“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday just after 8 AM and 5 PM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moments notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-14 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of May 23, 2014
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
In Review
This is the final week of programs for “The View From the Phlipside”. Starting June 1 I will be living and working in southern Virginia, taking up an exciting new job down there. With all the change that comes with that kind of lifestyle shift I don’t believe I can continue to create the kind of show that I want. So rather than do something half way we’ve decided to close out this program.
In thinking about this final set of programs I wanted to take a moment to get an overview of what I’ve been trying to offer here. In the four years or so of “The View From the Phlipside” we’ve gone from a vague idea to a regular program with it’s own companion blog and Twitter feed (both of those will continue by the way. They can be done on a “catch as catch can” basis). So what do I hope you have taken away from all this commentary?
I hope that you have embraced the concept that this is, in my opinion, the new golden age of media. Never before has there been so much media representing so many different voices. Those voices no longer have to play by the rules established by some large corporate entity. That means that we, the consumers, have a much richer environment to explore.
At the same time there is less refining of that product before it gets to us. That means that the environment has an increased volume of truly bad offerings as well. The consumer now must become more knowledgeable and discerning. I don’t think that’s a bad thing either.
The other thing I hope you take away from this is that while you should enjoy all this media, entertainment, information and communication, you shouldn’t trust it. All this modern digital communication can be made to look like it’s the best and purest. What we know is that it far too often isn’t. Keep your brain in gear at all times. Protect your vital information. Enjoy but don’t believe.
I’d like to make one final recommendation. On a regular basis, weekly, if not daily, step away from the media. Push back from your computer, your smartphone, your television, radio or newspaper and spend sometime IRL, in real life. Go watch a live performance, spend some time with people, get out and look at the world. You’ll appreciate all of your life the more for it.
Thoughts on Local Media
One of the things I have NOT discussed much here is local (Jamestown) media. The primary reason is that we are a small community and the local media is an even smaller community. While I believe that the quality of our local entertainment and information outlets would be improved by fair and pointed critique it wasn’t where I wanted to spend my energies. Besides, with my remaining connections to and history in the local media, it would have been too easy to criticize me for bringing too much of my personal life to that critique. I would applaud any outsider with an appropriate background holding the local media’s feet to the fire.
Having said that I would like to take a moment to comment on the larger issues facing local media here in the Southern Tier. As I have discussed over the years the business environment facing small market media continues to grow ever more difficult. The competition is no longer simply the station across town or an out of town newspaper. The Internet offers seemingly endless other opportunities for consumers to try. I believe there is only one possible solution to that problem. It is to remember that you are LOCAL media. The one thing that no satellite program or Internet source can offer is the deep roots in the local community. Local media must focus on ways to increase their local involvement around the clock. That also means finding ways to compete on the larger digital stage. It won’t be easy but there is no doubt in my mind that the alternative is extinction of media at the local level. Whoever does it best will win.
Finally there is the question of local. Sadly, there is effectively no local ownership of our media. Persons or companies from outside this area hold the keys to the media kingdom. There is one important exception to that. You’re listening to it now. I hope that you will continue to support the truly local media options in this area. I also hope that you will let all the local media know that you expect and require the highest quality work from them. Small town media needs to up its game if it’s going to survive.
This is the final week of programs for “The View From the Phlipside”. As we have announced I am moving to Virginia in about a week and won’t be able to continue producing this series.
As I thought about the end of my time in the local media I keep hearing the Grateful Dead’s iconic lyric – “What a long, strange trip it’s been”.
I arrived in Jamestown planning on staying here for two or three years. I’d worked in Erie, PA for two different radio stations (neither especially happy experiences) and wanted to settle my resume down before moving on. That was 30 years ago this month. To quote Scottish poet Robert Burns now – “The best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray”.
But it’s been a pretty good thirty years. I helped to create a great commercial radio station and have been a part of a great non-commercial one. My daughter was born here and I had the great pleasure of sharing a microphone with her. I’ve hosted not just one radio program called the “Phlipside” but two. Along the way I found a life in faith and discovered an entirely new career growing from that foundation. Through it all the “Lady in My Life” has been by my side. It’s been a good thirty years.
I’ve made some great friends along the way too. There’s no way I can name you all in the minute or so left. Please know that I have enjoyed our time together. Fortunately we live in time when the media makes it much easier to stay in touch.
I want to take a moment for special thanks centered on this program. This was really all Dennis Drew’s idea. He approached me several times with the request that I think about producing some kind of local program. Sounded like a crazy idea at the time but I’ve truly enjoyed it. Plus it has given me the chance to work again with my friend and mentor Steve Shulman. When it comes to my life in media here in the Southern Tier, Steve has been with me, teaching me and advising me, every step of the way. My deepest heartfelt thanks to both those gentlemen.
A final quote today. I’m just going to outright steal from one of the great radio personalities of our age, Garrison Keillor –
“Be well, do good work and keep in touch”.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Stories Are My Life 
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