Air America Affiliate: "Equal Opportunity Laws Are For Peasants

The Twin Cities' FrankenNet affiliate is advertising for a producer for a as-yet-unannounced morning show (which means Marc Moaron's "Morning Sedition" must really be burning things up.

Here's the advertisement for the new position. The position itself looks pretty crappy and thankless, like most "producer" gigs at third-tier stations (I know - this job description reads almost exactly like the job I held at KSTP-AM back when was the #10 station in the market).

But the real payoff is at the bottom of the job description. Emphasis is added:

Producer Sought for Morning News Program

Part-time producer with at least 2 years major market experience sought for new morning news program on 950 AM KSNB in Minneapolis.

Requirements Include:

• College level or broadcasting school education or related field of equivalent experience required.

• Two (2) years experience as a producer in a broadcast environment or equivalent. [Or equivalent? What? Spinning records at a nightclub? There is no equivalent! - Ed.]

• Strong interest, knowledge, awareness, and appetite for local/national current news events. Able to quickly conceptualize stories for radio presentation and is able to write and produce a radio newscast utilizing material from all available sources. Proven ability for accuracy and follow-through. [These will be trained out of you, of course - you're working for FrankenNet, now - Ed.]

• Able to effectively screen telephone calls for on-air talk shows in a professional manner while providing accurate information.

• Willing to accept responsibility and work under moderate supervision while resolving varied problems, which require general knowledge of company’s policies and procedures.

• Able to work under pressure and effectively handle the stresses of the responsibilities of the position and assure on-air hosts receive material for broadcast on time as the services performed affect company image, clients and the listening audience [because goodness knows you'd never want to hurt the "image" of Wendy Wilde, who was an embarassment at WCCO, and is easily the most wretched excuse for a talk show host in the Twin Cities today - Ed.].

• Have an acceptable on-air presence and voice quality and be able to enunciate clearly and read copy fluently as required. [In the great tradition of those seasoned radio pros Lizzzzzz Winstead, Marc Moaron, Wendy Wild and Janeane Garawful - Ed.]

• Consistently works hours required. Works more when required to meet deadlines including odd shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime, evenings, etc. [In other words - you're part-timer, but they'll work you like a sled dog. Hey, pallie - you wanted to get into talk radio! - Ed.]

• Work in compliance with Company policies and procedures.

• Work effectively in a team environment. [in the sense that the guy in the parade who sweeps up the horses works in a "team environment". Talk radio producers have immense turnover for a reason - Ed.]

• Maintain positive and cooperative rapport with staff, management, and clients. [Did they mention that talk radio personalities tend to have egoes that put Diana Ross to shame? - Ed.]

• Project an appropriate professional appearance and demeanor.

Qualified candidates are welcome to e-mail their cover letter, resume, and references to:

Janet Robert
E-mail: [redacted]

No walk-in candidates will be considered. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE! REPUBLICANS NEED NOT APPLY! Otherwise...An Equal Opportunity Employer.

jrobert, 10/19/2004 3:28:48 PM
Message#152851

Whoah. So let's get this straight - it's an equal opportunity job, but Republicans need not apply?

I'm no lawyer. I always snooze through the Human Resources lectures. I also know that the interview is when things like "wrong political affiliation" tend to get weeded out. That's how Minnesota Public Radio does it; they're ultraliberal, but they're not stupid. Even wacko-lefty KFAI will let the odd Republican in the door.

But if you do know HR or EEOE law, I'll toss this out to you. Can they do that? I'm sure its legal, of course - but it's the babbling, head-up-the-butt stupidity of the posting that amazes me.

If its illegal, of course, I'd like to make sure the whole world knows it.

Posted by Mitch at October 24, 2004 09:34 AM | TrackBack