Another Local Radio Fail

[tannersboat]

Haven't posted in a while as I've flipped to satellite since I left the business behind. This morning had the truck out early for the roads and flipped on WOOD AM for what I thought might be some local weather and traffic.

As I'm driving about 20mph on the highway at 5am the traffic reporter told me about 'back to school' traffic coming later in the morning and light traffic volumes. It was obviously pre-recorded, on one of the worst traffic days of the year. What has happened to local radio?

Flipped right back to XM for the rest of my ten hours today. BTW, you all slow down, still rough in a lot of spots, maybe someone will tell that traffic guy?

[MWmetalhead]

When it comes to local news coverage, WOOD Radio is a mere shadow of its former self.

The station does very little original reporting these days. The newscasts are usually well produced, but the content is curated almost entirely from other sources.

Goggle Maps and other smartphone traffic apps are far more useful than anything you'll hear on G.R. radio. I've seen miles long backups on I-96 with zero mention on local radio.

The only time G.R. radio is useful for emergency info is when EAS is activated.

I am not convinced the traffic report was pre-recorded, though. It would not surprise me if Kevin Richards or whomever filed the report was truly that clueless!!

When it comes to traffic reporting, I'd be curious to know how well WGVU AM/FM, WCSG and WJRW stack up to WOOD.

[jesusjenny]

Two Words: Budget Cuts.

The once mighty WOOD is a shadow of itself. I go back to, commercial radio makes itself more and more irrelevant every day. I wish this wasn't the case, but this is another example. Why even tune in? There is VERY little on commercial radio that it offers you can't find elsewhere - or easier and is likely more current.

[Trophyhead]

I admit to not having heard a 5 a.m. WOOD Radio newscast in years, and when that was the case, it offered weather on the ones, no traffic.

I thought Kevin's first traffic drop was at 5:21 a.m., which when you consider his coming back in to work 3 to 6:45 p.m. as the back end of a split shift, there's room to give him a little grace. It is frustrating to be at a standstill and seeking information, to find none offered by the report you tuned in.

There are certainly not enough moving parts around to make the WOOD Radio engine run as it once did.

[TC Talks]

One word: Waze

Live, instant, cloud sourced, everywhere

[Radio1]

Are there any actual reporters at WOOD radio?
Or just news anchors.

[Mary Ellen Murphy]

I'll bite. It's unbelievable to me that a full service station with music is nonexistent in Grand Rapids radio in 2024. Why can't you give me my news with my Zeppelin?Or whatever? C'mon we're 60 plus now.

Why can't you do community interviews with politicians and have the movers and shakers on a music station?!?!?!?

Someone is missing the boat big time.

[Frosty]

MEM! Grand Haven is blessed to have you on the air. Beats anything offered from GR these days.