I LIKE KCBS TRAFFIC ANCHOR, Peter Schofield. I've said as much. Now, a station source tells me the veteran radio reporter who broadcasts for KCBS is poised to become the next morning drive traffic guru when Kim Wonderly calls it quits--something that could happen sooner rather then later.Wonderly has been away from the morning traffic desk battling a non-threatening health malady and Schofield has been subbing for her. He is the routinely -picked top dog when Wonderly is away and she's been away for nearly a month and Schofield is due to report all the way up to December 29.
Schofield is precise, accurate, has a wry sense of humor every now and then too; a plus. He doesn't manipulate the microphone and sound like a bullhorn. His reports are just cogent and to the point; no excess gibberish and it's a refreshing break from all the other traffic voices. It's good to hear news that Schofield is on track to take over probably sometime in the coming year.
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| Peter Schofield |
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| Kim Wonderly (l) and Stan Bunger |
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Why does a traffic reporter even exist anymore? Apps are more accurate and more immediate. It's almost 2019...why do you have this continuing focus on platforms and positions that mean much less than in the past?
ReplyDeleteThose traffic reports are created by traffic producer/reporters and are in fact used on the Apps you mention. The work is now doing double duty and is a profit center because of that. Waze only uses driver input and is terribly inaccurate. Having a human curate the information is still important. The traffic reports on the radio are still THE most asked for service on all news stations by listeners. Stations also rely on listener's calling in items that haven't appeared on the CHP computer, road sensors or a clearly seen on road cameras. Traffic is therefore a major point of engagement with the audience. The joke in the industry is that the news reports are to keep the traffic reports from bumping into each other.
DeleteRichie why no rips on Pam Cook and Gary? Those are my favorites and sweet talk about HH mmm.
ReplyDeleteTraffic reporters are needed to share more specifics concerning exact spots on heavily used Interstates 580, 680, & 880, U.S. 101, and State Routes 1, 24, 29, 37, 84, 85, 87, 92, 116, 121, 237, 238, & 242. Knowing how bad fires, fender benders, and overturns are can only be done through a live voice. Applications can't do justice.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't get started on Waze. Ask every Los Gatos citizen about Waze, and you might as well ask every conservative about Democrats being human. That's how bad Waze's inaccuracies are.
Kim Vestal is better than your two favorites, IMHO.
ReplyDelete