Issue #206  |  July 31, 2020   |   View online
Highlights In This Issue:
More news below!

U.S. Sen. Stabenow, Congressman Upton will be Special Guests at MAB's ABM
The Annual Business Meeting of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters will be hosted on a Zoom this year. Join us to gain valuable insight into Congressional efforts toward economic recovery and the political advertising landscape following the Primary Elections  Read More and Register Free


Request FEMA Masks For Your Station
The MAB has received the face masks promised by FEMA! If you have not yet requested masks for your station,  click here to submit your request. Questions? Contact Denise Weston at weston@michmab.com.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
State/Legislative Updtaes

Michigan Casinos to Open, New Executive Order on Restaurant and Bars
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an Emergency Order July 29 reinforcing Executive Orders 2020-160 and 2020-161 and allowing for civil fines of up to $1,000 and referral to licensing agencies for violations.  Read More

House Dems Match GOP In Funds Raised For Period, Far Behind In Cash on Hand
State House Democrats remain woefully behind their Republican counterparts when it comes to cash on hand heading into the general election but kept fundraising close in the second quarter of 2020, according to a report from Gongwer.  Read More

Federal/Regulatory Updates

House Members Seek to Expanded COVID-19 Aid for Local Broadcasters
A bipartisan congressional duo has called on Congress to take care of broadcasters in the next COVID-19 aid package by allowing individual stations that are part of larger groups to qualify as local businesses eligible for the money, according to a report in InsideRadio.  Read More

Congressman Moolenaar Adds Name to LRFA
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-4) on Wednesday (7/30) became the sixth Michigan Congressman to cosponsor H.Con.Res 20, known as the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA).  Read More

A Deeper Look at the FCC's Proposal to Eliminate Program Duplication Rules for AM But Not FM Stations - Looking to All Digital AM?
By: David Oxenford,
Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP

FCC rules currently prohibit radio stations in the same service (AM or FM) that have over 50% overlap of their principal community contours (the 70 dBu for FM stations and the 5 mV/m contour for AM stations) from duplicating more than 25 per cent of the total hours in their average programming week. In preparation for the FCC's open meeting on August 6, the FCC released its draft order proposing to eliminate that rule as to AM stations.   Read More

ENGINEERING & EAS
ABIP 11Limited 2020 ABIP Openings Still Available,
Inspections Start Next Month
Think the FCC no longer does routine inspections? Guess again. With both radio and television public files on-line, it makes it easier than ever for the FCC to inspect. You need to be certain your public file contains everything it should. The physical ABIP inspection checks technical as well as public file requirements.  Read more

IN THE NEWS
Sinclair Appoints Jennifer Rieffer as Flint VP/GM
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. announced that Jennifer Rieffer has been promoted to Vice President/General Manager for WSMH-TV (FOX) in Flint, effective August 3. She also will oversee Sinclair's provision of services to WEYI-TV (NBC) and WBSF-TV (CW) under joint sales agreements.  Read More

Scott Jameson Named Director of Programming at Beasley Detroit
Beasley Media Group has announced Scott Jameson has been named Director of Programming of Beasley Media Group's Detroit-based radio cluster. In his new role, Jameson will be responsible for overseeing the programming of WRIF-FM, WCSX-FM, WMGC-FM, WDMK-FM and the Praise Network. He will begin his new position on  August 3.  Read More

Lexi Krupp Joins IPR as Science Reporter for Northern Michigan
Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) has announced that Lexi Krupp has been hired as the station's new science and conservation reporter. Krupp comes to IPR from Gimlet Media, where she helped the "Science Vs" podcast team distinguish what's fact from what's not, and has written for a range of publications including Audubon and Vice.  Read More

WHAK/WHSB Founder Harvey Klann Passes
True North Radio Network has reported the July 25 death of WHAK-FM/WHSB-FM (Rogers City/Alpena) founder Harvey Klann. Klann was 9. He was born on June 11, 1923 in Rogers City to Alfred and Hattie (Dost) Klann. He was a lifelong resident of Rogers City, except for time spent in the military during World War II ... After military service, he helped create and organize the Rogers City Broadcasting Corporation.  Read More

WLUC's David 'Buck' LeVasseur Dies at 70
WLUC-TV (Marquette) reports that Buck LeVasseur, longtime station employee and creator/host of the show Discovering passed away July 28 at age 70. LeVasseur was with WLUC-TV for more than three decades, starting in the news department in 1976.  In 1980, Discovering was created and he was the host, producer, reporter and videographer for the weekly program, which covered all aspects of the people, history and outdoor activities throughout the Upper Peninsula.  Read More

Share Your Station's COVID-19 Stories 
The MAB wants to know and share what your station is doing unique as part of its coronavirus coverage in your communities and the associated economic issues you and your clients are facing.  Send your stories and photos to teh MAB's Dan Kelley at dkelley@michmab.com.
WXYZ, WXMI Team Up for Back-to-School Virtual Town Hall
On July 30, Scripps Media's WXYZ-TV (Detroit) and WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids) teamed together to present a virtual town hall on returning safely back to school.  Read More



MAB FOUNDATION 


Looking for Sales Professionals?

