Blog: Radio Games

• Increase image
• View all images

The radio world has taken a bashing of late with high earners playing high jinks but radio deserves better and more than a few quid from inflated wage bills should find its way into local radio says Geoff Motley.

In my days as a radio presenter, every time I appeared on air I was reminded of what it had taken to get there, the effort of self producing a show and for a pitifully small fee - and I mean small. Local radio was squeezed to get the absolute maximum from every copper coin of the realm. Dedicated Beeb staffers put in far more than their salaries warranted with programme contributors doing there bit for free, not even getting a biscuit and a cup of Rosie Lee.

Why is local radio forced to work on a shoestring when big names in broadcasting get a huge wedge for doing what brilliant local presenters have been doing for decades? Three or four chunky salaries may help a good many of the Beeb's forty local radio stations - not to boost local wages but for better PR amongst the listening audience and to devise innovative programme making.

A good start would be to treat programme contributors and participants better and recognise their value by at least paying expenses and handing them a memento of their visit. I am talking about unassuming charity workers, real achievers from the ranks of everyday folk and listeners who have something to say about their lives and the community of which they are proud.

Once I was co-presenting a breakfast show on local radio and the winner of a phone-in quiz, a lady of mature years who'd won a visit to the studio, asked live on air if we'd send a taxi for her. Naturally we said yes, although she couldn't see our eyebrows rising and our biting the backs of our fists in realisation that we had committed the station to £20 of expenses! Would future guests demand a stretch limo? Oh my God what had we done? My co-presenter and I decided that we'd pay for the cab if it came to that. We were already providing coffee and biscuits ourselves for our studio guests along with a cafetiere, tray and china brought from home.  This was the reality of local radio.

The old lady's cab we got through the system, just, but the coffee and even the odd competition prize were still down to us. On we went.

Local radio still depends on the wide eyed enthusiasm of contributors who will turn up and make a programme better with their anecdotes and expert comment. They'll do it just for the buzz even though they may have travelled several miles on a cold winter's morning when only wildlife is stirring.

The problem is that staffers at a station are so aware of budget constraints that they even forget to give guests a souvenir of their visit. What about a photo or car window sticker that might be still gathering dust in the stationery cupboard.

So a couple of naughty boys could be saving the corporation money by being eased off air. Right, take just one of their fees, the fatter one, divide it by 40 and raise the game of local radio. Send the likes of Radio Tucked Away a robust little cheque with which to attract guests deserving of modest reward.

Don't blow it on Tom Cruise wandering into a radio station whilst having a camper van holiday in the local countryside. Spread it amongst fascinating local talent and characters who deserve to have a memorable on-air experience without having to juggle a plastic cup from the office water cooler; not that there'll be one of course.

Geoff Motley is a broadcaster, presenter and media coach.