Member Spotlight Transcript featuring Michael Johnson
December 17, 2002

Geo Beach: Hello, and welcome to the third edition of AIR's Member Spotlight webchat.

Geo Beach: Our guest this evening is Michael Johnson, though maybe you just know him by one of his AIRdaily handles --

Geo Beach: MICHAEL "Scrub Your Ears", "A plague on both your platforms", "You think that's air you're breathing?", "Jumpin' Jack", "No Coasters", "Got My Virus Workin' But It Don't Seem to Work on You", "Mac Daddy in a PC World", "Me Encode Pretty One day", "We, Jedi, Are Keepers of the Pizza", "I, Podius" JOHNSON.

Geo Beach: And I'm your host, Geo Beach.

Geo Beach: We have some background information about Michael on the AIR website:
http://www.airmedia.org/spotlight/bios/michael_johnson.html

Geo Beach: We developed some good procedures in our prior Spotlight webchats with Sandy Tolan and Sue Schart. A couple basic protocols really help us:

Geo Beach: Text Coloring:...

Geo Beach: Host Geo Beach = Green...

Geo Beach: In a last minute change of clothes, Spotlight Member Michael Johnson arrived in a tux and will be wearing formal BLACK tonight...

Geo Beach: Participating AIR members = Black...

Geo Beach: This will help us know who's talking.

Geo Beach: Please, don't "SHOUT" questions to Michael at the "podium". Instead, please say something like "Geo, I have a question for Michael about being a GM". Then, let me bring it to Michael in the best flow of the conversation.

Geo Beach: When you see ... (ellipses) please WAIT; don't post yet. Let the person finish without interrupting.

Geo Beach: If you have asides to colleagues, or want to whisper to me as host, you can always use the "F5" Private Message function. (Private messages show in text color = blue.)

Geo Beach: The transcript of the entire webchat will be available on the AIR website at:
http://www.airmedia.org/spotlight/archive.php

so your questions and ideas will have lasting value to AIR members and others in the public radio community who are not able to join us in realtime.

Geo Beach: A seasonal welcome and good cheer to participants and observers tonight!

Geo Beach: And a warm welcome to Michael Johnson!

Michael Johnson: Thanks, Geo

Michael Johnson: And welcome to everyone.

Geo Beach: As host, I'd like to ask the first question tonight...

Geo Beach: ...Michael, perhaps uniquely among the AIR membership, you've been a General Manager -- at KALW in San Francisco...
http://www.kalw.org/

Geo Beach: ...What's it like to be a GM, and what did you learn as an administrator on the "inside" that might be of value to Independent producers on the "outside"?

Michael Johnson: As an administrator, I learned that there's no more time for production...

Michael Johnson: ...for my own projects, and I learned that there's a wealth of programs out there, but precious little airspace for them...

Michael Johnson: ...For a station like KALW...

Michael Johnson: ...there was a unique opportunity to air a wide variety of shows...

Michael Johnson: ...but even there, air time was tight...

Michael Johnson: ...Technical quality has been and is still now one of my deciding factors in airing a program...

Michael Johnson: ...Ideas can look great on paper, but I've got to hear the tape...

Michael Johnson: ...and find the time to listen to it!

Michael Johnson: ...Being a GM can also mean you carry the emotional weight of the station...

Michael Johnson: ...If there are underlying issues unresolved with staff...

Michael Johnson: ...or volunteers -- you've got the unenviable job of making that decision which may make your listeners or staff very unhappy...

Michael Johnson: ...It helps to have a program director, but I'm guessing that more and more stations are combining the two jobs.

Geo Beach: Michael, more thoughts on being a GM?...

Michael Johnson: Now I'll stop talking!

Geo Beach: ... or would you like to move ahead to Barrett Golding's question?

Michael Johnson: Yes, please.

Geo Beach: Michael, here's Barrett's:...

Barrett Golding: MJ, when I worked as engineer at NPR they kept a very clear and uncrossable line between engineer and producer. You seem to deftly leap that line. Im wondering if you've ever had people try to peg you down as one or other (producer or engineer)?

Michael Johnson: Yes, Barrett. I've been called a technogeek before. I've had a pretty wide set of radio experiences so I don't know if I can yet be pegged down...

Michael Johnson: ...even in my current job, I get to produce and train, so I'm still straddling that line...

Michael Johnson: ...The training background helps in both worlds...

Michael Johnson: ...I watched and helped a lot of others produce before I tried it myself -- benefiting from their explorations...

Michael Johnson: ...Helping others find their production voice was a pathway to my own.

Michael Johnson: Well, one more thing...

Geo Beach: Go ahead, Michael!

Michael Johnson: ...I owe a lot to Western Public Radio's training program...

Michael Johnson: ...as well as folks like Peggy Berryhill, with the Smithsonian Indian Radio Project in 1991...

Michael Johnson: ...and to Dmae Roberts...

Michael Johnson: ...for helping me to produce my own material...

Michael Johnson: ...and taking a chance on me.

Geo Beach: Barrett, do you have further -- a follow?

Barrett Golding: Yes, Geo, could you ask MJ about "Hot Soup" series on KQED (I believe he is producer of it).

Geo Beach: Yeah, Michael...

Geo Beach: ...I loved your "Holiday Food" feature about masa for tamales on "Hot Soup". And there was another terrific piece earlier this fall about Arturo Ibleto, "The Pasta King"...

Geo Beach: ...(Food seems remarkably overlooked by public radio, notwithstanding that the marquee programs air during morning and evening eating times)...

Geo Beach: ...Michael, you're senior producer at "Hot Soup". I know the show is more than just food -- You've reported features about prisoners reading stories for their children, and about gardening, and about the ways various cultures ring in the New Year. What are you trying to cook up on the program?

Michael Johnson: Yes -- Hot Soup, a program I've been producing for about a year...

Michael Johnson: ...I've been noticing a food trend in my stories!...

Michael Johnson: ...I've been trying to bring a true voice of the SF Bay Area communities to the air...

Michael Johnson: ...they are so varied, and there are stories everywhere...

Michael Johnson: ...I've thought for years that I could spend the rest of my life "rebuilding the city" in sound...

Michael Johnson: ...and to be an important community outreach tool for KQED-FM...

Michael Johnson: ...The show had been on for two years...

Michael Johnson: ...before I joined it as Producer...

Michael Johnson: ...It was described to me then this way:...

Michael Johnson: ...It's like This American Life...

Michael Johnson: ...only not as good!...

Michael Johnson: ...and that was from someone who was involved with the show!...

Michael Johnson: ...I knew that I wanted to work on the show even before I joined KQED...

Michael Johnson: ...so when the producer position opened up, I tried very hard to get hired for it...

Michael Johnson: ...Fortunately, the folks here allowed my to divide my current job to...

Michael Johnson: ...1/3 time producing, and 2/3 time digital training.

Geo Beach: It's the AIRadio Spotlight with Michael Johnson. About 21 minutes before the hour across the continent...

Geo Beach: ...I like the flow of this conversation...

Geo Beach: ...Barrett, what are you curious about?...

Barrett Golding: Just wanted to say, "It's like this American Life, only not as good." Yes, few things are.

Geo Beach: ...And more folks, let me know your ideas for questions.

Michael Johnson: It seems to have set a gold standard!

Matthew Payne: Geo, I'd like to ask MJ about Mini Disk machines.

Geo Beach: Yeah, Matt, just a second...

Geo Beach: ...I'd like to echo Barrett's praise for "Hot Soup"...

Geo Beach: ...if you haven't heard it...

Geo Beach: ...here's a link ...

Michael Johnson: All the shows are archived for the past year.

Geo Beach: ...and also, before I let Michael out of the kitchen...

Geo Beach: ...when you said, "I've been noticing a food trend in my stories!"...

Geo Beach: ...was that Michael "Mac the Knife" Johnson talking...

Geo Beach: ... or Michael "We, Jedi, Are keepers of the Pizza" Johnson?

Michael Johnson: A combination of both!

Geo Beach: OK! Slices of combo pizza!

Geo Beach: Matt Payne, please do go ahead with your question directly to Michael!

Matthew Payne: I know this is a tried and true subject from the AIRDaily, but I'm currently looking for a Portable MD Recorder -- What's the best one out there right now?

Michael Johnson: Some of the new Sonys are pretty good...

Michael Johnson: ...I'm afraid I can't recommend Sharps anymore...

Michael Johnson: ...Since they've shrunk...

Michael Johnson: ...they've gotten quite hissy..

Michael Johnson: ...especially with RE50 mics...

Michael Johnson: ...I think the Sony MZ-707 is pretty good...

Michael Johnson: ...But if you want the absolute best, the HHB Portadisc is top of the line...

Michael Johnson: ...but it will cost you...

Michael Johnson: ...In the smaller consumer models, I'd vote for the Sony MZ-707 or the -700...

Michael Johnson: ...either should be around $200...

Michael Johnson: ...the HHB will cost you about $1300...

Michael Johnson: ...I have yet to try the Sharps with a "booster box"...

Michael Johnson: ...I hear that this can solve the hiss problem...

Michael Johnson: ...My favorite machines to date are the Sony MZR-30, the Sony MZ-R50, and the Sharp MD-SR60S...

Michael Johnson: ...The last one can be found right now on K-mart.com for $120.00! New!

Geo Beach: Thanks, Michael...

Geo Beach: ...have a wonderful MZ-R70 here at Tempest...

Geo Beach: ...Matthew, that the overview you were lookin' for?

Matthew Payne: That's exactly what I needed, thanks MJ!

Geo Beach: Okay, Barrett Golding has a question about Sharps and Sonys, Michael...

Geo Beach: ...Barrett, please go right ahead!

Michael Johnson: No problem!

Barrett Golding: The Sharps allow on-the-fly volume-level adjustments, Sonys don't. So do you rely on the Sonys auto-volume-level?

Michael Johnson: All new Sonys do allow on-the-fly volume-level adjustments, though they mostly still feature the annoying end search...

Michael Johnson: ...I hear you can defeat this, but I haven't tried it yet...

Michael Johnson: ...To it's credit, the Sony auto record level is quite good...

Michael Johnson: ...doesn't squash the sound the way some of the old Sony analog limiters did...

Michael Johnson: ...Sonys also have very reliable mechanisms -- my MZ-R30 has traveled all over the world, and still works like a charm...

Michael Johnson: ...I've liked the Sharps because of their design of allowing you to change the levels at the push of a physical button...

Michael Johnson: ...On Sonys you have to access a menu, and execute several button pushes in the proper sequence to make the change...

Michael Johnson: ...I think that's too much when you're trying to concentrate on recording.

Geo Beach: It's the 1st quarter of the 2nd hour of the 3rd edition of AIRadio Spotlight, and tonight we're welcoming Michael Johnson. Michael's a triple-threat admini- techie- producer / musicologist / reporter / storyteller. If you've got a question for him, lemme know.

Geo Beach: And Lisa Lindelef has a question about batteries...

Geo Beach: ...Lisa please go ahead!

Lisa Lendelef 1: [leaves room]

Geo Beach: Ah, we'll see if Lisa's battling a technical difficulty...

Geo Beach: ...or whether that was just her evil twin departing...

Geo Beach: ...Lisa?

Lisa Lindelef 2: Hi Michael -- what are your recommendations on batteries -- rechargeable vs. alkaline? I'm using an HHB PortaDisc -- can see pros and cons to each.

Michael Johnson: Lisa, I remember your machine!...

Michael Johnson: ...Here at KQED we use the rechargeable Nickel Hydride batteries...

Michael Johnson: ...I always recommend that one keep a set of alkalines ready as a back up...

Michael Johnson: ...but stick with the Nickel Hydrides for your main power source...

Michael Johnson: ...they will put out more power, more consistently than alkalines...

Michael Johnson: ...though, as you probably know, they drop off rather quickly when they're done...

Michael Johnson: ...Ray-O-Vac and a few other companies make quick chargers that can "refill" NiCads or Nickel Hydrides in about an hour...

Michael Johnson: ...It's not cheap, but well worth the time...

Michael Johnson: ...and have an extra set of Ni-Mh (Nickel Hydrides) around...

Michael Johnson: ...The batteries have been the HHB minidisc's Achilles heel, but if you charge consistently, and watch the green charge light carefully...

Michael Johnson: ...you should be fine.

Lisa Lindelef 2: Thanks! As always!

Geo Beach: I'd like to steer away from technicals for a minute if we could...

Michael Johnson: OK.

Geo Beach: ...figuring we'll return here after awhile...

Geo Beach: ...Michael, you produced a striking commentary, "Talking to Sophia", for 1stperson.org (now stories1st.org)...
http://1stperson.org/story.php?s=74

Geo Beach: ...That commentary was respectful of the insights and perceptions of children, and bravely exposed the monster-ness of adulthood...

Geo Beach: ...How do you tell a real story?

Michael Johnson: I think as always one has to trust one's own radar, and truly believe that what you have to say is important...

Michael Johnson: ...I believe we're all in this medium out of self-interest...

Michael Johnson: ...but in a very generous spirit of wanting to hear others, and looking for some recognition as well...

Michael Johnson: ...As many of you have experienced, the interview is a very personal connection...

Michael Johnson: ...If the story or idea is something that has changed you, or piques your curiosity...

Michael Johnson: ...then it's most likely a good story -- even though your editor may not agree!...

Michael Johnson: ...I did have a pivotal moment when I thought that my voice was "valid"...

Michael Johnson:... I had just returned from a trip to Brazil, and SF was a cold and foggy shock to come home to...

Michael Johnson: ...I boarded the bus and noticed that everyone was scowling...

Michael Johnson: ...and I thought something terrible had happened in my absence...

Michael Johnson: ...But then I realized that their faces were always that way...

Michael Johnson: ...and I had just come from a place where tension wasn't carried in peoples faces...

Michael Johnson: ...I related this story to a late night talk show host when I called in late one night...

Michael Johnson: ...and it turned the next 2 hours of the show, with people calling in with similar stories...

Michael Johnson: ...that's when I knew I needed to share these experiences with a wider forum.

Geo Beach: We're talking about general managers, food, minidisc players, funny faces, alkaline and NiCad batteries, and Independents in Radio, here on AIR's Member Spotlight, with Michael Johnson in the spotlight tonight.

Geo Beach: Questions from folks in the room?

Barrett Golding: Geo, another question for MJ: Tell me a bit about KQED's PD Joanne Wallace. She's been real helpful to HearingVoices productions. She seems very open to adventurous radio.
http://www.hearingvoices.com/

Geo Beach: Please go ahead with Barrett's question, Michael.

Geo Beach: And thanks, Barrett!

Michael Johnson: Jo Anne is a very patient, considerate person who sees the value of a variety of programming. When Hot Soup was up on the budget chopping block, they kept it going...

Michael Johnson: ...deciding that they're never going to eliminate programming because of money...

Michael Johnson: ...I admired that, and appreciate what she's been able to accomplish, and contribute to KQED's success.

Geo Beach: Michael...

Geo Beach: ...would you take up Lisa's follow-up question...

Geo Beach: ...about Sophia...

Geo Beach: ...[Lisa Lindelef 2] LL again -- In that piece, how much did you prompt Sophia? Or was most of it "free association" on her part? And how is she doing a year-plus after?

Michael Johnson: I didn't really have to prompt her much. Even at six months she was able to put together sounds I taught her, so she's quite verbal...

Michael Johnson: ...she did process a lot of what was happening...

Michael Johnson: ...and picked up on much of what was in the "atmosphere"...

Michael Johnson: ...She was never traumatized by the event, I believe...

Michael Johnson: ...And I know that lots of folks were concerned about the effect on children of 9.11...

Michael Johnson: ...but we don't really watch much TV in our house, and neither of Sophia's parents can keep their mouths shut for very long!

Geo Beach: It's the AIRadio Spotlight...

Geo Beach: ...with Michael Johnson shining!

Geo Beach: Open for questions on anything...

Geo Beach: ...creative, technical, administrative...

Geo Beach: Anyone?

Geo Beach: Well, pursuing the family theme a little further...

Geo Beach: ...Michael, your father was prize-winning photographer. What's the relationship between the visual and aural media?

Michael Johnson: It's about documentation of moments in time...

Michael Johnson: ...My father's main photo teacher was Ansel Adams...

Michael Johnson: ...and they spent lots of time looking at different artists...

Michael Johnson: ...and appreciating the natural artforms in nature...

Michael Johnson: ...I still think that there's a bit of magic involved in the capturing of these events...

Michael Johnson: ...so I think that there's the tie. I take a lot of pictures too...

Michael Johnson: ...There's a lot to be said for both...

Michael Johnson: ...Texture is what it's about.

Geo Beach: We're rounding the turn...

Geo Beach: ...and into the home stretch of AIRadio's 3rd Member Spotlight...

Geo Beach: ...with a whole range of questions...

Geo Beach: ...does anybody have one for Michael Johnson right now?

Matthew Payne: Geo, I have one for Michael.

Geo Beach: Matt, please go ahead!

Matthew Payne: Having your training background...

Matthew Payne: ...what is the best advice you can give to a young producer like myself in terms of getting a start in this crazy Public Radio World?

Michael Johnson: Well, Matt, I'd say if there's someone out there on the air whose work you like...

