Issue #203  |  July 10, 2020   |   View online
Just Announced:  Senator Gary Peters to Address  Broadcasters with Webinar 
When:  Monday, July 13 at 12 noon

U.S. Senator Gary Peters will hold a webinar for MAB members about recent developments on COVID-19.  This is presented as part of series of webinars with state lawmakers and policy influencers and hosted by MAB's lobbyist firm, Kelley-Cawthorne. 

The webinar can be accessed at that time by clicking here

No registration required, but Kelley-Cawthorn asks if you view the webinar to please let them know by email so they can keep a head count for the Senator:  nlove@kelley-cawthorne.com

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.
Highlights In This Issue:
More news below!

MAB Annual Business Meeting and Election of Directors Will Be Online on August 11
The Michigan Association of Broadcasters will hold its Annual Business Meeting and election of directors via Zoom this year. Save the Date: Tuesday August 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Stay tuned for information about our special guest. This meeting is free for MAB members to attend. Click Here to register to participate. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
$15,000 FCC Fine Proposed for Underwriting Announcements that Were Too Commercial
By: David Oxenford, 
Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP

When do noncommercial stations stray from permissible acknowledgment of those local businesses that provide funding for its operations to impermissible commercials?  That question was addressed in a Notice of Apparent Liability issued by the FCC's Enforcement Bureau on Thursday (7/2), proposing a $15,000 fine for a low power FM station whose underwriting announcements were deemed too commercial.  The decision, which includes examples of the announcements deemed problematic, is must-reading for all noncommercial licensees who want to avoid fines from the FCC in connection with their underwriting acknowledgements for commercial entities..  Read More

Reminder: July 16 Deadline for C-Band Reimbursement
MAB Washington counsel David Oxenford sends a reminder that any radio or TV station that has a C-Band Earth Station needs to be aware of an FCC notice that was released this week. It lists the earth stations that are eligible for reimbursement for their expenses as the C-Band is compressed to allow portions to be used for 5G Wireless. To make sure that they do not have any issues qualifying for reimbursement of their expenses, stations need to review the FCC public notice, and any corrections or omissions need to be filed with the FCC by next Thursday, July 16.  Read More

Judge Dismisses GOP Challenge To State Redistricting Commission
A challenge against Michigan's new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission was dismissed by a federal judge on Monday (7/7), according to report in Gongwer.  Read More

MAB Provides Campaign Contact Information for 2020 Elections
The MAB and Kelley Cawthorne, MAB's Legislative firm are pleased to provide campaign information on the candidates up for election November 2020 online at MichMab.com.  Read More

Census Bureau Targets Rural & Hard to Reach In Media Buys
Last week, the National Association of Broadcasters sent us information regarding an RFP providing additional funding for the 2020 Census. Due to the extended time frame, and low response rates, new funding is available to help target market the census, especially in the more rural areas of our state. An additional $65 Million in paid advertising is now available and the RFP is encouraging that some of that funding be used to reach those target audiences through radio advertising.   Read More



ENGINEERING & EAS
ABIP 11Limited 2020 ABIP Openings Still Available
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
Townsquare Battle Creek Raises $35,750 for Homeless Shelter
On Friday, June 26, Townsquare Media's WBCK-FM and WBXX-FM (Battle Creek) presented their 14th Annual Roofsit, raising money to benefit the Haven of Rest's Inasmuch House, Calhoun County's only shelter for homeless families. The event is usually held over two days. This year it was one.  Personalities from both stations were live for 12 hours beginning at 6 a.m., not on the roof this year, but rather on the patio next to Sunshine's service department.  Read More

McKibbin Media Group Goes Digital with COVID-19 Content
McKibbin Media Group's Ashley Smith recently shared with the MAB the digital efforts of the company's Jackson radio stations during the COVID-19 pandemic.  These efforts include: COVID-19 Information Center, which features a listing of "still open" and recently reopened businesses and restaurants at no charge and provides latest news coverage from the state and local levels.  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.
WDET Debuts New Broadcast/Podcast Series: Essential Cooking
WDET-FM 101.9's Ann Delisi, host of Essential Music, and award-winning chef James Rigato of Hazel Park's Mabel Gray restaurant formed a friendship several years ago over their mutual love of food and music. They have since collaborated on cooking events and talked about music and food on WDET's airwaves. The duo's latest joint venture - a broadcast and podcast series called Essential Cooking. Read More

iHeartMedia Launches BIN: Black Information Network on WDFN
On June 30, iHeartMedia launched the nationwide Black Information Network (BIN) and flipped all-sports WDFN-AM (Detroit) to the new network. BIN is the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service dedicated to providing an objective, accurate and trusted source of continual news coverage with a Black voice and perspective.  Read More

CBS Detroit Television Stations Hold Meal-A-Thon for Forgotten Harvest
On June 30 and again on July 4, CBS Television's WWJ-TV and WKBD-TV teamed up with Forgotten Harvest to air "Feeding Detroit: A Motor City Meal-A-Thon."  The event aired on both stations June 30 from 7 to 8 p.m. and again on WKBD-TV July 4 from 8 to 9 p.m. The event was also streamed live on CBSDetroit.com and CW50Detroit.com.  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.
F rom Influence to Impact: Putting More Political Ad Dollars On Your Books
with Mark Levy, Revenue Development Resources

Wednesday, July 15 | 12:10 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. 

