“Paramount Layoffs Are Just the Beginning — Don’t Panic, Prepare: The Media Reset Is Here.”

Own Yourself

Paramount is in the process of laying off 1,000 workers. If you don’t own it, you can’t control it.
If you don’t know what it feels like to lose a job in radio or TV, you haven’t been baptized.

The uncertainty of where your family’s daily bread will come from is real. I’ve lived it. I’ve had cars repossessed, been in court threatened with eviction, lost syndication deals, let go at the height of my radio career — and made it through. You will too.

Media is a high-risk, high-reward business. Sometimes moving to a new city isn’t what you expect. When you find yourself losing a good salaried job that’s hard to come by in this economy, you need someone you trust in the game to be a sounding board.

Take a deep breath. Surround yourself with silence so you can hear yourself think — and go to work creating what you’d like to see next.

I remember when I got fired in Dallas. I had just bought a new home and the furniture was being delivered the day they let me go. Yes, that was a day.

I panicked. I’d been there two years, things were looking up — and in an instant, it was over.

I want you to find someone to help you unravel what you’re going through. You have to let go of the pain of disappointment and shake that monkey off your back quick, because it will ride you if you don’t keep your definite chief aim out front.

Don’t take being fired personal.
It’s just one person’s opinion. That person didn’t start your career — and they sure won’t end it.

There’s nothing wrong with feeling sad for a moment, but don’t let a firing or layoff destroy your attitude. This is just a derailment.

Put the train back on the tracks and keep moving. Learn to accept what you cannot control. Worry about what you can — and that is your effort.

This is also a chance to do for self.
Be independent. Create a micro-media business. Make money with your talent. Be mobile. Create your own daily schedule. Own yourself.

Stop being beholden to someone over you as a boss. To hell with that life. Live free — create the life you want.

With today’s technology and with what you know, you can earn more and be happy creating art on your own terms.

I looked poverty in the face and worked through my fear of lack.
I let go of the salary I used to make and embraced creating my own.

Stop doubting yourself.
I’ve done it for CBS Radio, iHeart, Infinity Radio, and many others in my 41 years in broadcasting — and have made them millions.

Why don’t you think you can make some income for yourself?

Having a boss is played out — especially with today’s technology. Go collaborate with friends in the industry and create.

Don’t be so quick to run back into the dragon’s mouth so he can burn you again.

Do for self or suffer the consequences.
Spend some quiet time with yourself and figure it out.

That’s my advice.

Paramount Article:https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2025/paramount-cbs-news-layoffs-david-ellison/

The Boston Bombing and the creation of New Black Media

All throughout the media coverage of the Boston bombing did you notice that something was missing?Where was the Black media's reporting on this massive event? I am not pointing fingers at any media outlet, I am just saying what was our take? I am positive that people did cover it the best they could, and if you work for a mainstream media outlet, you were definitely restricted in what you could say. As I looked at the story with so many holes in it, it was a time to question some of the evidence especially about the how the man who found the suspect in his back yard (Tsarnaev, 19, who was charged with one count of using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and one count of malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device resulting in death, according to a statement from the Justice Department) in his boat. He looked inside and saw the suspect and you mean to tell me he just sat there and waited for the police to come? Really?

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Since we do not have news departments in Black radio stations anymore, we have to get back to reporting what is happening around us. Since we have the Internet we should use that medium to create news organizations that can compete with any news outlet in America.

I have some suggestions for alternative news gathering businesses we could start today.

1. An IPhone news gathering team. With this device and a great production person, you could create a news gathering team in any city that would knock the local 6pm news cast out the box. Create a website or a blog that is the go to site for news in your city. With your IPhone or Android reporters out in the field, you could get instant audio and video. You could have a daily newscast (video) that you upload everyday at 6pm or 7pm that people can watch at their leisure. Hyper local news reporting that goes deeper into any story your local TV stations cover. Example...if there was a police shooting in your city and people say that the youth who was shot, did not have a gun and there were witness's. You could interview each witness and get all the details. Mainstream media can't and won't do that. "If you want the truth about the (blank) story go to www.mynewscharlotte.com.  Create a mynewsChicago a mynewsDetroit a mynewsMiami a mynewsPhilly website and kill'em!

2. All newscast are determined by an editor that chooses which stories should be important for us to consume. Who said so? Why do you get to pick what is important for us to know? See this Internet has leveled the playing field. You want to be relevant in your radio career, then get busy doing something as simple as this. The days of waiting for a phone call for a job is OVER! (I will write more on that topic later).

3. Creating content is the business you want to be in. You and I should do this! Buy a domain name, build a website that you can update and upload content yourself!  Create a staff of creative people and teach them how to gather information.

4. Marcel who use to work with the popular Russ Parr show is pioneering on the web. He is creating his own media company called (www.wmarmedia.com).We will be creating a video blog soon so he can teach us how to capitalize off what he is learning how to master.

Marcel

5. Videocasting is the new radio!
Marcel is doing it! Check him out here (Marcel Video show).
YouTube is replacing TV watching, blogging is the new news source, especially twitter which gives you instant news within seconds. Podcasting is also the new radio without brick and mortar and radio towers. People are making a living off these pre-recorded shows that are uploaded for people to consume at there leisure.

Missed opportunities?

I hope this article is inspiring you in some way to begin your new media career online. Just like you were the hottest thing on the radio in your city, you can reinvent yourself and become even hotter, and best of all no one can tell you how creative you can be. Don't miss an opportunity to do something for yourself in the new media space!

To All of my radio friends out there I believe in you and I want you to use the God given talent that you have and shoot off like a rocket!!


Please if you have any creative ideas leave a comment!

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