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This week’s widespread emergence of the “LoveSan” or “Blaster” virus affected not only hundreds of my listeners, but me as well. When I got home Monday, I went online to retrieve my email and just like thousands of PCs, mine shut down. It took me several days to straighten out my system. The immediate effect on me was the preparation of my Radio show.

I depend totally on the Internet for gathering the material I use on-the-air including email from listeners, news stories from websites, and new links to post at our website. I would suspect hundreds if not thousands of DJs, Radio personalities and talk-show hosts were in the same position for at least a short time this week.

It wasn't always this way. When I first began in Radio, there was no Internet access like today. Instead, I had to prepare my "showprep" in now what seems to be an archaic fashion: actually reading newspapers (at least 2 each day), magazines (usually in various waiting rooms because it was cheaper and yes, I secretly ripped out pages I liked), and subscriptions to specialty publications like DJ joke services (generally over-priced and full of too many corny one-liners and groaner puns).

It was slower and more tedious, but you never had to worry about a virus getting in the way of your preparation. The worst that could happen was your newspapers wouldn't show up on time or the dog next dog would pee on them (a DJ's version of "the dog ate my homework" excuse).

Then, just as I thought everything was getting back to normal, I turn on the TV to see that a massive power outage has shut down a good portion of the Northeastern and Upper Midwestern United States along with Southern portions of Canada! I can just imagine the DJs and talk-show hosts who were scrambling to figure out just how they would put together their next show. And I thought the Blaster was a pain. You can get a patch for that. Fixing a power grid takes more than just a download.

A couple of years ago the city I live in was struck by a devastating ice storm, which knocked out most power. Neverless, my Radio partner and I made it into work and did a four-hour morning show by the light of one lightbulb running off a generator with absolutely no ability to gather any showprep via the Internet. We didn't know what we would speak on or how long we'd be able to keep going before running out of interesting things to say. We couldn't play any music or commercials. Only our microphones were working.

Amazingly, one hour flowed into the next and before we knew it, our four-hour air-shift was over. With all the hi-tech showprep, gadgets and digital resources of today's Radio, sometimes it comes down to a couple of guys just talking about common things a listener can relate to. And ya know what? Historically, the real power of Radio has always been it's ability to be so personal.

- Corey Deitz

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