With this being an election year, everyone is looking for the "Silver Bullets" to help them write more political ad dollars, so please join your MAB and yours truly, Mark Levy for "From Influence to Impact: Putting More Political Ad Dollars on Your Books" on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 12:10 PM Eastern. While we have to speak about them briefly, know that this is NOT a rules and regulations webinar: it is about writing more political ad dollars now. Learn More and Register Now

Digital and Social Media Issues
with David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP

Thursday, July 16, 2020 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

As broadcasters seek to find ways to monetize their digital offering and social media followers, legal issues arise. A broadcaster trying to sell advertising and conduct sponsored promotions on its digital and social platforms needs to worry about legal issues that arise not just from the FCC, but also issues from the FTC and other government agencies, as well as from state authorities. Join David Oxenford for a discussion of how to stay out of legal troubles in connection with your online advertising and promotions. Register Now

It's Not Just Selling More Digital ... It's Understanding How to Sell Against it
with Derron Steenbergen, Swagger Institute

Thursday, July 16, 2020 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

We certainly live in a digital world. Most media companies are striving to maximize total revenue and recognize one way to do so is by selling more digital. Here's the problem, many salespeople across the country know more about selling their website than selling against the social media that clients "think" works. It's time the sellers in our industry understood the message our clients need to hear. We definitely need to sell more of it but selling against properly could make more of an impact on your bottom line. Register Now

Webinar: What to Say, Do, and Avoid
with Your Car Dealers Today!
with John Tkac, LBS Auto Expert and Former Auto Dealer 

Tuesday, July 14 | 12:00 p.m.

Local auto dealers have to monitor their discretionary spending even more than ever. The strength of broadcast provides the avenue for building traffic one car buyer at a time. We'll review what is on the minds of new car franchises. The current environment has changed almost everything about the car buying and leasing process and how dealers interact with consumers. There have been unexpected offshoots of this health crisis; for instance, more people want to have their own wheels instead of using car-sharing or taxi/uber/lyft/bus services to get around. Where are the opportunities for you with your dealers? Be a part of this valuable webinar to find out. There will be a live question and answer session for practical applications. Register Now

Reopening Doors
LBS Creative Expert, Tim Burt, answers LIVE broadcaster questions! In this session:
  • How do you get a client that is new to advertising and wants to advertise but is dragging their feet to commit?
  • How can I address a retailer who is stuck on "nobody is leaving their home to shop"? They are so negative and can't get beyond this.
  • One of my clients has an agency that is telling her not to advertise now. How should I respond?
  • How do you tackle those businesses that are "so busy we don't need to advertise"?
  • Any ideas on how to make cold calls with many businesses just reopening?

The MAB is excited to share that Local Broadcast Sales (LBS) is available free to members in 2020.
DIGITAL / SOCIAL / WEB
How to Use Your Radio Station's Blog to Spotlight Local Businesses and Artists During the Pandemic
By: Seth Resler,
Jacobs Media Strategies

As the pandemic continues to stretch on, radio stations are trying to find the proper balance between addressing it without deviating from their usual programming. One way forward is to shine a spotlight on local businesses and artists in their time of need by publishing interviews with them on your website. Here's how you can do it:   Read More

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CALENDAR
July 14 | 12:00 p.m.
Free LBS Webinar: "What to Say, Do, and Avoid with Your Car Dealers Today!" with John Tkac (Learn More)

July 15 | 12:10 p.m.
Free Webinar: "From Influence to Impact: Putting More Political Ad Dollars On Your Books" with Mark Levy (Learn More)

July 16 | 1 p.m.
Free Webinar: "Digital and Social Media Issues" with David Oxenford (Learn More)

July 16 | 3 p.m.
Free Webinar: "It's not just selling more digital ... it's understanding how to sell against it" with Derron Steenbergen. (Learn More)

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

Account Executive
WRSR-FM (Flint)
Posted: July 8, 2020

Morning Show Co-Host
WSAE-FM (Spring Arbor)
Posted, June 30, 2020

Maintenance Technician
WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids)
Posted: June 26, 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

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Dena Blair
Dan Boers
Julie Brinks
Kristin Burns

Scott Clow
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Colleen Grant
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John E. Fetzer Memorial Trust
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