You may be wondering just what I’m up to. This was supposed to be the second week of “Best of JacoBLOG,” and it was all supposed to wrap up today with another post from 2021.
That was my plan, but then I got what could only be called “a Christmas surprise.” You know, there are the gifts you expect or hope to get. But every once in a while a gift shows up you just didn’t see coming. And so, it’s the perfect excuse to break format (something many of you know a lot about), and bring you something a little different to put an exclamation point on yet another challenging year.
My holiday “oh wow” came earlier this week. Bill Keith, the long-time manager of WSDP (88.1 The Park), the legendary high school radio station at Plymouth Canton Educational Park in Canton Michigan, reached out with an email that grabbed my attention.
It’s a Christmas story. But in reality, it’s a radio Christmas story, published last week in the Detroit Free Press. But it actually originates from
the great state of Wisconsin, specifically Greg Borowski (pictured), an editor for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. For the past 26 years, Greg has penned a holiday story for family and friends.
I cannot speak for his past yuletide tales, but this one is very special to me – and hopefully, it will be for you. That’s because while the two main characters in the story are interesting people, the star isn’t a person – it’s a community radio station in a town called Centerville.
As I read it, I couldn’t help but think that while Borowski made his name in print, somewhere along the way, he spent some time inside a radio station, perhaps one similar to the hometown operation in the story. (He even put together a playlist embedded in the story.)
Here’s the title and the description:
“Reindeer Tracks: A Story for Christmas”
“The old man who showed up at the community radio station seemed to have an answer for everyone’s holiday worry. But could he help Marshall Phillips?”
Yup, Borowski had me right there.
While you’re enjoying some down time this weekend before we gear up for what we all hope will be a better year, give it a read. It is truly about the spirit of Christmas.
But it’s also about the spirit of radio.
You can read it here.
A happy, healthy, and safe new year to all. See you in 2022.
Special thanks to Bill & Heidi Keith who truly have that spirit.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Happy New Year Fred.
Wishing you and your organization the very best in 2022. Your presence and voice are much needed in the media world.
Keep up the great work : )
Peace
Billy
I very much appreciate you hanging out with me every day, Billy. All good things to you & your family in the new year. Stay safe!
Thank you for sharing that wonderful link!!!!! I have always appreciated your willingness to share ideas, thoughts, visions, creative twists and endeavors along with great stories. That’s the reason thousands of us come here everyday without fail.
I am grateful you started this platform years ago. Your subscribers are looking forward to the paths you will travel in 2022. We are blessed by your love for radio as a foundation from which you build focus points for all of us to expand our thinking as we eagerly embark on a new year.
Thanks for all you do for our industry.
All the Best!
Mike
What he said.
Thanks for making my day, Mike (and John). I am fortunate to be in a position to express my thoughts on a platform that more and more read. I take it seriously, but love doing it. I appreciate the acknowledgment, and wish you and yours a safe, happy new year.
Allow me to add my wishes for a safe, happy, and prosperous 2022, Fred. And thank you for continuing to provide all these excellent and useful insights.
Best regards, KMR
Back at you, K.M. Best wishes for 2022.
Without you, I would not have seen this story. Thank you, Fred and Paul for a wonderful read. Happy New Year and my best to you all.
And to you, Barry.
Sweet. I wonder how many of us would love to take even just one shift at such a station one Christmas night? I wonder how many Centervilles in America–better known as Dallas and Boston and San Francisco and Los Angeles–wish they had such a station serving them?
Faith, hope, peace, love, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Happy New Year, Fred.
I had the same feeling from the story, David. The station is empty, it’s snowing out, and it’s peaceful (for a rare moment). The magic of radio. Glad you enjoyed it.