Issue No. 254 | May 14, 2021 | View Online
CAN YOU HEAR US?

How are we doing communicating with you? This is your chance to tell us what you think! Please take our annual 5-minute MAB Communications Survey. Your time and input is appreciated.
Upcoming Events

May 18 | 11:00 a.m.
Free Webinar: Engineering Webinar with Shane Toven (Learn More)

May 20 | 12:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: Covering Law Enforcement: Being Fair and Holding Accountability with Kevin Benz (Register Now)

May 21
Carl E. Lee Engineering Excellence Award Nomination Deadline. (Learn More)

June 1
Deadline for Michigan TV stations to file license renewals.

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)
CDC: Vaccinated Can Take Masks Off Indoors and Outdoors; MDHHS Updates Guidance
The Hill reported Thursday afternoon (5/13) that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidance that says if you are fully vaccinated — two weeks past the last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — you don't need to wear masks indoors or outside, and you don't need to maintain physical distance. Read More
LEGISLATIVE / REGULATORY UPDATES
Call on Congress Goes Virtual This Year
This past week, your MAB held its annual "Call on Congress" meetings with lawmakers from across Michigan. Due to the continued pandemic concerns, this year's Congressional meetings were held virtually. Read More
Senator Looks to Add Local Journalism Tax Breaks, Grants to Infrastructure Proposals
Local journalism needs to be part of President Biden’s call for investment in national infrastructure, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) told the NAB State Leadership Conference this week. According to a report in InsideRadio, she plans to introduce legislation that would make as much as $2.3 billion in tax credits and grants available over the next two to three years to help radio, television and newspaper newsrooms.. Read More
The First Amendment’s Role in Broadcast and Online Regulation
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
Everyone knows that a fundamental principle of American democracy is the First Amendment – guaranteeing many freedoms to US citizens including freedom of the press and freedom of speech. It is one of those concepts that underlies our society, but is often mentioned only in passing, and rarely considered in practice. Few people – even broadcasters and other media companies – have cause to think about First Amendment principles in their day-to-day operations. The concepts embodied by the First Amendment are almost a given – except when they are not. Read More
ENGINEERING & EAS
Nominations Due May 21 for the 2021 Carl E. Lee Award
Candidates must have been an employee, officer, or owner of any company, subsidiary or division whose primary business is broadcasting, or is directly in support of radio or television stations in Michigan. The nomination deadline is May 21. The Carl E. Lee Award is presented virtually during the MAB Summer Conference. Click here to learn more and submit your nomination.
Protect Your Station from Random FCC Inspections
You say they don't do that anymore! Not true, they do. It's easier than ever before. With so much of our business activities available in our public file and on electronic forms at the FCC, they can easily inspect a station without ever coming to your door. Additionally they still investigate complaints. Read More
IN THE NEWS
From Memphis to Lansing: Amicia Ramsey Comes to WILX
Gray Television's WILX-TV (Lansing) has announced that award-winning journalist Amicia Ramsey is joining the station to co-host its morning newscast. Ramsey will join Mallory Anderson at the News 10 Today anchor desk beginning May 17. Read More
West Michigan Broadcast Veteran Ed Ver Schure Passes
The MAB has learned that veteran broadcaster Ed Ver Schure has died. He was 76. He was born on March 25, 1945 in Grand Haven. Ver Schure started his career in 1963 at WHTC-AM (Holland), moving in 1971 to WGRD (Grand Rapids) and then to WLAV (Grand Rapids) in 1972. This was followed by a 33-year stint at WZZM-TV (Grand Rapids) as a booth announcer, weather announcer, and late-night anchor. Read More
Michigan Radio, WDET, WCMU, WMUK, WOOD and WXYZ Win Regional Murrow Awards
The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has announced the recipients of the 2021 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. Six Michigan broadcasters won a total of 11 awards in Region 7, which is shared with Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism. Read More
Beasley Hosts Zoom Event to Get Detroit Vaccinated
On May 13, Beasley Media Group (Detroit) hosted a Zoom meeting with community leaders to discuss ways to encourage everybody in Metro Detroit to Get Vaccinated in the next installment of Beasley's Solutions Not Slogans campaign. Read More
NEXTGEN TV Launched on 6 Grand Rapids Stations
The future of television arrived May 6 in Grand Rapids. Six leading local television stations in Grand Rapids, including WOTV (ABC), WWMT (CBS), WOOD-TV (NBC), WXMI (FOX), WXSP-CD and WOLP-CD (MyNet), became the latest in the nation to begin broadcasting with NEXTGEN TV, a revolutionary new digital broadcast technology. Read More
TRAINING & EDUCATION
FREE WEBINAR: Covering Law Enforcement:
Being Fair and Holding Accountability
with Kevin Benz, KevinBenz.News

Thursday, May 20, 2021 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Law Enforcement dominates the day-to-day work of journalists and we must remember there is no more powerful government agency in the daily life of our audience. It is journalism’s highest obligation to hold law enforcement accountable for the enormous power society gives them. We must be fair. We must be courageous. We must be independent.
Ask LBS

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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!
FREE CALL: Sales & Leadership Helpline
We are offering this limited time free service to help our members get their station back on track after the long COVID year. Call 972-522-8570 during business hours Monday through Friday. Your call will be answered in 24 hours. Take advantage of this great service while we are offering it.