An embarrasing revelation from Jamie Markley
During Thursday’s Markley & Luciano show, they played the soundbite of Jonathan Ahl asking Jim Ardis if painting a red stripe across Main Street was an appropriate use of city tax dollars.
Jamie Markley had no idea who Jonathan Ahl was or that Bradley even had a radio station. It took Phil Luciano to explain to him that, yes, Bradley has a radio station (they actually have two) and it’s a public radio station named WCBU. He further explained that Jonathan Ahl, among other things, covers the city council meetings, to which Jamie pretty much said yea, whatever…
1. If you live in Peoria, you should’ve at least heard of WCBU.
2. If you’ve been in radio all your life, you should’ve at least heard of WCBU.
3. If you’re going to be the program director of a “news & talk� station, you should know your competition.
4. If you are going to be a host of a radio show on a “news & talk� station, you should know of the only other channel that focuses on news.
5. If you are going to be a host of a radio show on a “news & talk� station, you shouldn’t roll your eyes when the word “city council meeting� is spoken.
I hate to be too hard on the guy… as annoying as Phil can be, I still like the show, but that was a horribly embarrasing moment.
March 24th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
That is hard to believe.
Markley has NEVER heard of ‘CBU?
Wow.
March 24th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
I want to know why Jonathan asked such a crappy question. Come on! Sometimes, the “essential services” crowd can suck the fun out of everything.
March 24th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
All he did was ask a question. For those of you who DONT have a degree in journalism, that’s something reporters DO to get information. I know that it’s something akin to treason these days to suggest that the sun doesn’t shine out of BU’s ass, but there are people out there who would rather the city not spend a dime that it doesn’t have to. Ahl was doing his job by asking the question they would ask.
March 25th, 2006 at 9:24 am
Hey, Bill, thanks for the lesson in journalism. Your condescension is reaching Vonster-like heights. I was partially joking about Jonathan’s crappy question.
I really wonder how many people truly had a problem with Public Works painting the stripe. I’m not saying it wasn’t a valid question, or that he didn’t have the right, I’m just questioning why he felt that was the time to do it. If integrity is what you are after, why didn’t Jonathan ask this question: “Hey, Mayor, do you think it is proper to honor a team that had a pretty significant rules violation earlier this year?” (Patrick O’Bryant) Just as legitimate, and probably just as poorly timed.
March 25th, 2006 at 10:27 am
You have to understand. Bill makes his days by bashing on others. Those who do, do. Those who don’t, well….
March 25th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
Good Basketball > Good Governance.
Just look at the voter participation numbers vs the athletic fan participation numbers.
What sad world we live in.
I listened to the Marley & Lucifern show during that dialogue. What an embarassment to the community you two are. That line accross the road was pretty stupid too.
March 25th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
A couple of things:
1) As a fellow commercial radio guy, I’m going to defend Jamie on this one. There is no comparison. Jamie has to program a station that not only reports the news, but has to make money doing it. The public station has an entirely different set of priorities.
I have tremendous respect for Johnathon and WCBU, but I moved to Peoria in 1996, and I’ve never listened to that station for more than a couple of minutes. Ever. Until I started reading about him in Bill’s blog. I didn’t even know the call letters (I just naturally assumed that Bradley had a station, or that there was a public station in town, there usually is) until reading it in Bill’s blog. Public radio is a necessary, important part of any community. But the commercial guys have their own problems to worry about.
Also, and I can’t speak for Jamie, but I’m pretty sure he was being somewhat sarcastic and maybe even playing straight man at that point for Phil. Trust me, Jamie knows what stations have a signal in this community, no matter what format they are. He knows his sh…er, poop.
2) As a ten-year employee, both full-time and part-time over the years, of the Peoria Rivermen, I get a little chip on my shoulder where Bradley basketball is concerned. Yes, everyone (or most everyone) wants them to win and play well, but c’mon, there is MORE THAN ONE SPORTS ENTITY IN THIS CITY. I know that will come as a shock to some, but it’s true.
When the Peoria Rivermen won the ECHL championship in 2000, most of the town could have cared less. Lemme tell you something, there are more former Peoria Rivermen in the NHL than there are Bradley Braves in the NBA. If you want to see athletes the closest to the pinnacle of their chosen sport in this town, then you have to go to a Rivermen game…particularly now that the team has moved back up to the AAA level.
