Issue No. 257 | June 4, 2021 | View Online
Promos Available for Vaccine Town Hall Broadcast
Radio and television stations throughout Michigan are setting aside competition and joining with other local broadcasters in their markets to air a special 30-minute noncommercial program entitled "Vaccine Town Hall: Answering Your Questions." The program is produced in partnership with Detroit's WDIV-TV, WJBK-TV and WXYZ-TV with great appreciation from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. It is available to every broadcaster in the state. Read More
Upcoming Events

June 8 | 7:00 p.m.
SMPTE Free Virtual Meeting: "Failure Is An Option" with Jim Stenberg (Learn More)

June 17 | 11:00 a.m.
Free Webinar: "Don't Be a Garden Gnome"
with Joe Little (Register Now)

June 17 | 4:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: "Addressing the Recruiting Challenges within a Changing Media Industry" with Ty Carver (Register Now)
Broadcasters Pledge Support for Vaccine Awareness National Month of Action
As founding members of the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 Community Corps, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is urging all local radio and television stations to help kick off a National Month of Action beginning June 4 to provide COVID-19 vaccine education and help ensure all Americans understand the importance of getting vaccinated.
LEGISLATIVE / REGULATORY UPDATES
Governor Vetoes Bill to Prohibit FOIA Suspension by Executive Order
Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday (6/3) vetoed a bill that would prohibit the suspension of Freedom of Information Act requests through an executive order in many cases, according to a report in Gongwer. Read More
Congressman Jack Bergman Adds Name to Local Radio Freedom Act
Northern Michigan's U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-1) joined the growing list of 127 bipartisan cosponsors of a House Resolution in support of the Local Radio Freedom Act on May 28. Reps. Fred Upton (R-6), Tim Walberg (R-7) and Debbie Dingell (D-12) were among the act's original cosponsors when the resolution was introduced on May 4. Read More
Low Power FM Back In Front of FCC – Another Proposal to Raise Power and Word of a New Filing Window
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
Low Power FM is back in the news this week. As we noted a week ago in our summary of FCC regulatory actions, a Petition for Rulemaking has been filed by REC Networks asking that the maximum authorized power for LPFM stations be raised from 100 to 250 watts. The hope among LPFM advocates is that an increase in power will allow such stations to increase service in their communities. Read More
ENGINEERING & EAS
Detroit SMPTE Presents 'Failure Is An Option' as June Online Meeting
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) Detroit Section will host a free virtual meeting open to all members, guests and non-members on Tuesday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. The topic will be "Failure Is An Option" with speaker Jim Stenberg, Principal Engineer, RF Broadcast, American Tower Corporation. Read More
IN THE NEWS
Jayne Hodak Named News Director at WNEM
WNEM-TV (Saginaw) has announced today that longtime Michigan news producer Jayne Hodak will join the station as news director, effective June 21. Hodak has more than 25 years of broadcast news experience, including 16 years at WJRT-TV in the Flint/Saginaw/Bay City market, where she started as assistant news director before being promoted to news director. She has also worked at stations in Traverse City, Lansing and DetroitRead More
WKAR's Susi Elkins Will Speak About Next Gen TV at Wisconsin Broadcasters Clinic
WKAR Public Media Director of Broadcasting and General Manager Susi Elkins will be speaking at the 2021 Wisconsin Broadcasters Clinic, September 8 - 10 at the Madison Marriott West Hotel in Middleton, Wisc.. Elkins will be talking about "Public Service in a Next Gen TV World."  Granted the FCC experimental license in June 2018, WKAR launched the NextGen Media Innovation Lab to accelerate development of public service applications and NextGen business services for public broadcasters. Learn More
Roxanne Steele Will Co-Host WDRQ's Broadway in the Morning
Roxanne Steele has been added as co-host of Broadway In The Morning radio show on Cumulus Media's Detroit Country station WDRQ-FM, joining host Bill Broadway. Steele’s been a part-time host at the station since 2018. Before WDRQ, Steele worked middays on Audacy’s WYCD-FM and WDZH-FM in Detroit.  Read More
Tom Shannon, Gone at 82
By: Art Vuolo, Jr.
We’re not sure if there are enough radio DJs to fill the shoes of all of the great names who we are losing. Now, we have to say farewell to Buffalo’s first homegrown Top 40 radio star who also worked in Detroit and Denver. He segued several times between the Niagara Frontier and the Motor City gracing the airwaves of WKBW, WGR and Oldies 104 in Buffalo. In Detroit it was the monstrous CKLW, plus WXYZ and WTWR among others. Read More
Michigan Learning Channel Honored by State’s Top School Administrators
MAISA, the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, has named Detroit Public Television the winner of its 2021 MAISA Education Fellows Award for the station’s work to create and launch the Michigan Learning Channel (MLC). Read More
8 Community Newspapers Welcome WCMU Michigan News Group Interns
After a two-week training period at WCMU Public Media in Mount Pleasant, eight students began their first day at community newspapers across central and northern Michigan Tuesday (6/1). The Summer 2021 class of Michigan News Group interns are part of an innovative internship program that trains young journalists in their craft and enhances local journalism for various communities. Read More
TRAINING & EDUCATION
FREE WEBINAR: Don’t Be a Garden Gnome - Little Tips to Help Your Standups
with Joe Little, NBC7 San Diego

Thursday, June 17, 2021 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
NBC 7 San Diego Reporter and Director of Storytelling Joe Little is known for maximizing his time on camera when he’s live or recorded. He’ll share his tips to make your time on camera matter, move the story forward, and simply look better.
FREE WEBINAR: Addressing the Recruiting Challenges within a Changing Media Industry
with Ty Carver, Carver Talent

Thursday, June 17, 2021 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Effectively recruiting top media professionals in today’s changing media landscape may be the most difficult in the history of our industry. Acquisitions, downsizing, OTT/streaming, contracts/non-competes, people leaving the industry, and all during a global pandemic. This session will address these challenges and give real-world tips and tricks to help you hunt and hire top talent.
Ask LBS

It is common to run into difficult selling situations in the field.  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!
The BEST Program

The BEST Program is designed for sellers who are new to broadcast. Each weekday for 5 weeks, you will receive a special email containing 3 videos. In less than 30 minutes per day, your new sellers will have built up a solid foundation for a career in selling broadcast!
Sales Ideas

Sometimes we just need a creative boost or an idea to take to a prospect tomorrow – or even today! The list contains 99 of the hundreds you can find on the site! Need a creative boost or some fresh ideas? This section of LBS is loaded with them!
DIGITAL / SOCIAL / WEB
On Your Radio Station Website, Use Language That Puts Listeners First
By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies
Talent coaches frequently tell radio DJs to use words that put the listener first in their on-air breaks. For example, instead of saying, “Coming up, I've got your chance to win a thousand dollars,” a DJ should say, “Coming up, YOU could be a thousand dollars richer.” Read More