Thirty-five years ago this month, London Mitchell walked into one of Toledo s most popular radio stations and asked if there were any job openings.
He was a 19-year-old college student with just two weeks of experience on the campus station, yet he talked his way into an interview. As a test, the boss ripped a news story from the United Press International teletype machine and handed it to him for an impromptu reading.
The boss paused for a few seconds and then asked, Can you start tonight?
Mitchell was on the air at 10, reading the news during a break in the nightly Late Evening Concert program.
And so began his lengthy professional career in broadcasting.
A lot has changed since 1969. The University of Toledo, the school that Mitchell was attending, was commonly referred to then as Toledo University. WMHE, the station where he applied, is now WVKS-FM (92.5). And employees today start off making more than $1.60 per hour.
But the basics of the job have not changed. Aside from the pay aspect, the biggest difference for Mitchell is that he reads the news in the morning instead of at night. His distinctive voice can be heard weekdays on two Cumulus-owned stations, WRQN-FM (93.5) and WKKO-FM (99.9).
His news reports reach more than 100,000 listeners each morning. In Arbitron s summer survey, WKKO (Shores & Steele) was No. 1 in morning drive and WRQN (Kelly & Staples) was tied for No. 5.
He knows what listeners expect from him: Reassure me that since I went to sleep last night the world is still here.
Sounds simple enough.
Listeners can also count on him delivering the news in an upbeat manner I think it would be unforgivable to let a bad day come through on the air, he said.
Mitchell has juggled other jobs throughout his radio career. For the past 17 years, he has worked full-time in the public information office of the Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. From 1970 to 1994, he worked part-time in public affairs for the Ohio National Guard.
He loves his radio gig too much to give it up. He s been at oldies WRQN since 1994 and WKKO, which has a country format, since 96.
CHANGE IN STATUS: Lissa Guyton will become a full-time news reporter at WTVG-TV, Channel 13, on Dec. 6, replacing North Carolina-bound Diane Wilson. Guyton has been reporting for WTVG on a freelance basis for more than two years, appearing primarily on the 11 p.m. newscast.
NEW RADIO SHOW: Is WCWA-AM (1230) drifting away from its all-sports format? The station now airs The Afternoon Music and Chat Show from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays. The music is a cross between the adult standards and adult contemporary formats, said Jack Sparagowski, who hosts the program with Eric Hite.
SONGS OF THE SEASON: WRVF-FM (101.5) kicked off the eighth edition of Christmas on The River on Thursday. The station will play holiday music around the clock through Christmas.