. State law requires motorists provide a 3-foot clearance when passing > bicyclists. > 3. Public roadways are for all users. > 4. With the right to ride your bicycle on public roads comes the > responsibility to follow the rules of the road. > > A possible theme for the PSAs emerged: "Respect is a two-way street", > implying a desire to increase awareness, understanding and respect amongst > all users of the road. > > A big thanks to everyone who contributed to these ideas. > > Additionally, on-air personality Johnny Danger expressed a desire to > get on > a bike himself, possibly giving bike commuting a try. Mid-West also > sponsors a Boys and Girls Club Ride, and Danger may be participating > in that > ride as well. > > Lastly, Mr. Walker has an astounding collection of autographed memorabilia > from his years in the music business, and expressed a desire to contribute > to fundraising efforts like the Saris Gala to benefit bicycle advocacy. > > Overall, it was a very positive meeting. Both Mr. Walker and Mr. Hawke > agreed that Tuesday's on-air comment regarding the harassment of cyclists > from the window of a car was not only inappropriate, but could very well > endanger the life of cyclists. The person who made the comment was > disciplined and Johnny Danger was reprimanded for not hitting the "kill > switch", which would have effectively kept the comment from ever > leaving the > studio. > > Also, it should be noted that the audio comments posted to Madvelocity.com > were aired in August of 2008, not last week. Several of the people > who were > responsible for the August 2008 piece have since been dismissed, > because - > in Mr. Walker's words - "we will not give a forum to shock-jocks". He > admitted the potential problems that come with live, unscripted comedy > radio, but assured me that he will not permit a format that encourages > and > rewards dangerous and illegal behavior toward cyclists. > > Overall, it was a great example of taking a bad situation and turning > it > into a positive. Mr. Walker is himself a bicyclist, provides indoor bike > parking and shower and locker facilities for his employees who bike to > work, > and is actively involved in promoting compact, bike and transit-friendly > development in the city of Madison. In short, he is not an enemy of > bicyclists. Randy Hawke is also a bicyclist and eager to work with us > to > promote bicycling on the air. Johnny Danger is - contrary to some to > the > unsolicited comments e-mailed to the station - a very active and fit > individual who participates in numerous non-motorized outdoor activities, > and would probably make an excellent "convert" to our cause. I intend > to > keep trying to get him into cycling - either commuting, recreation or > perhaps even competition. > > Thanks to all who contributed to this effort. > > -- > David Vogt > Deputy Director > Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin > (608) 251-4456 > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
