JOE LONG AND KBOX NEWS
One of life's little treasures in Texas Radio was being lucky enough to participate in the Legendary JOE LONG's KBOX/KTLC FM News Department at
Among many things, JOE tossed me right in the middle of the City Beat, Voicers and Mobile News Reporting along with regular night time newscasts on KBOX AM and KTLC FM. When alone in the News Room, it sounded like 5000 different Police, Sheriff, Department of Public Safety and all other Radio Dispatchers talking at the SAME TIME, VERY LOUD! JOE told me "You'll get used to it." After a few weeks, I DID get used to it. If fact, when away, I actually MISSED it! One of the many things JOE LONG told me, in the beginning, was "Radio News reporting was 90% effort and 10% talent." That was a very humbling statement!
JOE gave me a list of about 40 telephone numbers to call EVERY HOUR, checking for News Breaking stories! When was there any time to do all that? Forcing oneself to a routine cadence making those 40 calls each hour got easier as each week progressed. 'Course you just did not have time to make all 40 calls! You learned, quickly, which calls produced the most important results! All you needed to do was make the calls! I actually BROKE a lot of News stories in
JOE taught "If you fumble a word, keep on going, don't call attention to it. Most people won't even notice anyway. Only correct the giving of directions." TV News Anchors make this blunder all the time on Network News. Makes you want to tap their fingers with a ruler. There is no JOE LONG around to train News Reporters anymore! For instance, if a connection drops or goes bad, don't draw attention to it by saying something like "I guess we lost him..." or "We've lost that connection."
JOE always said "The listener is smart enough to notice your connection was lost. Never draw attention to it. Never repeat a word you fumbled. Just keep on talking as if nothing happened. 99% of the people will never notice." BRILLIANT! These teachings seem so obvious after being made aware of 'em! They tend to jump right out at you when you hear them being comitted!
JOE told me to never call AP or UPI with a News story until after I aired it on KBOX. Both AP and UPI gave awards for News stories! AP gave a by-line with Your Name and Radio Station call letters for all to see! At the end of the week, UPS listed News stories and the name of the person who gave it to them and their call letters! Needless to say, I made sure when a story was found, it was reported on KBOX, first and foremost! Then, I would call AP and UPI!
JIM ROSE's name began popping up on both wire services often, because I followed JOE's rule of making as many of the 40 calls every hour. This got to be a routine that became very fun and exciting to be the first to discover a News happening and to beat so many other News Reporters to a particular story! Especially All News Radio stations!JOE LONG seemed to always be out there somewhere in one of the two KBOX Mobile News Units at night! When you finished delivering a Newscast, you tended to hesitate for at least 30 seconds before doing anything else. Because you KNEW JOE LONG was out there somewhere listening and might just make a comment! Not always, but you never knew when! JOE was NEVER rude or condescending! He performed similar to a college professor.
KBOX had an impressive Mobile News Report Intro! JOE LONG's voice was the most articulate and authoritative anywhere! JOE's deep voice would say "HERE'S A KBOX
The tricky part of Mobile News Reporting for JOE LONG was you had to head on out to the scene while announcing where you were going and why! Maneuvering
When my Mobile Reporting shift was complete, I hurried back to the KBOX Studios to do nightly Newscasts. Throughout the evening, would cut News Voicers to be used the next day in Newscasts. Toward the final two hours, I would tape 2 five minute Newscast carts each for KBOX and KTLC FM to be alternated on the all-night shows. KTLC FM was automated.
In other words, if you listened to KBOX or KTLC FM, from 1971-72 nearly any time of the day, you heard JIM ROSE's voice 24 hours a day, whether you liked it or not. Only one day a week did you get relief, my day off!
I drove one of the two bright red Mustang KBOX Mobile News Units to every Major car accident and Robbery scene that
JOE had me Stationed around
When we approached the hospital, a Dallas Police Department squad car was following me! "OH NO! Maybe they will keep on going and pass me by!" I slowly drove inside the hospital's Emergency underground parking, not too far behind the ambulance! NO SUCH LUCK! The DPD unit followed, almost on my bumper! "WHAT AM I GONNA DO!? MY WHOLE LIFE WAS FLASHING BY" The small underground Emergency parking area had only about 10-12 spaces! I parked all the way down to the dark opposite end, next to the wall, praying DPD was just pursuing the ambulance and not me!
DPD parked next to the ambulance on MY side! Two huge officers got out! There they stood, facing me, waiting! I knew, then, my goose was cooked! The Officers were very polite. The Dallas Police Department had great respect for KBOX News! They told me "Don't ever do that, again!" I said, quietly, "Yes Sir." A great big WHEW covered me from head to toe!
When they walked away, I sneaked back to the Mobile Unit and made like a snail out of that place! I vowed NEVER to do that again! Dues Paying sometimes has close calls! Just one of the MANY aspects of being a part of one of the most exciting careers imaginable! RADIO!
THEN ONE EVENING...JOE LONG PASSED AWAY!
DICK MOORE, a long time KBOX News veteran rushed into the News Room, quickly typed out the story, handed it to me, told me to BREAK IN on the DJ show and BROADCAST this SHOCKING BULLETIN!
I needed time to try and prepare for these, hopefully, terse words about to be uttered about a Radio Pioneer and Legend such as JOE LONG! How was I going to do this without bursting into tears talking on the air in this grave moment about a man who had taught me so much about Radio News Reporting that would remain for eternity.
The most difficult task I ever had in life was to announce on the air that JOE LONG had just passed away! Barely could speak the words, but, somehow they rolled out!
This type of Radio Dues Paying is one you never are fully prepared for!
That's pretty much the way I REMEMBER it.
JIM ROSE
Houston, Texas
Thank You For Stopping By
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Be aware of the coming book
"JIM ROSE REMEMBERS...RADIO!"
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