In 1991, when communism fell, Vello Laan was a 55 year-old man with a distinguished career in Estonian State radio. He left what he called "the peaceful life" of state radio and plunged into "the unchartered waters of private radio" to form the first independent station in Estonia, Radio Tartu. In this wise and well-told case study, Mr. Laan tells how the station became successful, largely because of his transformation from journalist to manager.