I hope you’ll join me for these two talks
The Nautel Radio Technology Forum explores trends and best practices as well as new products.
Credit: Photo by Jim Peck
In the latest issue of Radio World and on our website, you’ll read about quite a few interesting sessions and presentations in and around this year’s NAB Show.
We’ve provided samplings from the Broadcast Engineering & IT Conference, the Society of Broadcast Engineers Ennes Workshop and the Public Radio Engineering Conference. In our stories we’ve tried not just to preview the talks but asked our sources to share some of their insights with us. I hope you’ll find these articles useful.
I’d also like to invite you to two events at which I’ll be speaking.
First, Nautel will reprise its popular Radio Technology Forum — still often referred to as “the NUG” but by no means limited to Nautel users — on Sunday morning April 19.
Conveniently, the forum this year will be held in the main ballroom at the Westgate, which is right next door to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Nautel does a super job with the event — and I say this not only because they have the good taste to invite me to speak! The forum consistently pulls in 300 or more engineers and other broadcasters who gather to learn about new technologies from around the industry, from Nautel as well as other technology sources.
The doors open at 8 a.m. Here’s an insider tip: The first half-hour is a great time to grab some of Nautel’s hot coffee and mingle with an engineering “Who’s Who” of radio until presentations start at 8:30, so arrive early.
I then help kick things off with a short discussion about “What I’m Watching for at NAB.” Other speakers this year include Joe D’Angelo of Xperi; Steve Newberry of Quu; Deborah Parenti, president of Radio Ink; Keith Barton, VP/GM of Max Media; Dr. Andy Gladding of Hofstra University; Geary Morrill of Connoisseur Media, who chairs the SBE Education Committee; and Kory Hartman, COO of Civic Media. And Jeff Welton with his famous “tips and tricks.”
A complimentary hot lunch is available for attendees. In fact the whole thing is free, which is a nice kind of price. Your attendance even qualifies for a half-credit towards SBE recertification in Category H. But advance signup is required.
And later on Sunday, please join me on the stage of the TV and Radio HQ Theater on the Central Hall exhibit floor.
I’m going to salute Andy Gladding, this year’s recipient of Radio World’s Excellence in Engineering Award; and then Andy and I will be joined by Bud Williamson for a conversation called “Radio — the New Boutique Business?”
[Related: “Andy Gladding Champions Radio’s Future”]
We’ll explore the idea that owning a radio station is a great fit for Gen-X and Millennial professionals.
“People my age are looking for an opportunity to do something outstanding in their communities,” Andy told me recently.
“They’re investing in traditional small business, they’re buying farms, opening retail establishments and generally looking for an opportunity to succeed while having the power to have an impact at the community level and create lasting interpersonal business relationships.”
He believes that for media professionals who are competent with and trained in radio workflows and understand how to market local business, “radio can be a perfect for personal satisfaction and growth.”
Andy is an engineer with Salem Media Network and an educator at Hofstra University. He and his wife Katie recently acquired WKZE(FM) in Red Hook, N.Y. His friend and colleague Bud Williamson is also an engineer and station owner.
You can stop in while you’re browsing the booths of the Central Hall. Our talk is 3 p.m. Sunday at C2450, the TV and Radio HQ Theater.
[For more coverage of the convention see our NAB Show page.]
