OK, I promise this is my last post that references the Golden Globe Awards.
But it’s hard not to ignore a trend that probably occurs in many pop culture honors shows.
Most of the best films honored this year were based on the lives of real people.
There was Al Pacino and Clair Danes accepting awards for playing Jack Kevorkian and Temple Grandin, respectively.
Colin Firth took home a GG for his portrayal of King George VI in The King’s Speech, while Carlos won for best mini-series, a story based on the real life adventures of Carlos the Jackal.
Let’s not forget the oft-honored Social Network, and writer Aaron Sorkin’s acknowledgment of Mark Zuckerberg in his acceptance speech. Where would that Aaron Sorkin’s script be without the real-life weirdness of Facebook’s creators?
Maybe it’s always this way. Real people make the best stories.
It’s a reminder to all of us on the content side of the street that people talk about other people. It sells magazines, it makes for great movies, and it can be the source of great interviews on the radio.
Terry Gross, the host of NPR’s Fresh Air, has made her living by turning the focus of her show on other people. You can laugh at Larry King, but his formula of shining the light on his celebrity guests kept him vital and watchable for decades.
But as both Gross and King would tell you, it’s not just about the “get” but what you do with it. It’s how you tell the story. Whether it’s the amazing script for You Don’t Know Jack or the way that Terry Gross can make Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong come to life with questions like, “Were you medicated at all or in therapy, or told you should be in therapy when you were in your teens in school?”
Often in radio circles, morning shows talk to each other. Or they book a great guest but waste the opportunity by not taking the time to truly prep great questions. In the process, they fail to get that great story from a compelling person.
We are fascinated by people and their stories. Radio, TV, and film have the ability to bring them to life. It’s part of our medium’s special ability to transcend Pandora and iPods and weave a compelling tale.
When we take the time and make the effort to tell a great story.
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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Adversity toughens him as well as wounding him.I’m a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions