We caught up with Best Radio Station winner KHUM’s Best Radio DJ winner Mike Dronkers via text message mid-voyage to Alaska, where he was scheduled to run a marathon:
AG: Dude, I just found out you’re in Alaska. You won best DJ in the Best Of poll. I was hoping for a reaction. But if a moose ate your phone I get it.
MD: I won something? Recount.
(Next text.)
MD: Was that a reaction? Technically yes. But if you need more, I am your slave.
AG: TEXT INTERVIEW! Also, KHUM won best radio station. What makes good radio, Michael?
MD: It’s going to be difficult to convey my trademark awkwardness through text messages. I’m on an Alaskan tarmac. [I’ll] try my darndest to satisfy. Expect random thoughts at inopportune times as I get my baggage and dodge bears.
AG: Dude, you’re Humboldt’s best DJ. What’s the formula?
MD: Let me ask Larry.
AG: No, no, no. Larry got second. Don’t be coy. Drop that wisdom.
MD: It’s like this: I think the more fun a host is having the better the show.
AG: Tell me more!
MD: In mixed drink form: 1 part discipline, 1 part observation, 3 parts second guessing to the point of nausea, 2 parts (bag’s here)
AG: Get that bag!
MD: 2 part’s this. (He texts me a picture of a taxidermied bear that guards the baggage claim area, above.)
AG: I’ll try to print that. What advice would you give to Larry Trask so that he can destroy you next year.
MD: Always fail triumphantly.
AG: I think that’ll do broski. Unless there is something else you think needs to be in ink.
MD: I really wish I had a good answer to that “good radio” question.
AG: Me too! For you.
MD: But if the listeners can tell that the host is right there with them, whatever that might entail, that matters.
AG: Kill that marathon.
MD: I’m gonna. It deserves to die.
— Andrew Goff
The Breakdown, Radio Station: KHUM 27.9%, KHSU 19.2%, KSLG 13.9%, KMUD 6.7%, KWPT 6.5%, Voter Turnout: Ninth.
Radio DJ: Mike Dronkers 17.1%, Larry Trask 8.3%, Dr. Syd 4.8%, John Matthews 4.3%, DJ Dub Cowboy 3.7%, Monica Topping 3.7%, Voter Turnout: 25th.
This article appears in Best of Humboldt 2011.
Hey Andrew, I hear that you work for these stations! Seems a little funny that they are all at the top. Maybe you should recount…. I mean come on Monica is on 3 hours a week! Maybe she voted for herself? Or maybe its because she freelance’s for your paper. Does this seem funny to anyone else???
That is funny!
So funny!
I’m acquainted with Andrew Goff, voted for myself on both counts, and am neither a DJ nor a radio station; YET, I did not win. Very. Suspicious. Indeed. Recount!
LOL. Yep, voted for myself. Because I’m the only one who likes my show. heh.
Andrew Goff IS Monica Topping.
If only…I love when Andrew does Monica’s show! Funny!
Somehow I knew these stations would be on the Best Radio Station/Best DJ list because of the type of readers the NCJ attracts. Many of the local DJ’s are true amateurs at best….frequent use of the word “uh” and the long ass interviews on some of the music stations. Who are the biggest “uh” culprits? John Matthews is #1 (does he have a stuttering problem?) and Dave “The Ninja” Roble is #2. Dave actually laughs alot even when reporting on the weather. What’s so funny?
Who should have been on the list? Rollin Trehearn is arguably one of the most professional DJ’s on the Northcoast followed by Dawn Davis.( is she single? )…Marcus Matthews has improved immensly, and that new guy on 95.5 is really annoying…weird laugh…sounds like a tight balloon deflating…thank god Shannon is still there! (what happend to John?) and then the dude that does the news on KINS now…he’s obviously not from here and even mispronounced Anthony Mantova’s name! I love local radio and jump around the dial alot. Maybe next year NCJ could add Best Radio Station by Genre or maybe Best Morning or Afternoon DJ?
Not Surprised seems to value well-produced mediocrity. He must love road trips.
I do love road trips and you can only get what you can when listening to local radio.
And those big-market stations that don’t say “uh” are so very original and interesting? I’ll take John Matthews over the pre-digested “professional” pablum any day.
Actually, yes they are! They don’t drone on about nothing and most of their “bits” are very entertaining. Unlike the canned material we get here. Mathews is one of the worse interviewers I’ve ever heard. Obviously doesn’t prepare ahead of time and most of the time doesn’t know what he’s talking about. If you like him, more power to you. That doesn’t mean that I have to listen to him.
From Sacramento to Los Angeles they “drone on about nothingness.” You must be driving to Oz on your magical road trips.