MEINIG FAMILY CORNELL NATIONAL SCHOLARS
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD
Richard Galati
Industrial & Labor Relations '06
Over the past two years I have worked as a sportscaster for WVBR-FM, Ithaca. During my freshman year, I was content to simply come in once a week for my shift and every Sunday for our weekly sports call-in show. However, at the start of this latest year, I attended my first meeting of the Cornell Radio Guild, Inc, the legislative and executive body of the radio station. Not only was I intrigued by the large amount of managerial control this body possessed (considering it consisted entirely of students) but also I was concerned about the number of personnel problems that were discussed at these meetings, particularly those revolving around the sales staff. Issues such as insubordination and negativism (which caused new staff members to quit) were often brought up concerning two individuals, both of whom have been with the station in excess of 20 years. It was then that I realized that I could help the station with this problem and I told myself I was going to get involved with the Guild.
In November, I was elected to the Guild and remained a member until January, when I was voted interim Corporate Secretary. I was in charge of scheduling meetings, getting minutes out to the staff and maintaining our public file, the database of the educational and community-based services we provide (this is an FCC requirement). Ultimately, my increased involvement led to my election as Vice-President of Staff and Facilities at the Guild’s annual meeting in April. In this position, I am finally able to utilize the skills and knowledge that I possess
As a student of Industrial and Labor Relations, I realized that the first thing I needed to do was meet with the employees in question and try to develop a relationship with them before I try to solve any and all problems that might have existed. After meeting with them, I realized that, while they blow a lot of hot air at times and complain about some really petty or menial issues, they also had some legitimate concerns. However, kind of like the boy who cried wolf, these concerns ultimately got buried beneath all the ridiculous issues they brought up in addition to these legitimate problems. As a result, these people had never been given a voice before and it was very clear to me why they were so rude, angry and negative all the time.
Some of their concerns revolved around programming issues, such as trying to make our news and sports departments more localized around Ithaca issues. I discussed this issue with both the news and sports directors and we are working on training those respective staffs in searching for and reporting on issues of local concern. The sales staff also complained they have no production staff to make advertisements once they are sold. I am currently in the process of learning how to use ProTools, the software used to produce commercials, in an attempt to jumpstart the creation of a new production staff.
As I said earlier, my role as VPSF of the Cornell Radio Guild, Inc. and WVBR-FM, Ithaca has really provided me with a tangible opportunity to call upon some of the things I have learned throughout my time in ILR. Beyond dealing with employees, I am also constantly using many of the negotiation and bargaining tactics I have studied in dealing with advertisers and sponsors as well as music distributors. I am currently in the process of negotiating a settlement with SEASAC, a songwriter’s association alleging that we played songs written by their clients even though we do not subscribe to their service. If we purchase their service, all legal action against us will be dropped. However, they are currently asking for $2,000, which is ridiculous considering that is almost as much as we pay for ASCAP and BMI, two similar services that offer a wider and better range of artists. I have made these negotiations my personal project and have talked them down to about $750 after discovering what documentation (or lack thereof) they actually have of these "violations". I have also promised to take a harder line on people playing SEASAC music and making it a cause for immediate termination. This is just one of the more significant examples of realizing the interests underneath the arguments (such as the fact that now SEASAC is just trying to get whatever they can from us and really have no position) to try to strengthen my bargaining power that I have utilized in my short time as VPSF, however, I need to be thinking about issues such as power, interests and concessions every time I speak with a paid staff member, which is almost everyday.
Little did I know when I agreed to run for VPSF that it would be an everyday commitment, but it is and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am working to get together a great slate of events sponsored or cosponsored by WVBR over the next year, including a remote broadcast from the hockey ticket line, in an effort to raise public awareness about our station and get the faces of our DJs and staff out to the public. Being on the radio is a big deal for many of our student staff members, and it is unfair for them to remain anonymous, especially since as of the last Arbitron book, WVBR is the #1 station in the Tompkins and Cortland county markets.
