My self imposed exile from this blog ends today. If you are just tuning in for the first time a little history. This blog originally started out as the WKRN GM blog in January of 2006. It was rare back then for a TV GM to blog so it was a curiosity to many. A lot of my colleagues thought I had taken leave of my senses especially when the comments got hot and heavy. But I loved that interaction. Sure there were always those waiting in the weeds to pounce but they were a minority compared to the majority who were grateful and intrigued to hear from the guy in charge why certain decisions were made. They were helpful as well. I’ve spent a lot of time since leaving the station talking to various groups about the potential of the web and when I talk about the benefits of a GM website I tell the story of a problem the station was facing and how it was a reader of the blog, a viewer, who helped us come up with a solution. Instead of rehashing the whole thing you can see it unfold here and here.
I’ve had numerous emails from people asking why I stopped blogging. The long and short of it is I needed to put some distance between my departure from the station and the blog. As I have noted before, my biggest surprise was to learn how much of my viewing habits were driven by my job. I rarely watch network TV these days and that includes network news as well. I did watch last night’s return of Lost and found myself frustrated with the unbelievable amount of commercials crammed into it. Today I can watch it online at abc.com and in HD with “limited commercial interruptions.” This is the kind of stuff that kept me up nights when I was a general manager. I’m constantly asked if I miss being a GM. My answer is I miss the people but not the job. My last three years at the station were a time of tumultuous change.
My days are in the web now. That sense of wonder, creativity and making it up as we go along that was once a staple of local broadcasting has departed for the internet and I decided to tag along.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:47 pm
[…] Welcome back, Mike. The web needs guys like you. […]
February 1st, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Hey Mike
So glad to see you are back!
Gonna make this one of my regular reads.
Looking forward to seeing you in Brussels.
Rosenblum
February 1st, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Mike! It’s great to see you back on!!!
Looking forward to reading more from a brilliant guy…
February 1st, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Welcome back! I was so thrilled when you popped up in Google Reader tonight.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:06 am
Mike, I’m glad to see you back online, too. I enjoyed your prior writing and the part you played in the innovations at WKRN. Welcome back.
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 am
It’s so good to have you back around! Yay!
(And ditto about the commercials in Lost. )
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
[…] Read the rest here. […]
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Adding my welcome. Looking forward to reading your thoughts.
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I’m thrilled you’re back Mike! I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next and I’m looking forward to reading your take on the evolution of media.
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
How can we reach you? I want to catch up with you after your time away from the blog.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:32 am
welcome back my friend.
i am sure you will have plenty of blog fodder.
mel taylor
February 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Thank you all for the welcome.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:42 am
What do you think about WKRN now? They’ve stopped the a.m. weekend show, and fired about 13 people?!?! Glad you got out? Suprised?
February 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Welcome back
February 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Good to see you back. Is there a general direction that you see this blog moving??
February 4th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
nashvillegrrl: I hope you’ll understand why I don’t want to comment on WKRN. Some of what has taken place was looming on the horizon when I decided to leave. It’s a very tough time for broadcasters as I’ve mentioned previously. What happened to newspapers in the 90’s, declining readers and declining revenue helped along by Craigslist, is now hitting broadcasting with fewer viewers each year and video on the web hastening that along. Unfortunately Nashville TV is not going to escape these new economic realities and you will see more news like this in the months and years to come. As for glad to being out…I will say my stress level has declined.
Paul: Good question and one I’m still kind of wrestling with. As the WKRN GM the focus of the blog was defined to the station and the business. I would hope I can shed some light on what’s happening out there and where I see new opportunities for those in and out of the business. It will definitely be a work in progress with I hope some original reporting and some true life adventures as well.