Behind the Mic

Behind the Mic
170 Pages
ISBN ISBN:978-1-61296-483-6

Behind the Mic is an honest story, one that does not spare me from exposing my own inadequacies as a broadcaster and as a human being. Behind the Mic will draw readers into the world of broadcast journalism as they have never known it. During twenty-five years in broadcasting, my travels took me to more than a dozen different radio and television stations throughout the state of Michigan. Because of the nomadic nature of the medium, I, in a metaphorical sense, kept my suitcase packed and sitting by the front door, never knowing when the axe might fall, as it often did.

The memoir is a vividly transparent account of what happens in radio and television newsrooms across the country from Pittsburgh to Peoria and Detroit to Des Moines, and thousands of other markets in between. The book follows my meandering journey through the small, medium and major media markets in Michigan, each one providing a unique glimpse of the experiences which helped shape my life as a radio and television broadcast journalist, and me as a person.

Robert Dustman

About Robert Dustman (Detroit, Michigan Author)

Robert Dustman

Robert Dustman served seventeen years as Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s chief spokesman and Director of Media & Communications. In that capacity, Mr. Dustman performed a variety of duties including speech writing, editorial writing, press releases, proclamations and letters to constituents on Mr. Patterson’s behalf.

Over the course of his career with the County Executive, Dustman had the opportunity to write, produce and narrate numerous video projects including The Patterson Years: Legacy of Leadership which can be found on the Oakland County website at www.oakgov.com under the County Executive section. For the past seventeen years, Mr. Dustman has produced a series of video profiles for the recipients of Mr. Patterson’s Annual Quality People, Quality County(Q2) Awards Breakfast which honors those individuals and organizations that have a positive impact on the community.

Prior to joining the Patterson Administration in 1993, Dustman enjoyed a distinguished and successful twenty-five year career as a radio and television journalist. He was News Director at radio stations WPON in Pontiac and WMJC/WHND in Detroit. Mr. Dustman was also General Manager & Anchor for Metro Traffic Control which provided rush hour traffic reports for ten Detroit radio stations and WDIV-TV. His other broadcast experience includes being an anchor, reporter and sports director for WWTV/WWUP-TV in Cadillac; sports director for WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids and WUHQ-TV in Battle Creek.