rise up Rochester

I was just excited that the D+C published an article in today’s paper about 90.5 WBER DJ “Jennifer V.” In the article she talks about life in the world of radio, and how many people she has to thank for her long career at the station, although it has not been without its challenges. I really liked how she talked about balancing work and family–this is a key issue for women today. It’s tough to balance a career on the rise with family. You can catch Jennifer V. during your Wednesday morning commute for “New Wave Wednesday.” She is very passionate and knowledgeable about music.

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

How do you balance work and life outside work?

By making my family my No. 1 priority. I am no longer a super-charged over-achiever and I’m not only happier but much more productive. I also read a lot, write in my journal, bike and walk. I listen to music constantly, play the piano and watch as many films as I can. But my favorite thing in the world is to have a meaningful conversation.

What’s your advice for other young professionals?

Don’t be a pleaser. Trust your gut feeling always. Do what you love. Practice positive thinking. Be a good listener and practice empathy.

I think this is important, because WBER is a listener supported radio. It has been around since 1985 and continues to play what the Clear Channel stations (like Kiss FM 106.7) are just not playing. One of the main reasons I like them is that they support the local music scene with “The Local Show” which airs Sundays at 8PM. Rochester has so much going on in terms of local artists, which Sean’s last post reminded me. We really need to bolster the local music scene and support artists so that they here for us all to enjoy!

This station doesn’t do much commentary on local issues–they really just play music and support the local scene. But its one of my main stations of choice when I’m listening to the radio. They play a good mix of indie, alternative, new wave, techno, electronica etc. Check out their website–you can see what they are playing and even stream the station from the site at your computer. They also show what local concerts are coming up.