August 27, 1999
In Coversation with... Bill Good - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
This spring, I had a paper to do and enlisted the help of 5 of Vancouver’s best known radio personalities. Two answered and I brought some of my “interview” with Rafe Mair in a previous commentary. Today, I’ve transcribed my questions and the answers of Bill Good, in the form of an interview. Bill’s been a personality in local media for almost 20 years. He started in the business as the sports guy at CBC, then went on to anchor the CBC Evening News. Those were the days when the CBC was the top show in the city. He then broke into radio and CKNW, where he’s the stations number 2 man. (The number 1 being Rafe Mair) His program is on at 11:00AM to 2:00PM on CKNW-98 and at 5:30 PM you can catch him on BCTV anchoring Canada Tonight. Our chat took place over a number of days, but he remained candid and gave great perspective into the medium he dominates. Although it wasn’t done face to face... hell, it’s worth a shot.
Joseph Planta: ***What makes your job (radio talkshow host) important, interesting or unusual?
Bill Good: My job’s interesting in that I am close to many issues that seem to be important to most people everyday. I get to meet many, many interesting and bright people.
Planta: Is the Lower Mainland area the best place to be an openliner. or are there better markets elsewhere?
Good: The Lower Mainland is an excellent place to be an openliner, but I’m sure a lot of other cities would be equally interesting.
Planta: How do you prepare for a typical day?
Good: I read a great deal, watch a lot of news, and research many issues online and in books.
Planta: A lot of paper work?
Good: Not a lot, although I read a lot of material and do a lot of writing. I don’t spend a lot of time filling in forms... that kind of paperwork.
Planta: Is education important and or needed in this line of work?
Good: Today a university degree, or a BCIT graduation from the journalism program would be ideal.
Planta: What are some talents one would need or have, to be on radio?
Good: You have to be interested in people, in issues, and be able to speak your mind clearly.
Planta: More men or women in the field? Good: There are more men than women, but gender isn’t really an issue. Employers are always looking for talented women too.
Planta: The question everyone wants to know, roughly how much does a talk show host make?
Good: Talk show hosts probably make between $50,000 a year and $200,000 a year in Vancouver. Quite a range.
Planta: How do you rate job security in this field?
Good: The only security you have is your audience. The bigger it is the better your security.
Planta: What’s so good about this profession?, I mean what do like about it? etc....
Good: Joseph, I think it’s the best job in the world, but it’s not for everybody. It’s hard work, it’s not very secure, and there aren’t very many jobs when you think about it. A few in each city, but not many. ***
Bill Good, one of the best in business. A likable unassuming quality and that voice, a most noticeable voice among the generations of Vancouverites over the last 20 or so years. Thanks to Bill and his producer Darlene Heidemann
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .