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Most
broadcasters on the air today started in
the business doing something completely different. The
sports guy did TV news, the weather lady was an FM disk
jockey. I don't think anyone in radio or TV today ever
aspired to become a "traffic personality."
I was no exception. Yet here I am, still loving my job
after 17 years.
After
graduating from the University of Maryland, I went on
an East Coast road trip in search of my first paid broadcasting
job. After going as far south as North Carolina, I came
back to Baltimore empty-handed.
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On a whim,
I dropped in at WCBM Radio, where they were looking for a sports
talk-show producer. I love sports, so I grabbed the minimum
wage, 8-hour-a-week position producing "Colts Final."
Soon after, a full-time desk assistant position opened up in
the newsroom. It paid $8,000 a year, a huge sum compared to
my previous earnings.
After
a few other news and sports jobs, with an occasional disk
jockey shift, Metro Traffic Control offered me a Traffic Reporter's
position in their downtown Baltimore studios. I became the
midday traffic guy for several Baltimore radio and TV stations.
After less than a year on the job, I learned that WBAL and
98 Rock were looking for an exclusive radio traffic person
to work from a small plane. I was lucky enough to get the
job in December, 1986. A few years later I bought my own plane
and started Detour Dave, Inc.
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