We are the dreamers of dreams

I’ve been yearning a lot lately.

People don’t trust legacy news outlets anymore. I understand. Even here at #ScaiaBlog, my malcontent leanings have punctured the armor of this staid, calming influence I’ve had on your life.

In that article about people not trusting news outlets, comments include, “News organizations have become dependent on sensationalism and shocking news,” and “Energetically, the news is salacious and draining, so I protect myself from the fear factory as much as possible.”

The fear factory takes its toll on reporters, too, although I do wonder if that second quote was by Jackie Chiles.

Both radio and television stations are cutting budgets, so a lot of editors spend time combing through social media to chase stories other stations have already done. It’s a necessary strategy to cover for a lack of manpower. My concern, of course, is we’ll reach a point where everyone just hands off the same story in a circle over and over again.

I grew up in Ohio listening to 700 WLW in Cincinnati. Some retired hosts there had a roundtable where they said the memorable things they did would never be allowed now because management has become risk averse.

My first boss said I’ve become risk averse, too. I took risks as a young buck fresh out of college. That made me successful (Loyal Scaiaholics will recall the choir who sang my name to the “Hallelujah Chorus“), but in a hilariously apt description of irony, once that risk-taking made me successful, I stopped taking chances to maintain my success.

It’s been years since I had someone take a picture of me interviewing a mascot or penguin.

Maybe I’m jaded by getting fired from my last job for getting water damage to a car during a hurricane I’d been assigned to drive into. I’ve actually submitted my resignation at KRLD before. Twice in fact.

“Better get them before they get me,” I reasoned.

Both times my resignation was rejected, which is apparently a thing a company can do, so I’ll stay at KRLD part-time while I build a media empire.

That’ll give me time to try something new. You can preview the empire here.

In a state as big as Texas and growing as fast as Texas, there are plenty of interesting stories that don’t involve getting people honked off about politics. I intend to tell you those stories and poke fun at life’s foibles like a modern-day Dave Barry (Although Dave Barry would likely consider himself the modern-day Dave Barry).

But so shines a good deed in a weary world. Maybe mine is just a restless soul.

I’ll use the time to get back to the joy I had for the job back in the day. The Mouth of the South once told me it’s important to keep that passion for your work.

I’m not sure where this goes. The smart money’s on me showing back at KRLD in another year (at a reduced salary, of course). But to paraphrase modern philosopher Jimmy James, Alan has fancy plans and pants to match.