Michael Johnson: ...try to analyze what it is about their work that appeals to you...

Michael Johnson: ...Is it the voicing, the use of sound, the writing or apparent effortlessness of the narration, the interaction between acts and tracks?...

Michael Johnson: ...Figure out what it is and try it...

Michael Johnson: ...Then give a good listen to shows that you like, and perform the same analysis...

Michael Johnson: ...What kind of stories do they air, how long, etc?...

Michael Johnson: ...That way when you're ready to propose a story to a national vehicle...

Michael Johnson: ...it will be apropos their style and take on the news...

Michael Johnson: ...Imitate until you figure out where your voice comes from.

Geo Beach: Thanks, Michael. Other questions?

Geo Beach: Michael, let me give you a chance to preach a bit...

Geo Beach: iMac iPod iBook ...

Michael Johnson: mmmm...

Geo Beach: myNetwork myComputer myDocuments ...

Geo Beach: "All I can hear,
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.
Even those tears,
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.
No one's frightened of playing it,
Everyone's saying it,
Flowing more freely than wine."

Geo Beach: You wanna chant a lil' about PC v Mac?

Geo Beach: Go right ahead!

Michael Johnson: Well, as many know I'm fairly Mac biased...

Michael Johnson: ...generally because they're more user friendly...

Michael Johnson: ...especially when it comes to audio and video production...

Michael Johnson: ...I burned my first DVD today without any instructions....

Michael Johnson: ...It was fairly intuitive....

Michael Johnson: ...I work on PC audio systems everyday...

Michael Johnson: ...Cool Edit Pro, SADIE, Dalet...

Michael Johnson: ...For the money (and you'll need more of it!) I like the iBook, iPod configuration...

Michael Johnson: ...both highly portable, and quick to connect and you're pretty much ready to record and produce...

Michael Johnson: ...PCs are more abundant and cheaper...

Michael Johnson: I'll go with both.

Geo Beach: Michael...

Geo Beach: ...Barrett wants to bump it up to the next level...

Geo Beach: ...with a Q about mp4...

Geo Beach: ...Barrett, have at it!

Barrett Golding: Thanks, Geo. MJ: got any thoughts about mpeg4? I just paid for the pro version of Quicktime6 so I could try it out. mp4 are supposed to be better and smaller audio files than mp3. Next big thang?

Michael Johnson: I've just been listening to a few things in the new format...

Michael Johnson: ...It sounds pretty good -- I have to upgrade again (and pay!) to get the editing features back into Quicktime that I had in a previous version...

Michael Johnson: ...I'll post more on the list serve as I learn it...

Michael Johnson: ...New ground for me.

Geo Beach: As we draw to a close, I'd like to thank you all -- participants and observers -- for joining us at AIR's Member Spotlight webchat.

Geo Beach: I'd especially like to thank Michael Johnson for volunteering to stand in the spotlight tonight, and for his generosity to the AIR community.

Michael Johnson: Thanks for all the good questions, Geo, and from all who checked in.

Geo Beach: You're Welcome, Michael!

Geo Beach: And once again, as we brave our way out of the airwaves and into the web -- thanks to AIR's webmagician Josef Verbanac without whom none of this would be possible.

Operations: And thanks you all!

Lisa Lindelef 2: Thanks, Michael and Geo!

Michael Johnson: See you all in my Inbox!

Geo Beach: Recently, Josef has agreed to unify the AIRdaily listserv functions under the umbrella of the airmedia.org website. We're sending Josef virtual good thoughts on that project...

Operations: Hopefully, the transition'll occur later this week.

Geo Beach: ... and taking the opportunity to really thank Simson Garfinkel for years of technical service which made AIRdaily a daily communion for far-flung Indies. Thanks also to AIRdaily host Jay Allison, who continues as Host Emeritus.

Geo Beach: And I encourage you to check out other aspects of the redesigned AIR website.
www.airmedia.org

Geo Beach: Thanks again. Check out the transcripts:
http://www.airmedia.org/spotlight/archive.php
And have a bright season.

Operations: Cheers, all!

Geo Beach: With best wishes to all -- from the Top of the Planet!

Barrett Golding: Thanks, MJ / Geo / Josef. bg out.

Michael Johnson: Stay warm, Geo.

Justin Grotelueschen: Thanks Michael, Geo, et al.

Michael Johnson: K'pla, and goodnight.

Geo Beach: Goodnight, Michael, and many thanks!

Matthew Payne: Thanks to all.:)