Summati n Weekly
USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
T h i s C o m mu n i t y N ew s p a p e r is a publication of Escambia / Santa Rosa Bar Association
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 16, No. 10
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
March 16, 2016
1 Section, 8 Pages
on air
From WEAR to News Radio 1620, these are the faces and voices we watch and listen to each day. Whether they play our music or report our news, they are an integral, valuable part of Pensacola’s soundtrack
JEFF WEEKS
LONG-TIME TELEVISION PERSONALITY
written by Josh Newby photos by Guy Stevens
SANDRA AVERHART NEWS DIRECTOR, WUWF
JEFF WEEKS LONG-TIME TELEVISION PERSONALITY
thrilled that they live here or excited to be visiting. That makes my job easy. I just continue being who I am whether the cameras are on or not, and I let Pensacola and the fascinating individuals I’m speaking to take care of the rest.”
Sandra has been with WUWF, a public radio sta- Jeff Weeks thinks of life as a tion licensed to the Univer- conversation. Perhaps that’s sity of West Florida, since why his tone in interviews and on his popular 1996. She has seen a lot WSRE-TV shows change in that time, is always consome good (she is BRENT LANE fident and a big fan of the CO-HOST, CAT Pak casual, move toward morning show, CAT breezy digital recordCOUNTRY yet deft. ing) and some He’s been He’s the emcee of countless not so good in the charity events in Pensacola, (including a b u s i n e s s and the charming yet authoripreference in since the tative voice on the Cat Pak Sandra averhart 80s, and his Morning Show. His signature today’s news enpersona both in yellow shirt and wide smile vironment for polarfront of and behind spread contagious optimism izing and opinion-based the camera reflects an ease whether he’s in the radio stureporting). She likes public dio or at a professional event. radio because it is, in her and professionalism that only Brent Lane has won a numwords, right down the mid- comes with years of experiber of both local and national ence. dle with a focus on the story He was just 15 when he got awards—and for good reamore than the voice and opinhis first job in radio, and has son. His love of radio and the ions behind the mic. since made the transition to goodwill he feels toward his Speaking of stories, San- many other media, including host city of Pensacola is evidra finds the best way to tell television at WEAR. Jeff dent in everything he does. one is with no agenda and a started down the path As someone who has been in radio principled focus on listening of investment adsince he was first and talking second. She vistory in 1998 just 14, Brent learned the importance of and currently knows a thing with knowing your audience from works or two about Wells Fargo her communications courses the business as a first vice at Florida State University. and about its “There are so many stories president – inrole in local brent lane to tell,” says Sandra. “They vestment officer, community. He might be serious and politi- where he says his still remembers the natural conversationcal in nature, or more lightdays of cut bags and reels, al tone and honest curiosity hearted with a community or leads him to deliver he best but is thankful for the move sports-focus. I enjoy them toward digital, as the phone for his clients. all.” However, as the times in his pocket has replaced the Radio is an ongoing con- change, so too has the indus- on-site recording van. versation, she says, and one try, an evolution that Jeff is “Radio is a part of our lives,” says Brent. “Whether that she loves deeply. For wary of. example, WUWF recent“I think you’ve seen the it wakes you up in the mornly began a series of pieces quality of on air talent go ing or it’s on in the van when documenting early on-set down dramatically,” says you drop the kids off, it is Jeff. “Broadcasters put one-on-one mass communiAlzheimer’s through pride before pro- cation. When I’m behind the the lens of one lofessionalism. In mic, I want each member of cal individual my programs, my audience to feel that I’m as he begins I strive for a speaking just to them.” the harrowWith more than 100,000 lisgreater level ing journey teners a week, that’s a tall orof profesof suffering der, but no one makes it look sionalism, from this unand I think (or, sound) quite as easy as fortunate disthe audience Brent. ease. By inter“I love my job,” says Brent. jeff weeks appreciates facing with a real “It’s a family operation and that.” human being, and In his time on the air, I’m extremely blessed to be relaying that dialogue to the he has had the pleasure of apart of it. I guess the joy I public, Sandra hopes that the meeting with local business feel translates on air. It’s me public will be informed, feel people and U.S. dignitaries out there and it’s me in here.” That authenticity is both the empathy, and relate to some- alike. Through it all, he rekey to Brent’s charm and the mains cool and genuine. one they don’t even know. explanation behind his suc“Pensacola is really a hidThat’s the real purpose of cess. He works with other loradio, Sandra says. That’s the den gem,” says Jeff. “Most people I talk to, they’re either cal media brands and never real purpose of stories. shies away from an opportuni-
ty to give back. The Cat Pak— especially in an election year, and Pensacola—is lucky to Bob advises consumers to be have him. wary, smart and to forget everything except the facts.
BOB SOLARSKI NEWS ANCHOR, WEARABC 3
WENDI SUMMERS HOST, PENSACOLA EXPERT PANEL, NEWS RADIO 1620
An old-school news anchor who got his start in 1987 in Plattsburgh, NY, Bob SoWendi will be the first larski did not always person to tell you intend to go into she’s no expert— the broadcast despite havfield. Origiing hosted the nally interested Pensacola Exin political scipert Panel for ence and forenyears and besics, Bob took a ing in the busivacant reporter’s ness for nearly bob solarski job and found that three decades. But it scratched a multishe’s wrong. As sometude of itches. one who worked her way up “I was able to ask questions the chain from part-time hire to first-hand,” says Bob. “In that host of her own daily show, few way, by spreading informa- people in the region know more tion and getting to the bottom abut the ins and outs of radio— of stories big and small, I’m and how to get the most interable to effect change.” esting tidbits of information Bob has seen some change out of people—than Wendi. in his time. Having talked to “I like to talk to people everyone from Bill Clinton to about where they came from Barack Obama, he has seen and where they are now,” says his fair share of the political Wendi. “That can be absolutely spectrum and keeps aware of fascinating. And I talk to a lot news stories near and far. of people, like CPAs, who don’t But, he never loses sight of think their job is all that rethe importance of local stories markable. But to us, to my lisfeaturing local people. WEAR teners, it’s really interesting.” is a regional ABC affiliate The industry is becoming an that strives to take big topics increasingly tough one to break and show their impact locally. into, but Wendi advises the That’s the making of a good same career path that she herstory, and is a key element self took: start at the bottom, for Bob when deciding what show your talent, and move up. should be reported on. “That may mean running the “Taking something that is board for a baseball game or often small and overlooked doing weekend on-site reports,” and showing its far-reaching says Wendi. “But that’s implications can rehow you become ally get people familiar with the thinking,” says technology, faBob. “I like miliar with all stories for what makes that reason, a compelling as long as topics, and fathey are told miliar with your by well-spoken audience.” wendi summers communicators Those are not with compassion and the words of a novice. a good visual element.” Wendi was plucked from the In this age of immediCumulus network in 2007 when ate news, wherein everyone Dave and Mary Hozeng started thinks themselves an expert— NewsRadio 1620, and she has and has a platform to commubeen with them ever since. nicate those opinions—Bob “Their emphasis on local sets considers it more important them apart,” said Wendi. “So than ever to be a true expert. much on air entertainment is To be useful in his reporting co-opted and generic. Not us. and factual in his journalism We care about the community is among his priorities. and how it works.” With opinion and partisanship more rampant than ever,