Issue #214 | September 28, 2020  |  View online
Highlights In This Issue:
More news below!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Federal Judge Orders Census Counting to Continue to October 31
A federal judge in California on Thursday (9/24) ruled that the 2020 Census will not end on September 30 as previously planned, but will and instead be extended to conclude on October 31. The Trump administration filed a notice on Friday (9/25) to appeal that decision, according to a report in NPR. Read More

House Passes Series of COVID-19 Liability Protections
A series of bills shielding employers from what supporters call potentially "frivolous" lawsuits related to the COVID-19 pandemic were passed in the House on Wednesday (9/23), according to a report in Gongwer. Read More

FCC Proposes $512,228 in Fines to TV Stations for Violating Rules Requiring Good Faith Negotiation of Retransmission Consent Agreements
By: David Oxenford,
Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP

With the October 1 deadline coming up for retransmission consent/must carry elections, and the likely commencement of many retransmission consent negotiations throughout the country, the FCC last week issued a decision that emphasizes the importance of "good faith" retransmission consent negotiations. Read More

First Amendment Shines Through During Toughest of Times
By: Gordon H. Smith,
National Association of Broadcasters

Two hundred and thirty-one years ago this week, Congress passed a collection of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ten of which would become the Bill of Rights. Foremost in the Bill of Rights is the First Amendment, which allows Americans to worship how they please, speak their minds openly and have their voices heard by their government. Read More



IN THE NEWS
WKAR Presents COVID Diaries: On the Front Line | American Portrait
On October 1 at 10 p.m., WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) will present "COVID Diaries: On the Front Line," a WKAR original special produced as part of the PBS American Portrait project. Produced under social distancing and other health and safety guidelines required during a pandemic, the story is told through video captured remotely through mobile phone and computer interviews and footage. Read More

WITL's Chris Tyler Says 'So Long'
WITL-FM (Lansing) Afternoon Personality/Program Director Chris Tyler has announced that he is leaving the station after 23 years. In "An Open Letter to the Wittle Family" posted online, Tyler wrote that "It's been a good, long ride. But even all good, long rides have to end..." Read More

Tony Clark Passes
The MAB is sad to write that longtime Michigan Radio Programmer/Air Personality Tony Clark passed away peacefully on September 19, following a week long battle with pneumonia. Read More

Former Michigan Air Personality Denis Prior Dies
Ramp247.com reports that Michigan veteran air talent and comedy writer Denis Prior passed away early this week.  In Michigan, Prior worked on-air at WLHT-FM (Grand Rapids), MacDonald-Garber Broadcasting (Cadillac) and WGVU-AM/WGVS-AM (Grand Rapids). Read More

Scripps to Acquire ION Media
On September 24, The E.W. Scripps Company announced the purchase of national broadcast network ION Media for $2.65 billion, combining the business with Scripps' Katz networks and Newsy to create a full-scale national television networks business. Read More

WCSX Launches Seger Saturdays in the Motor City
Beginning Saturday, October 3, Beasley Media Group's legendary classic rock station, WCSX-FM (Detroit), will officially debut a 12-week program to air throughout the Fall entitled "Seger Saturdays" in Detroit. Read More

AnalyticOwl Opens Up Ad Response Database with Free Access
Attribution and analytics provider AnalyticOwl has opened up its database of 4 billion responses to advertising to media sellers, ad agencies and advertisers, , according to a report in InsideRadio. Read More


NAB Releases New 'We Are Broadscasters' TV and Radio Spots for Download
America's broadcast radio and TV stations are the pulse of our communities - delivering critical news and information, weather and emergency updates and entertainment that connect and inspire us. Read More

CONNECTING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES
WLNS Hosts Congressional Debate
On September 21, Nexstar Broadcasting's WLNS-TV (Lansing) hosted a debate with candidates for the 8th Congressional District.  Incumbent Democrat Elissa Slotkin and Republican challenger Paul Junge took part in a one-hour broadcast hosted by WLNS anchor Sheri Jones. Read More

Entercom Holds Radiothon to Raise Money for Detroit Police Athletic League
On September 21, Entercom/Detroit radio stations teamed together for the "Step Up to The Plate" Radiothon from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Entercom stations highlighted special prizes for donors every hour and brought stories about the great work PAL does in the community. Read More

WSAQ Raises Nearly $150K in Community Roofsit
Radio First/Liggett Communication's WSAQ-FM (Port Huron) has raised a record $148,405 to benefit the Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) Council. Q Country 107 WSAQ morning show host Matt Markham has spent this past week living on top of the MI Mutual Mortgage Building, soliciting donations for the CAN council. Read More

MAB FOUNDATION 
Spring Arbor University Announces New Student Radio Station
Spring Arbor University (SAU) announces the launch of a new Christian radio station, 89.3 The Arbor (WJKN-FM). The new station's student-hosted format compliments 106.9 HOME.fm (WSAE-FM) as a sister station, with a strong emphasis on the SAU community. Read More



The 2021 Student Awards Contest is Open

The MAB Foundation is pleased to present the
2021 Michigan Student Broadcast Awards
You can review the category list below, read
full category descriptions and the complete list of rules and enter at StudentBroadcastAwards.com

TRAINING & EDUCATION
Webinars are FREE to MAB members and all are archived for later viewing. Questions? Contact Jayne Hodak at 1-800-YOUR-MAB.
Writing and Speaking for Broadcast
with Joe Little,KNSD-TV (San Diego)

Thursday, October 15, 2020 | 11:00 a.m.

Writing and Speaking for Broadcast captures a lot of the writing and performance aspects. SO MANY reporters speak like police officers and use words lifted from a press release. Yet, broadcasting is supposed to be a conversation. It needs to be HUMAN. We shouldn't sound like we're reading a newspaper out loud, which is awful. Register Now


Look back on past MAB Webinars, including Mark Levy's
"From Influence to Impact: Putting More Political Ad Dollars
On Your Books" on our Archives Page.

The MAB is excited to share that Local Broadcast Sales (LBS) is available free to members in 2020.
Ask LBS
It is common to run into difficult selling situations in the field. Whether it's an overzealous gatekeeper, a client who thinks that they know more about advertising than you do, or just trying to find an angle to get a new prospect's attention, we are here to help! Let us know what we can help with and we will get your question in front of our seasoned broadcast professionals who will get you a personalized response with real strategies for your specific situation!

Plus 10%
Greg Gibbons, Digital Manager at Cumulus Media, gives his insights into how every broadcaster in America can make more money!


DIGITAL / SOCIAL / WEB
8 Blog Topic Formulas Radio Stations Can Use During the Pandemic
By: Seth Resler,
Jacobs Media Strategies

We've been big advocates of using content marketing as a strategy for radio stations looking to increase traffic to their websites. Of course, content marketing requires that radio stations create original content. This content can take many forms, including videos and podcasts, but one of the easiest to create is blogposts. Read More

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CALENDAR
October 15
Free MAB Webinar:
"Writing and Speaking for Broadcast" with Joe Little
(Learn More)

October 28
EAS IPAWS Signing Certificate Expires
CAREERS

Traffic Coordinator
WPTV (Wixom)
Posted: Sept. 17, 2020

Television Production Tech
WKAR (East Lansing)
Posted: Sept. 17, 2020

Reporter/Multimedia Journalist
WLUC-TV (Houghton)
Posted: Sept. 16, 2020

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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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Michigan Association of Broadcasters | 517-484-7444 | mab@michmab.com | MichMAB.com
820 N. Capitol Ave. | Lansing, MI 48906