The MAB Foundation Board of Directors approved a new partnership with Central Michigan University's School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts for the Fall 2020 semester.
The partnership will focus on developing mentoring relationships between students with an Electronic Media Sales Minor and broadcast industry professionals. 
Contact Rachel Krause for more information.

TRAINING & EDUCATION
Webinars are FREE to MAB members and all are archived for later viewing. Questions? Contact Jayne Hodak at 1-800-YOUR-MAB.
What It Takes to Walk on
to a Film Set Strong
with Mark Adler, Michigan Production Alliance

Thursday, August 16 | 1:00 p.m. 

What does it take to work on a film, corporate or commercial set? Mark Adler will provide a glimpse at what you can expect and what is expected of YOU!. Register Now

How to Give Your National
Superstars Home Court Advantage
with Kipper McGee, Media Brandwith Strategies

Thursday, September 17, 2020 | 1:00 p.m.

Are any of YOUR stations running syndicate programming? Whether a weekend countdown, or a weekday mainstay, ALL formats are airing more network programming. That leaves two options. SMART or NOT. Veteran broadcast exec Kipper McGee unveils how he took WDBO/Orlando to its first #1 book in decades, and kept WLS/Chicago Top 5 by integrating network programming to be part of the local 'team'. Learn HOW you can, too (with music, sports or talk formats) in this one-hour webinar! Register Now

Re-opening and Dancing Around COVID:
Taking Your Creative to New Heights
with Blane & Honey Parker, LBS Branding Experts

Tuesday, August 11, 2020 | 12:00 p.m.

T he message matters - whether you're talking to the advertiser or the advertiser's customer. Blaine and Honey Parker are up next on our webinar series focused on re-opening your business community. The Parkers will be addressing two key themes in this powerful webinar message. 

Theme 1: What can you say to your clients or your prospective clients? (Fortunes are being-made when others are scared to advertise, including the three rules of prospecting for you.) 

Theme 2: What should your client's advertising say to their customer? (Hear the five different ways to get the listener/viewer/reader past COVID.) You will want to attend this practical session that will assist your creative efforts on behalf of your advertisers and station.  

There will also be a live question and answer session for practical applications.  Register Now (Free for MAB members)

Station Value
LBS President, Gary Moore discusses an integrated team culture, what you need from vendors, and a strategy for showing prospects and customers the value your station brings them!

The MAB is excited to share that Local Broadcast Sales (LBS) is available free to members in 2020.
DIGITAL / SOCIAL / WEB
Voice Command Considerations When Picking a Name for Your New Radio Station
By: Seth Resler,
Jacobs Media Strategies

When gearing up to launch a new radio station, one of the most important decisions you can make is the name of that station. Naturally, there are all sorts of traditional branding factors that go into this decision. But as voice command interfaces like Alexa and Siri continue to rise in popularity, it's becoming increasingly important to also take this into consideration as well.   Read More

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CALENDAR
August 11 | 10 a.m.
MAB Annual Business Meeting (Register to Attend)

August 11 | 12 p.m.
Free LBS Webinar: Re-opening and Dancing Around COVID: Taking Your Creative to New Heights with Blane and Honey Parker (Learn More)

August 20 | 1 p.m.
Free MAB Webinar: "What it Takes to Walk on to a Film Set Strong" with Mark Adler
(Learn More)
CAREERS

General Manager
WCMU Public Media
(Mt. Pleasant)
Posted July 29, 2020

Photojournalist
WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids)
Posted: July 17, 2020

Share Your News!

We know your station is great. Now lets show all the other broadcasters across Michigan just how great you are. Send pictures, video and news releases about your station's accomplishments to be featured in the 
weekly MAB News Briefs


MAB FOUNDATION
The MAB Foundation's mission to encourage, support, and sponsor educational activities for students interested in broadcasting cannot be accomplished without supporters like you. The Foundation wouldn't exist without your continued support and interest in the mission. The Broadcasters must work together to sustain the future of this industry by encouraging the brightest, most creative and energetic students to choose broadcasting as a career. You can make a difference by MAKING A DONATION TODAY at MABFgive.com


THANK YOU 
Foundation Supporters

Kenneth Baynard
Dena Blair
Dan Boers
Julie Brinks
Kristin Burns

Scott Clow
Rob David
Detroit Radio 
Advertising Group
Marla Drutz
Susanne Elkins
Rebecca Falk
Bruce & Sue Goldsen
Colleen Grant
Tom Hahn
Wendy Hart
Bill Keith
Dan Kelley
Dick Kernen
Julie Koehn
Fred Jacobs
Paul Jacobs
Mark Libke
Jim Lutton
Pam Manor
Stephen A. Marks
Janet Mason
John E. Fetzer Memorial Trust
Christopher Meller
Dr. Peter Orlik
Robert F. Ottaway
David Oxenford
Lawrence Patrick
Jam Sardar
AnnMarie Scaramuzzino
Stephen Schram
Dirk Spillemaeckers
Jason Springer

Rick Sykes
Peter Tanz
Jacquelen Timm
Denise Weston
Karole White
Jon Whiting
Jennifer Williams
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