Issue No. 246 | March 19, 2021 | View Online
Next Week is 'BEA Week'

Join us each day throughout Awards Week to find out if your station is a big winner! A series of award videos will be posted at 9:30 am each day at to announce the Best and Merit winners. No registration is required. Visit BroadcastExcellenceAwards.com to preview the daily category release schedule.
Upcoming Events

March 24 | 12:00 p.m.
FREE Webinar: How to Easily Create Powerful Proposals That Your Clients Will Love! 

March 24 | 1:00 p.m.
EAS: Statewide Tornado Drill

March 24 | 3:00 p.m.
FREE Webinar: Staying on Top of Your Broadcast FCC EEO Obligations (Register Now)

March 30 | 3:00 p.m.
FREE Webinar: Strike While the Iron’s Hot…Go get the order NOW! (Register Now)
MAB Will No Longer Provide Uplink, Closed Captioning for COVID-19 Press Conferences
The MAB has been proud to partner with WLNS-TV (Lansing) in to provide the live coverage of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 press conferences to our broadcasters across the state for the past year. To be able to help you bring important and vital information to the residents of our great state has been a job we have taken very seriously. 

Since the pandemic began here in Michigan in March 2020, the MAB has provided the finances for satellite windows for more than 65 press conferences, as well as covering the cost of the live closed captioning, to help relieve the financial burden so many of our stations have experienced over that time.

Now that vaccines are becoming more readily available, the MAB has made the decision to no longer provide the satellite windows and live closed caption feeds. Today's 9:15 a.m. press conference was the final press conference in which those services were provided with the support of the MAB. Of course, if there is important information the Governor needs to get quickly to the citizens of our state, the MAB will help in any way. 
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Benson Calls for FOIA Expansion in New Transparency Agenda; House Unanimously Approves FOIA, LORA Bills
The Freedom of Information Act would be extended to both the governor and Legislature, under a new transparency agenda released Monday (3/15) by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. The plan also calls for elected officials would have to wait two years before working as a lobbyist, according to a report in Gongwer. Read More
FCC Issues Reminder On Sponsorship Identification Requirements – Including Obligation to Ensure Syndicated and Brokered Program Providers Comply With the Rules
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
Last week, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau issued an Advisory reminding broadcasters about their obligation to provide sponsorship identification information to their audiences whenever they receive something of value in exchange for airing any programming. The Enforcement Bureau’s advisory was quite concise, basically just reminding broadcasters of their sponsorship identification obligations. But the FCC also highlighted two other issues: Read More
ENGINEERING & EAS
Reminder: Statewide Tornado Drill This Coming Wednesday, March 24
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared March 21-27 to be Michigan's Severe Weather Awareness Week. Broadcasters and Emergency Management partners statewide are encouraging Michiganders to conduct a statewide tornado drill at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday, March 24. Read More
FCC Looks to Make EAS Updates as Recent Alerts Bring Added Urgency
Following false weather service alerts that went out this month across Kansas and Missouri warning of imminent danger from a tornado that did not exist, Federal Communications Commission Acting Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday (3/17) that a system needs to be created to track false emergency alerts so lessons can be learned from the errors, according to a report in InsideRadio. Read More
Protect Your Stations 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
WLNS Hosts Digital Town Hall on Mental Health
On March 17, Nexstar Broadcasting's WLNS-TV (Lansing) hosted a one-hour digital Townhall focused on Mental Health. The event was streamed live on the station's website as well as Facebook. Experts answered viewer questions and discussed a number of topics, and resources available for those struggling with mental illness. Read More
Art Vuolo’s Six Degrees of Separation!
In a note to the MAB, Art Vuolo wants to thank everyone who prayed for his recent successful hospitalization for, what turned out to be serious, gallbladder surgery. It should have been routine, but it wasn’t. Doctors called the condition of his gallbladder "rotten." The successful operation was March 9. However, while in Ascension Hospital in Novi, MI, there was a strange series of events that Art has shared with the MAB. Its a story one cannot make up. Read More
Beasley Media Group to Debut the Mason & Starr Morning Show in the Motor City
Beasley Media Group Detroit has announced that the Mason & Starr Morning Show will debut on Monday, March 22 on its WDMK-FM (KISS-FM) (Detroit). A legendary Motor City radio veteran, John Mason most recently served as the Midday Personality at KISS-FM. Angie Starr is best known for her work as night host and weekend air talent on the station. Read More
Brent Alberts Appointed Brand Manager at WMMQ
Industry veteran Brent Alberts has been appointed Brand Manager of Townsquare Media's WMMQ-FM (Lansing). Alberts has been Brand Manager of sister stations WJIM-AM and WVFN-AM and continues with those duties. Alberts will also host the station's afternoon drive slot as well as continuing to host the station's "All Request Saturday Night," which he has hosted since 2014. Read More
WDET Launches Campaign to Purchase New Transmitter
Wayne State University's WDET-FM (Detroit) has launched a campaign to raise the money required to replace its aging 21-year old main transmitter. The transmitter failed in January and since then the station has been operating in its 34-year old backup transmitter and notes that it is also not working properly. Read More
Station Sales: 1 FM, 2 Translators
Two applications for assignment of Michigan licenses were filed recently with the FCC. In the first application, filed on March 5, Central Michigan University is selling FM translator W236BU to Black Diamond Broadcast Holdings. Read More
TRAINING & EDUCATION
FREE WEBINAR: How to Easily Create Powerful Proposals That Your Clients Will Love!
with Paul Weyland, Local Broadcast Sales

