Heather Backman

From Milkman Unlimited we get the news that "Virgin Radio 96" (CJFM 95.9) has lost afternoon host Heather Backman ("Heather B", in their our-hosts-have-no-last-names style) to Q104 in Cleveland (I hope they spend more money on their hosts than their web designers).

Asked about her move, Backman told me it was simply a question of a better job opportunity: "Afternoon drive in a major market. ... Couldn't say no!"

UPDATE (Feb. 1): Backman introduces herself to her new Cleveland audience by way of a video on Facebook. (via Brave New TV)

The departure opens up the afternoon host job here. The shift is 1-4pm weekdays, and a Saturday afternoon once a month from 1-5pm.

Interested parties with at least three years of on-air experience and who want to drink the "contemporary hit radio" Kool-Aid can send a resume, cover letter and MP3 demo to "brand director" Mark Bergman at mbergman@astral.com by Feb. 4.

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What you do

As a Host for the English Radio of CBC in Montreal, you will host the flagship weekday program "Daybreak", in keeping with Corporation standards and policies. More specifically, you will keep up with all political, social, economic and cultural developments relevant to a local Montreal audience and maintain contacts with various sources. You will do the research necessary for interviews and other program activities. You will write or adapt intros. During production meetings, you will assist in planning and choosing content for the program. Your role as a host will also include community outreach at public events.

Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate with the following:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Five (5) years' on-air experience or equivalent.
• Proven journalism skills.
• Excellent command of the working language (English).
• Very good knowledge of the other official language (French).
• Extensive general knowledge.
• Extensive knowledge of stories and issues in Montréal and Québec.
• Understanding of the culture of French Canada.
• Strong high-energy on the air, strong ability to connect with audience.
• Team leader.
• Ability to work under stress.

Candidates may be subject to an audition in English and knowledge testing.

This is a contract position.

We recognize the importance of a diverse workforce and we therefore encourage applications from Aboriginal peoples, women, members of a visible minority and persons with a disability.

Sound interesting? Apply now! We thank you for your interest, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Job: Programming and Production

Primary Location: Montreal

Job Posting: Mar 19, 2010

Unposting Date: Mar 30, 2010

Status of Employment: Contract

Work schedule(s): Full-time

It's funny, I know someone who fills all those qualifications perfectly...

Meanwhile, those campaigning for Nancy Wood to get her old job back are running out of steam. Jon Simon, the creator of the Keep Nancy Wood as host of Daybreak Facebook group, has given up after hearing from Wood that she's moving on. This despite the group having 621 members, more than the official Daybreak Facebook page has fans.

UPDATE (April 1): The Suburban's Mike Cohen has some thoughts on possible replacements.

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A year ago, Mark Bergman launched Virgin Radio 96 on air. Now he da boss.

Mark Bergman, who hosts the afternoon drive-time show on CJFM (Mix 96 Virgin Radio 96) but was recently promoted to interim program director at the station, is hanging up the mic and hiring his own replacement.

But he won't disappear forever, he tells me:

Radio is a passion of mine (I'd have to be crazy to be in this biz, if it wasn't).

I started off handing out bumper stickers, then tech work, then overnight shows, evenings, drive, and now the next step for me is programming the entire station. It's ways been a goal to program... But yes, I will still be around on-air here and there.

Bergman, who I'm told spends his days alone in his office crying, with occasional screams of "Chantal! Why did you leave me?", is accepting applications for a permanent weekday 4-7pm host until Jan. 31. Requirements are three years of on-air experience, the kind of energy and perkiness that you'd expect from a music radio announcer, and "fashion sense of Lady Gaga", which I find an odd requirement because every time I see someone from that station they're wearing a standard-issue Virgin Radio T-shirt.

Here's the job post that went up at Milkmanunlimited.com:

Position: AFTERNOON HOST – VIRGIN RADIO 96 (Full time - permanent position)

The search is on! Virgin Radio is looking for Montreal’s newest superstar!

If you’re passionate about our business, pop culture, not afraid to challenge yourself everyday, have a proven track record of success and want to live in one of Canada’s most exciting cities, mp3 us your best now!

Reports to: Program Director

Address: 1411 Fort Street, Montreal, Quebec H3H 2R1

Schedule:

On air shift Monday - Friday 4:00pm-7:00pm (includes 1 weekend shift a month)

Responsibilities:

• Delivering a creative, fun, different, tight, and spontaneous drive home show that fits the target audience of Virgin Radio 96;
• Preparing relevant content for each on air shift as scheduled and as per station target;
• Updating Interactive content, (blogging on relevant Astral websites, participating in daily podcasts and such other Interactive content related activities);
• Making public appearances;
• Commercial production;
• Preparation and recording Voice track shifts when required.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years on air experience;
• Love for pop culture and music;
• Must be creative and innovative;
• Must be able to relate to, and embrace the lifestyle of CHR (contemporary HIT radio) audience;
• Excellent organizational and production skills;
• Very team oriented;
• Able to create slick phone calls;
• A positive, friendly manner that will allow you to deal with challenging situations;
• Passionate, detail oriented and goal oriented;
• Able to work under pressure and with tight deadlines;
• Excellent computer skills;
• English mandatory, French an asset;
• Fashion sense of Lady Gaga!

Any candidate who wants to apply for this opportunity should send their resume, cover letter and MP3 to:

Mark Bergman

Program Director

Astral Media Radio Virgin Radio 96

Subject: Virgin Radio Drive

Email: mbergman@radio.astral.com

Deadline : January 31st, 2010

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• Heather Backman leaves CJFM, opening afternoon host job
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Even though I'm not looking for a job, I read the emails out of curiosity.

One I've seen a few times is from a trade magazine publisher. Trade magazines are usually high-budget affairs because they're sent to highly-paid professionals and a lot of money is spent on advertising and otherwise communicating things between people in this industry.

The position is a "junior editor", who is responsible for editing and proofreading, assigning material to freelancers, deciding on editorial coverage, "managing multiple projects simultaneously" and working on the design.

Doesn't sound particularly "junior" to me, but maybe some of those things are exaggerated.

The position requires a B.A. in communications (or equivalent) and professional editing skills. Knowledge of Quark Xpress and bilingualism are listed as "assets"

It's entry-level, but professional.

The starting salary? $13/hour

And yet for some reason I keep seeing this position posted every month or two. It's almost as if the salary is so insultingly low that the people who apply are all horrendously unqualified.

Sadder still, I'm sure you can come up with even worse examples.

Related Posts

• Heather Backman leaves CJFM, opening afternoon host job
• CBC posts Daybreak host position
• Mark Bergman hiring own replacement at CJFM
• Want to work for the Journal?
• Want to host CBC’s Radio Noon?

Those are among the selling points, apparently, of being hired as a reporter for the Journal de Montréal. And if such ... let's call it "journalism" ... appeals to you (and you write well in French), you're in luck: Montreal's biggest newspaper is hiring.

Check your dignity at the door and send an application to Gazette turncoat traitor managing editor George Kalogerakis.

UPDATE: I see I'm not the only one to notice this.

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• It’s over: Journal workers approve contract by 64%
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• Some reading on Quebec’s anti-scab law

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Applicants need to have an understanding of search engine optimization and "experience working with Google". (I assume they mean using the search engine as opposed to working for the company.)

Any takers?

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