Issue No. 302 | May 13, 2022 | View Online
Upcoming Events/Dates
May 19 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Free Webinar: "Understanding and Mitigating Unconscious Bias in Our Everyday Lives" with Binnu Palta Hill.

May 25 | 12:00 p.m. Eastern
Free Webinar: "What We Can Learn From Ad Agencies About Selling and Retaining Long-Term Local Direct Business" with Paul Wetland.

June 7-9 | ATSC Next Gen Broadcast Conference (Detroit)

August 8-9 | MAB Summer Advocacy Conference, Crystal Mountain Resort (Details)
A New Era for Your MAB!
(L-R) Tim Feagan, Karole L. White, Sam Kelmet
The MAB held an open house for our new office downtown Lansing this past Thursday (5/12) and officially unveiled its new name, the Karole L. White Great Lakes Media Center, in honor of former MAB President Karole White who recently retired after 36 years.

"It's been a long-time goal of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters to have a presence in the state capital where broadcasters and lawmakers alike could use a building for meetings, for trainings, and for receptions," said White. "We are finally here."

Karole and her family participated in the unveiling along with Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Tim Faegan of iHeart Media who served as the building committee chair, and current MAB President Sam Klemet.

"Karole's passion for MAB members is not only genuine, it's her life's work and the success of the MAB - which is one of the most successful state broadcasters associations in the country - is as direct result of her commitment to the industry," said Klemet. "The work being done in this building each and every day has a mission of helping local TV and radio stations in Michigan do their jobs to the best of their ability and provide resources so they can thrive in an industry that is evolving quickly. We are blessed to have this type of facility that has been invaluable for collaboration and conversations about innovation."

"We are really proud to be the home of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters," said Mayor Schor. "[Broadcasters] are such an important piece of what goes on in our city and what goes on across the state."

A special thank you to all of the MAB building committee members who worked so diligently over the past several years to bring the facility to life.

Thank you to

·    Ed Fernandez of EW Scripps
·    Larry Smith of Liggett Communications
·    Duane Alverson of MacDonald Broadcasting Company
·    Tom Mogush of Taconite Broadcasting
·    Mike King of Gray Television
·    Ross Biderman and Chris Warren of Midwestern Broadcasting Company
·    Jill Saarella formerly of WPBN-TV
·    Julie Koehn of Lenawee Broadcasting
·    Mario Iacobelle of Heritage Broadcasting Company of Michigan
·    Debbie Kenyon of Audacy Detroit
·    Peter Tanz of Midwest Communications
·    Gary Baxter of WSYM Fox 47, an EW Scripps station
·    Tim Feagan of iHeart Media Grand Rapids who Chaired the committee.  
Michigan Broadcasters Visit Lawmakers at State Capitol
Michigan broadcasters shared our impact with lawmakers, Thursday (5/12), during the MAB's annual Capitol Day that included nearly two dozen broadcasters meeting in Lansing with state legislators and their staff.

The primary issue was the importance of Michigan improving its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) access. The state ranks among the worst in the nation for government transparency and broadcasters want to see that improved so the public has better access to information.

Broadcasters look forward to working with lawmakers on FOIA and other issues in an effort to ensure Michiganders are educated and informed.

Michigan TV and Radio station representatives also shared the community initiatives at their station over the past two years during the pandemic. Efforts include providing free advertising for small, local businesses, providing details on how and where to get vaccinated, and being a constant source of local news, information, and safety.

The MAB appreciates all of our members and stations who came out to tell the story about how broadcasters regularly make a difference in the communities they serve.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! 

Join us as the MAB gathers together for the first time since 2020 at the #MABsummer Advocacy Conference, Annual Business Meeting, and Awards Reception & Banquet August 8 & 9 at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville.