For three months this winter, Peoria had Patrick Lalime on it’s roster, a former NHL All-Star goaltender and at one time one of the best in the world at his position. How many guys making 2.4 million per year have ever spent a winter in Peoria? (And to top it off, he’s a heckuva nice guy and talked and signed autographs for every kid that asked!)
Anyway, I ramble. But the point is I feel…and a lot of people feel…the amount of attention bestowed upon a school that just won it’s first two NCAA tournament games in 20 years, a school that’s best recent pro athlete was Marcus Pollard, who went pro in FOOTBALL (hilarious when Bradley doesn’t have a program), that currently has one or at best two guys with the potential to play in the NBA, is a little much.
The PJS is to blame for much of that, IMO. Do they deserve attention right now and for this past season? Absolutely, what a great run! But bottom line, I didn’t see any streets painted blue when Peoria brought a league championship home in hockey. A little jealousy and envy exists in all hockey fans in this town, and after ten years, I can’t say I blame ‘em after what I’ve witnessed.
March 25th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Markley is as dumb as a box of rocks.
March 26th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Let me add a few things to this discussion:
1) The question I asked about city services was actually came from someone in my neighborhood. He talked to me after the cones went out, and before the red striping event news conference. My neighbor outlined alley and street work that needed to be done on our street, and asked why that wasn’t done, but the city could to the red stripe project. I thought it was a question worth asking the mayor.
2) I asked the mayor that question AFTER the press conference. The only people who heard me ask it were me, the Mayor, Dave Dahl from WMBD, and John Sharp from the PJS. It was a question designed to get information, not a question intended for the whole world to hear.
3) The only reason the whole world heard it is Dave Dahl thought it was worth sharing with Phil and Jamie for their show. I’m still not sure why he thought that. You would have to ask him.
4) After the microhones were turned off, Ardis told me (and Dave and John), that he and the other council members anticiapted that question from some consitutents, but thought it could be rationally explained, and was not a big issue.
5) I’m pretty sure Jamie knows who I am and knows about WCBU. I have met Jamie a few times and talked to him. Maybe he was playing otherwise to enhance the bit on his show, but I would cut him some slack on that front.
6) My biggest concern is that on WMBD (and the next morning on WOAM) I was portrayed to be anti-Bradley, and desperately looking for something negative to report on. Professionally I am not pro-Bradley or anti-Bradley. I am pro serving my audience. And that means asking a lot of questions. Sometimes that means asking questions some people think are “dumb” or “negative”. I don’t really care, as they are necessary to make sure I have all the information I need to best serve WCBU’s audience. I stand by the question (even though it was intended as a vehicle to get information, not something to be broadcast out of context on another radio station). I also stand by the stories WCBU aired on this, and all other topics. It is ironic that some have chosen to judge me on ONE question I asked, and not the way I synthesized all the information into a report intended for WCBU’s listeners.
7) The nature of Phil and Jamie’s bit was to examine how even in a moment of nearly unanimous euphoria, there is always the negative voice trying to throw cold water on it. To some extent, the media HAS to play that role. I don’t think they were out to slam anyone, but rather do a bit that resonated with their audience. Remember they dished it out to Dave Dahl (who asked a follow up question to mine) almost as much as they gave it to me.
There, I hope all that helps people get some clarity on this matter.
March 26th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Very well said, Johnathan. And I think you’re very right about Jamie, as I said in my post, I think he was playing straight man at the time.
I also apologize for spelling your name wrong in my last post, my bad. And I also agree, the question was going to be asked at some point. And as the mayor even admitted to you, they were EXPECTING the question at some point.
You do a great job with council meetings, BTW, I’m getting into your coverage now. Thank Bill Dennis for that.
March 26th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
I spelled it wrong again! Can I call you JA?
March 26th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
Sure, just don’t call me late for dinner.
April 2nd, 2006 at 12:03 am
Stone, you and all the Cannonball crowd know that Markely is as smart on political, and local issues as my dog is on the quality of a good steak. 1 day of listening to Jamie and we know he’s not acting.