radiofan wrote: Weekend traffic on WX is definately served up by the "B" Team. Saturday and Sunday on several occasions I heard the traffic reporter say that they couldn't get through to the folks at the Albion - Fort Langley Ferry so we don't have accurate info and also he was begging for up to date info for the Peach Arch and Truck crossings as the cameras weren't working .
RF, I'm going to speak generally here and not about WX, as I can't speak for them.
One of the difficulties doing traffic is someone (or more than one) will call and say "There's an accident at so-and-so..." That's fine and well, but a half-hour later, unless a traffic reporter is psychic, (s)he doesn't know if the accident's cleared. So, traffic reporters have to ask listeners in the area to call. Same if (s)he gets conflicting info from callers.
I wouldn't call this "begging" any more than Warren Barker asking people to call in news tips would be begging.
Agreed, it may not be smart to tell the listener about problems with phone calls or cameras.
One of the other things traffic reporters had (and maybe still do) to worry about it "fake tips" by poop-heads at other radio stations, who think it's cool to mislead people listening to the competition. That's bush. Stations are trying to provide a public service; the public interest should come ahead at some misguided display of company loyalty. If the competition's so threatening, respond by providing a better service.
cArtie.