Radio Free
A Story about Broadcast
Fred always wanted to be on the radio. He didn’t just want to work in production, he wanted to be on the show. Every morning, when he came into the station, he told his boss he wanted to be on the air someday.
“What are you gonna say?” asked his boss.
“I don’t know. The same stuff Ted and Arthur and Frank say. I’ll read the news. I’ll assure the American people that all is still right in the world.”
“You’ve got a funny accent,” said his boss. “Half the country can’t understand it. There’s a reason Ted is from Detroit and Arthur is from Cincinnati and Frank is from Chicago. And Tom is from Indianapolis.”
Fred was from New York.
Fred and his boss had a version of this conversation nearly every day. But one day, Ted overheard the boss and Fred talking. He stopped by to listen. When he saw an opening, he cut in.
“Why don’t I give him a shot?” asked Ted. “I’ll have him on my program and he can be my apprentice, so to speak. See how he likes it. If he’s good, I’ll let him talk more. Then when he’s got some experience under his belt, we can see about finding an opening for him. I know Frank is tired of coming in so early and wants to see about cutting back his hours.”
Their boss, uncharacteristically, agreed to this. Later, in the break room, Arthur came up to Fred and gave him a friendly elbow, which almost caused him to spill the cup of coffee he’d just poured.
“So,” he said, “You want to be on the radio?”
Fred nodded.
“You know it’s not easy reading the headlines and reassuring the American people that all is right in the world. It’s hard work.”
“I think I can manage, though,” replied Fred. “I just want a shot.”
“I hear Ted’s giving you one!”
“Yes.”
“Congratulations. It’s exciting. A bit nerve-racking, but exciting. The first time you do it, when you realize that millions of people across the country are all tuning in at that exact moment. It’s eerie. They’re all listening to you.”