Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
It’s always important to give the temperature in a KSL News radio update even when you sound like a “mushmouth” while doing it. Just the other night, I was finishing up my news and about to give the weather forecast when I said, “44 degrrls…excuse me degrees outside.” I chuckled a bit on the air and then finished up. After I turned my microphone, I shook my head in disgust. It’s not the first mistake I’ve made on the air, but I still don’t like screwing up when everyone in radio land is listening.
Just a few minutes later, I received a phone call from a listener in Utah County. He was glad to hear that people working at radio stations are human and that they can mess up. I thanked him for his backhanded compliment and also for listening. I had a smile on my face the rest of the evening.
Now I don’t expect a pick me up every time I make a mistake or chastisement. But I’m glad people can forgive us for our “on-air” imperfections. There are times when our mouths move faster than we want or we just misread something. Just be patient and know that we will do better next time. I promise I will. I’m just glad our fair listener didn’t hear sing Martina McBride’s, “Let Freedom Ring,” one night when I accidentally left the microphone on. My falsetto voice didn’t do the song justice.
