There is nothing like being on the air when a major story begins to break. After more than three decades at WWJ, I feel the same excitement as the first day we began broadcasting the latest news the minute you want it. The change in the tools to do that has been incredible, from oldtime clunking teletype machines to high speed internet and worldwide digital communications. Still, my favorite technology is old fashioned book. Reading is my favorite pastime, especially non-fiction and biography. The most fun part of my day is researching and assembling my daily on-air and web "Joe Donovan's Detroit History".
I've been in broadcasting since high school in the 1960's in my hometown of Wheeling, W.VA. (Go WVU Mountaineers!). I came to Detroit in 1970, when I joined the legendary "Big-8" 20/20 news team. I moved to WWJ when our all-news format began in1976.
Morning radio is intensely personal because Roberta Jasina and I are often the first voices people hear each day. We use the same principle that made Bill Gates a zillionaire; multi-tasking. As you zip through a busy morning you can absorb all the information you need without stopping what else you have to do. People sometimes ask how we can find enough good material for five hours every morning. Our real problem is how to squeeze in all the great stuff we want to tell you. What makes it more challenging (and fun) is that, collectively, WWJ's audience knows EVERYTHING. You can hear me Monday through Friday from 5am – 10am.
If we don't have something exactly correct, someone listening will know.
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