Issue #187 |  March 13, 2020   |   View online
Highlights In This Issue:
More news below!
White_150 MAB Launches Michigan
COVID-19 Webpage

By: Karole L. White,
MAB President/CEO

The MAB has launched a resource page on its website for stations and their reporters on COVID-19 the Coronavirus. This web page gives broadcasters up to the minute information coming out of the State Emergency Communications Center and articles about reporting on pandemics and health emergencies from some of the national leading authorities from the Poynter Institute. It also includes best practices for reporters. Read More

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
2020 U.S. Census Promotion Runs Up Against COVID-19 Outbreak

Michigan Radio reports that coronavirus concerns forced several top state officials to conduct a town hall promoting the 2020 U.S. Census in an empty auditorium in Flint on Thursday.  The public was barred from attending the event out of concern of potentially spreading the deadly COVID-19 virus. The event was streamed on Facebook. Read More

The FDA Issues New Guidance on CBD - Still Leaving Many Questions for Broadcasters and Advertisers
By: David Oxenford,
Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP

The FDA last week issued an update on its review of issues related to the sale and marketing of CBD products. The guidance reiterates the kinds of warnings that we have given before about not advertising specific health benefits of CBD products as, except for two approved CBD-based drugs used to control seizure-related disorders, the FDA has not yet approved other medical uses of CBD products.  Read More

Michigan Reps Dingell, Mitchell Remind People to 'Bump, Not Shake'

On March 2, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Paul Mitchell (R-MI) reminded the public to take commonsense steps to prevent the spread of the common cold, flu, and the coronavirus. Read More

ENGINEERING & EAS
NAB Announces 2020 Engineering Achievement Award Recipients
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced the recipients of its Engineering Achievement Awards. Established in 1959, the Engineering Achievement Awards are given to individuals who are nominated by their peers for significant contributions to advancing broadcast engineering. Read More
ABIP 11Reserve Your 2020 ABIP Inspection Now
Scheduling has begun for the 2020 Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP). The MAB conducts these alternative inspections regionally from April to October.  Learn More

IN THE NEWS
WRIF's James Campbell Named Host of Nationally Syndicated CheckpointXP Show
Beasley Esports, a division of Beasley Media Group, LLC announced on March 11 that WRIF-FM (Detroit) producer James Campbell has been named the new host of the company's nationally syndicated radio program, CheckpointXP. The show, heard on 70 radio stations across the United States and Canada on the Sun Broadcast Group Network, is also featured on CheckpointXP.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.  Read More

Robby Bridges & Rochelle Gagnon Join WKHQ
The "Robby and Rochelle" radio show will move to weekday mornings at MacDonald Garber Broadcasting's heritage CHR WKHQ-FM (Traverse City) beginning March 30. The show, hosted by Robby Bridges and Rochelle Gagnon, was previously heard at WDVD-FM (Detroit) and WSHK-FM (Portsmouth, N.H.).  Read More

mediaBrew Launches New 106.1 'The Sound'
On March 2, mediaBrew Communications launched a new station in Marquette, the "all new 106.1 The Sound."  The station is a soft adult contemporary format, branded as a place to "rediscover your favorite songs you haven't heard in decades."  Read More

McKibbin Media Debuts '99.5 The Dale' in Hillsdale
Following the closing of its purchase of WCSR-AM/FM, McKibbin Media has flipped WCSR-AM and its companion FM translator to a country format under the handle "99.5 The Dale."   Read More

MacDonald Garber Broadcasting Purchases WSRT-FM
MacDonald Garber Broadcasting is purchasing silent WSRT-FM (Gaylord) and translator W252DA (Petoskey) from Northern Radio.  An application was filed with the FCC on February 28.  Read More

Former WGPR-TV Employees Share The History of America's First African American-Owned Television Station
Earlier this month, WKBD-TV (Detroit) Community Connect host Lisa Germani paid a visit to the William V. Banks Broadcast Museum to talk with four former employees of WGPR-TV about their experiences at the station and what it meant to them to find work at the first African American owned and operated television station in the United States.  Read More

Is Gen-Co short for Genesee County, or Generous Community?
By: Jeremy Fenech, Program Director,
103.9 The Fox WRSR-FM (Flint)

'Who wants seconds?' 'Are you gonna finish that?' Simple questions at dinner time that we all take for granted. You may be heading back for a second helping of dinner... while so many people in our own community are desperately seeking their first helping... for the day. That's why 103.9 The Fox and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan teamed up once again in the fight against hunger!  Read More

NAB Show Postponed
On March 11, the NAB announced that the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas has been postponed for this year due to Coronavirus concerns.  NAB's Sue Keenom, in an email to state broadcast associations, said "This was a difficult decision to make, but at the end of the day, the health and welfare of our show attendees, exhibitors and staff is what is most important."  Read More



AWARDS
MAB FOUNDATION 
WXYZ Salutes Amanda Barberena - 'One of Journalism's Next Rising Stars'
MAB Foundation scholarship recipients were honored as part of the Student Awards Lunch at the Great Lakes Media Show on March 4. Amanda Barberena, the recipient of the Scripps Howard Foundation, WXYZ-TV 7 Detroit Scholarship, , was spotlighted by the station just days after the scholarship was presented. Barberena is a junior at Michigan State University. Watch the Story



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.

The April 9 Media Career Fair at Western Michigan University has been canceled.

Watch for Fall Media Career Fair dates
to be  announced this summer.

Questions? Contact Rachel Krause at 1-800-YOUR-MAB.
TRAINING & EDUCATION
LBS Featured Video Series

Selling Truth!

In this 14-part series, LBS Broadcast Expert, Paul Weyland discusses a selling approach that, when applied, will help your LOCAL customers to develop more compelling creative, reach the right audience, and bring more people to their place of business


The MAB is excited to share that Local Broadcast Sales (LBS) is available free to members in 2020.
 
April 16, 2020 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
"Political Refresher"
with David Oxenford, Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer LLP
2020 is bound to be a very active year for political broadcasting. Who do you have to sell advertising time to? How much can you charge? What paperwork do you need to retain? Who is watching what you do, and what issues are likely to arise in the coming election? These issues and more will be addressed in a live webinar!

PROGRAMMING
Coronavirus: 4 Things Every Music Station Can and Should Do
By: Gary Berkowitz,
Berkowitz Broadcast Consulting

The coronavirus outbreak is concerning on many levels, but one thing is for sure: It can and most likely will affect everybody in one way or another. Many music stations across the US are wondering: What do we do with coronavirus? The answer is simple. Keep your listeners informed and be there for them.  Read More

DIGITAL / SOCIAL / WEB
How WordPress' Custom Post Types Can Help Your Radio Morning Show
By: Seth Resler
Jacobs Media Strategies

Last week, I wrote about how a radio station could use WordPress' Custom Post Types to build a directory of local bands. But if your radio station's website is built in WordPress, this feature has plenty of other applications as well. For example, you could use it to help your morning show be more proactive on social media.  Read More

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CALENDAR
April 9
MABF Media Career Fair at Western Michigan University (Canceled

April 16
Free Webinar: "Political Refresher" ( Learn More )

May 21
Free Webinar: "Working with Agencies More Effectively" (Learn More)

CAREERS

Brand Manager
WMGC-FM & WDMK-FM
(Detroit)
Posted: March 9, 2020

Local Sales Manager
WNEM-TV
(Saginaw)
Posted:  March 5, 2020

News Reporter
WHMI-FM
(Howell)
Posted: March 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!

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Thanks for the Support of Our Associate Members!











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