View the schedule and learn more at MABSummer.com
LEGISLATIVE / REGULATORY UPDATES
Landowners Warned of Potential Liability of Up to $2,000,000 for Pirate Radio Operations on Their Property
The FCC (5/4/22) made public four letters to landowners warning them that there were unlicensed FM radio operations coming from their properties and warning that, if the transmissions continued past the 10-business day response period, the landowners could be held liable for penalties up to $2,000,000 for the unlicensed operations coming from their properties. Read More
SCHOLARSHIPS
Donate to the Jamie McKibbin Memorial Scholarship Fund
Following the passing of McKibbin Media Group owner and founder Jamie McKibbin in November of 2020, the MAB Foundation created the Jamie McKibbin Memorial Scholarship Fund in his honor, with the goal of providing an academic scholarship to a student showing great interest in radio or television broadcasting in Michigan.

To donate to the fund, CLICK HERE. Donations will qualify for a tax deduction based on IRS rules and regulation
IN THE NEWS
SPJ Detroit Announces Excellence in Journalism Awards
The Detroit Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists handed out its Excellence in Journalism Awards at a banquet last Thursday (5/6) in Troy. First place winners in broadcast included mix of commercial and non-commercial stations: Read More
Tom Millikan Upped To Assistant Brand Manager At WXYT-FM
Audacy Detroit has announced the promotion of Tom Millikan to Assistant Brand Manager of 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM). Millikan will continue in his role as executive producer of the station’s “The Morning Show with Stoney and Jansen.” Read More
WLUC's Scott Zerbel Announces Retirement!
Veteran WLUC-TV (Marquette) (TV6) broadcaster Scott Zerbel has announced his pending retirement after 38 years at the station. TV6 Vice President and General Manager Rick Rhoades says Zerbel will be hard to replace. “Scott brings a wealth knowledge and experience with him to work every day. His career in unique in broadcasting."
WKAR's Elkins Taking Her Passion for Community Building to MSUFCU
This past week, MSU Today's Russ White sat down with Susie Elkins, who recently announced her resignation as General Manager of WKAR Public Media and Director of Broadcasting at MSU. White talked to Elkins about some key accomplishments during her tenure at the station as well as her own. Read More
Anthony "Tony" L. Bruscato: 1953-2022
The MAB is sad to pass word that Tony Bruscato, long-time Plymouth Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director passed May 6 at age 68. Bruscato began his career in radio after graduating from Indiana University with a BA in Broadcasting. His career began in Iowa and later to Port Huron, Michigan. Read More
WDET Partners with StoryCorps to Foster Connection Across America’s Political Divides
WDET is one of six public radio stations throughout the country selected to receive training and production assistance to collaborate on StoryCorps’ One Small Step initiative, which facilitates conversation and connection between those of opposing viewpoints. Read More
SALES TRAINING
FREE LBS Sales Webinar
"What We Can Learn From Ad Agencies About Selling and Retaining Long-Term Local Direct Business"

Wednesday, May 25 | 12:00 p.m. Eastern

Presented by: Paul Weyland

Over the decades, we in Broadcast Media have observed that many advertising agencies have become needier and greedier. We can’t escape the undeniable fact that they have a knack for winning and retaining multi-year relationships with their clients.

In this special presentation, we’ll explore some of the closing tactics agencies use to convince their clients to commit to these long-term arrangements and how we can use those same techniques to keep local direct clients local…and direct, for multiple years. His presentation will entertain you, and these principles will compliment your current selling efforts.
MAB LBS Member Resources
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. They will give 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
How to Invite Potential Advertisers to Schedule a Meeting With Your Radio Station’s Sales Team
By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies
The “Advertise With Us” page on a radio station's website is arguably the most valuable page on the entire site. After all, people navigate to this page when they are interested in spending money. At this point, the sale is yours to lose. Yet I see many radio stations that have clearly invested very little thought into their “Advertise With Us” page. Read More
Have news to share? Send your press releases to newsletter editor Dan Kelley: dkelley@michmab.com
Michigan Association of Broadcasters | 1-800-YOUR-MAB | MichMAB.com