Issue #234 | December 11, 2020  |  View online
Highlights In This Issue:
More news below!

#MABshow
REGISTRATION IS OPEN: Sign up early and receive an 'UN-CONVENTIONAL' 50% Discount with MABSHOW50 Promo Code
The most 'UN-CONVENTIONAL' Great Lakes Media Show ever is coming your way March 8-11, 2021! As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the the broadcast industry and the world, we are flipping the #MABshow script and making 2021 a fully virtual experience. Registration for the 2021 Great Lakes Media Show is now open. MAB members may enter the promo code MABSHOW50 for an early bird half-price discount, through January 31, 2021. Learn More and Register Today!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Online Sports Betting/Casino Gaming to Launch Early 2021 in Michigan
While many have hoped for a launch before the end of the year, it now appears online gaming won't happen for about six weeks, MGCB executive director Richard Kalm told MLive Friday (12/4). On December 1, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives, waived the customary 15 session-day waiting period to approve final online gaming rules. Read More

MORE Act Passes House - But Don't Rush to Run Marijuana Ads on Your Broadcast Station
By: David Oxenford,
Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP

Last week, there was much written in the press about the MORE Act passing in the House of Representatives, taking actions to decriminalize marijuana under federal law.  This would include removing marijuana from Schedule I, which is the list of drugs whose use for almost all purposes is prohibited in the United States. The passage of this bill through the House, though, should not be taken as a sign to start running marijuana advertising on your broadcast station - though there are some signs that the day on which that advertising can be run may be in sight. Read More

FCC Updates Rules Promoting Broadcast Internet
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday (12/10) issued a Report and Order updating its rules to promote the introduction of ATSC 3.0-enabled innovative ancillary and supplementary broadcast services, otherwise known as Broadcast Internet. Read More

Congress Ads Voice to Call for More Diversity in Media Ownership
Congressional lawmakers are using some of their lame duck session to address concerns about media ownership. The U.S. House passed, by a voice vote Wednesday (12/9), a resolution that said more needs to be done to improve media ownership diversity, according to a report in InsideRadio. Read More

AWARDS
The 2020 BEA Entry Deadline is January 20
It's that time of year again! 2020 has definitely given us some interesting content, and we can't wait to see and hear what you've been able to produce over the past year! Learn more at BroadcastExcellenceAwards.com.

The 2021 Student Awards will be Virtual, You Can Help Make it Great!
We'll be honoring Student Broadcast Award winners with a virtual celebration in April 2021, and we want to make the experience special for them! The MAB Foundation is looking for volunteers to help present the online awards. If you're an on-air radio or television personality, we want to get you involved!  Media students from across the state will LOVE  seeing and hearing from familiar faces. If you're interested in creating a fantastic virtual experience for the award winners, let us know! We also have sponsorship opportunities for giveaways, Station of the Year presentation, and more!  Contact Rachel Krause, krause@michmab.com or 517-484-7447 for details.

Student Awards Entry Deadline is January 19 
The MDHHS "Pause to Save Lives" Emergency Order has mandated that high schools and universities move to virtual learning through the week of December 7. In light of this, we have decided to extend the entry deadline for the Michigan Student Broadcast Awards to Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 3:00 pm EST. Entries must have been created and produced from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. We hope that this deadline extension will give you ample time to edit and complete your entries Learn more at StudentBroadcastAwards.com

Become a Judge for the 2021 Michigan Student Broadcast Awards
We are looking for talented professionals from across Michigan to help judge this year's Michigan Student Broadcast Awards contest. Online judging takes place in December and January. This is a great way to help build the future of broadcast excellence! Interested? Contact Rachel Krause at krause@michmab.com.



IN THE NEWS
ATSC 3.0 On-Air in Detroit
On December 7, television viewers in the Detroit market started getting a taste of the future as five local TV stations band together to launch NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) in Detroit. The broadcast advance also signals the beginning of another project - the launch of the "Motown 3.0 Open Test Track" for merging automotive applications with NEXTGEN TV powered by the ATSC 3.0 standard. Read More

Beenish Ahmed, Nisa Kahn, Erin Allen Join Michigan Radio Journalism Team 
On Tuesday (12/7), Michigan Radio announced the hiring of three new members to its journalism staff. Beenish Ahmed has been hired as a new Detroit based reporter for the station. Nisa Kahn is joining Michigan Radio as the station's first full-time Data Reporter. Erin Allen comes to Michigan Radio as a new producer for the station's Stateside show. Read More

Dick Haefner Retires After 51 Years in Detroit Radio
WJR-AM (Detroit) News Director Dick Haefner has announced his retirement after a remarkable 51-year career in radio news. Haefner, an award-winning newscaster, reporter, and news director, has been WJR News Director since 1989, and his tenure is unmatched by any other Detroit broadcast news director He is one of the most recognizable news voices in his hometown of Detroit, signing on to radio news in 1969 and signing off on December 11, 2020, Haefner's last day on-air. Read More

