How many times have you heard or used the expression, “it’s good enough”? Or, “it’s good enough for government work”? While watching the keynote address at this week’s RNC convention, I realized that just maybe I was falling into that trap and perhaps our industry was, too.Is voice tracking “good enough”. What about running jockless with no real local presence? Has your station(s) become broadcast “juke boxes”? Are you still doing local news and events or are you content to re-transmit AP or Fox or CNN and call it day?
Is that public file “good enough”. Have you actually run your own self inspection and are you really doing local programming to address local issues or is a pack of PSAs considered “good enough”. Are you really trying to serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity or is it just “good enough”.
Do you have your EAS equipment? Is it actually installed and functioning? If the FCC inspector comes in and wants you or your on-board operator to run a test, can it be done? Are all your STLs properly licensed with correct address points and proper studio points registered with the FCC?
Are you sure your tower lights come on at night? Do you have an alarm sensor or do you look at it each night on the way home?
I recently spent several days in a rental car traveling through California, Nevada, and Arizona…and back, and had the opportunity to (heresy alert) listen to lots of satellite radio. I found some interesting channels but noted one HUGELY significant difference between the satellite channels and the local broadcasters. Satellite IS NOT “Radio”. It is not local and quite frankly satellite channels would be a rotten deal for local advertisers. It’s not good enough.
So as I was listening to the above-referenced keynote address, I was reminded of those famous “Words of Warning From 200 Years Ago”:
“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.”
“The average of the worlds’ greatest civilization has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependence back again into bondage.”
So where do you think we stand today? Are we poised at the cliff of “it’s good enough”?
That’s 30 for now… For What It’s Worth.