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
The Weyland S.O.S. summary proposal template is bullet-proof and field-tested by broadcasters and advertisers. The steps to conducting meetings with your clients are logical and insightful providing you confidence on every call. Make this session so you’ll be equipped to add long-term dollars to your bottom line. You’ll be exposed to the how-to path on creating meaningful presentations through your client’s eyes. And that is why Paul’s formula will become a welcome surprise to your clients and prospects.
FREE WEBINER: Staying on Top of Your Broadcast FCC EEO Obligations with David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Even in this most unusual time, the FCC has continued to enforce its EEO rules, reviewing a station’s compliance both in connection with its license renewal and through periodic audits.  Stations still need to engage in wide dissemination of information about job openings and engage in specified outreach activities designed to educate their communities about broadcast employment and to train employees for advancement in their broadcast careers, even if they have no job openings.
FREE WEBINER: Strike While the Iron’s Hot…Go get the Order NOW! with Derron Steenbergen, Swagger Institute

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Urgent! Billions of dollars are flowing into Michigan. The pockets of many Michigan taxpayers will be full and the pent-up desire to shop for goods and services is being unleashed. You advertising clients may not have put this together. Be sure that they and you benefit from all this.

Opportunity is knocking and you must answer! You have a chance to instantly increase your sales if you will immediately begin to tell “the stimulus” story. Our clients are not aware of how much money is now available and you can be the one to help them get their share. This webinar will educate you on the story to tell and teach you how to deliver the message. For all broadcast sellers and managers.

Learn how to speak to you clients and future clients about the impact of the stimulus can have on their business. The average qualifying family of four will receive approximately $5,400.
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!
Take Advantage of the MAB Sales & Leadership Helpline
For the next three months we are offering this free service to help our members get their station back on track after the long COVID year. Call 972-522-8570 during business Monday through Friday. Your call will be answered in 24 hours. Take advantage of this great service while we are offering it.
MAB FOUNDATION
2021 Student Award Winners will be Announced Live Online April 7 & 8 at 3:00 p.m.

Tell your mama, your papa, your sister and your friends to tune in live at 3 p.m. on April 7 and 8 to see the 2021 Michigan Student Broadcast Awards winners announced live at StudentBroadcastAwards.com.
Membership Specialist
WDET (Detroit)
Posted: March 17, 2021

Account Executive
WJMN-TV (Marquette) 
Posted: March 8, 2021

Reporter
WILS-AM (Lansing) 
Posted: March 8, 2021

News Anchor
MPRN (Lansing) 
Posted: March 8, 2021

DIGITAL / SOCIAL / WEB
Is Your Radio Station Regularly Backing Up Its Website?
By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies
This is one of those blogposts that you don't need until you need it, and when you do need it, you really need it, and by then it's often too late. So when you've finished reading this, consider taking some proactive preventative action. You've been warned. Disasters happen: Read More