WEMU Celebrates 55 Years!
December 8 marked 55 years since Eastern Michigan University's WEMU-FM first went on the air.  WEMU began broadcasting at a frequency of 88.1 FM in 1965 from the Quirk Building on Eastern Michigan University's campus. Read More

Tigers, Red Wings Reup with Entercom's WXYT
Entercom's WXYT-FM (Detroit) has announced that they will continue as flagship for Detroit Tigers baseball and Detroit Red Wings hockey under a multiyear contract extension with team owner Illitch Holdings, Inc.  The deal includes marketing and promotional opportunities on the rest of the Entercom Detroit cluster. Read More

WAKV-AM Otsego Sale Announced
Although as of this writing there has been no application filed with the FCC, industry press reports that Jim Higg's Vintage Radio Enterprises is selling Oldies/Standards 980 WAKV-AM (Otsego) along with the construction permit for FM translator W255DF (Otsego) to Eric Mills and Scott Pastoor's Quincy-Richard LLC. Read More

WGHN, WMPA Wrap Up Annual Coat Drive
WGHN-AM/FM and WMPA-FM (Grand Haven), in conjunction with Pantenga's Cleaners just wrapped up their annual coat drive.  As of press time, 759 coats have been dry-cleaned with another 400 to 500 coats waiting to be processed. Read More

6th Annual Mildred Gaddis 'Bed in a Bag' Radiothon A Huge Success
Beasley Media Group Detroit has announced that WDMK-FM (Detroit) Weekend On Air Host Mildred Gaddis teamed up with McDonald's, UAW and The EMG Foundation to present the 2020 Drive-Thru Bed in a Bag Radiothon to raise over $40,000 to provide sleeping bags for the homeless. Read More

MAB FOUNDATION 
Get Free Money for College with MABF Scholarships
Each year the MABF awards nearly $30,000 in scholarships to college and high school students pursuing a career in broadcast media. Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 is the application deadline for most scholarships. Learn more at MichMAB.com/MABF/Scholarships.


A Virtual Career Fair will be held as a part of the 2021 'UN-CONVENTIONAL' Great Lakes Media Show from March 8 to 11. This is a wonderful chance for stations to earn valuable EEO credits and connect with rising broadcast stars. Sign up today to be a part of the 'UN-CONVENTIONAL' Exhibit Hall. Use the promo code CAREER to secure your discounted MABF Career Fair booth rate of $150 before January 31, 2021 ($250/Booth after Jan 31).
  Learn more and reserve your booth.

TRAINING & EDUCATION
Leadership Goals
Pat Bryson, LBS Broadcast Management Expert, discusses tips and best practices for station leaders and how they can be more effective in setting goals for their team. Included in this session is direction for both veteran and brand new reps, what to do when a rep leaves the station, and how to follow up to make sure goals are met.

Time Management
Gary Moore discusses how to plan for the full range of your job functions and provides lots of tips for daily scheduling!

The MAB is excited to share that Local Broadcast Sales (LBS) is available free to members in 2020.
DIGITAL / SOCIAL / WEB
4 Skills Unemployed Radio Broadcasters Should Develop
By: Seth Resler,
Jacobs Media Strategies

While the holidays can be the most wonderful time of year, too often they bring layoffs to the radio broadcasting industry. It's a hard situation to find yourself in, and one that many of us have been in at one time or another - including myself. Given the extraordinary circumstances of our current reality, however, the period of unemployment could be longer this time 'round. Read More

MAB to provide feed of Michigan Electoral College Vote on Monday 12/14

At its expense, the MAB will provide members with a live feed of Monday's Michigan Electoral College vote. WLNS-TV is providing an unhosted pool feed via Galaxy 17 beginning at 2 pm and running for approximately one hour. The feed will be closed captioned. 

Satellite Details:
Galaxy 17 K14 Slot 4
DL Frequency: 11983 V
FEC ¾
Symbol: 4.0
8PSK
DVB-S2

Stations may wish to air/stream it live or record for newscast excerpts. There will also be a feed for radio on the MichMAB.com. Check the homepage of the MAB website for exact feed details Monday morning as this is still being put together. Any questions, contact MAB's Dan Kelley at dkeklley@michmab.com.
Subscribe to
MAB News Briefs
Follow Us!  Like Us!
CALENDAR
January 19
Entry Deadline: Student Broadcast Awards 

January 20
Entry Deadline: Broadcast Excellence Awards

January 22
MABF Scholarship Deadlines (Learn More)

March 8-11
'UN-CONVENTIONAL'
Great Lakes Media Show: MABshow.com

CAREERS

Radio Journalist
WDET-FM (Detroit)
Posted: December 7, 2020

Several Positions Available
Midwest Communications (Kalamazoo)
Posted: December 7, 2020

Account Executive
WJMN-TV (Marquette)
Posted: December 3, 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
Follow the MAB Foundation on Social Media!

Support the MAB Foundation, and stay in touch about upcoming events, awards programs, scholarships and more, by following the MAB Foundation on our social media pages!

@MABFoundation1


@MAB_Foundation


Thanks for the Support of Our Associate Members!

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