MAB Wraps Up Challenging Year at July Meeting
by Bart Brandmiller, Chairman, Michigan Association of Broadcasters - Clear Channel Radio - West Michigan
The Annual Meeting & Leadership Retreat is just around the corner and your MAB staff is hard at work preparing a comprehensive schedule full of timely sessions and excellent networking opportunities.

Scheduled for July 15 and 16 at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, this conference offers a shorter schedule and tighter focus than GLBC, providing an opportunity for station owners, managers and other broadcast executives to dive into issues, identify trends and troubleshoot problems. If you have not already registered, do so now!

You will not want to miss this excellent opportunity.
More

Celebrate with Broadcast Heroes - Attend Awards Banquet on July 15!
Join us as we celebrate with six broadcast heroes on Tuesday, July 15 at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville during the MAB's annual Lifetime Achievement Award and Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductions. Cost to attend is $60 per person through June 20.

Can't attend but want to congratulate them? Advertise in the Awards program and in the MAB's e-newsletter. Click here to download an advertising form.

The MAB recently announced six individuals in Michigan broadcasting history to be inducted into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The board of directors of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) endorsed the nominees May 21 at its board meeting in Lansing. Inductees will be formally recognized at ceremonies to be held July 15 at the MAB Annual Meeting & Leadership Retreat at Crystal Mountain Resort.
More

Sterling Heights Educated on DTV
On Thursday, June 12 MAB President Karole White and Director of Technology Larry Estlack, along with representatives from local stations, presented an educational program at the Sterling Heights Public Library. The presentation was a free service to the public, and approximately 60 Sterling Heights area residents attended the program.
More

WOOD TV's Craig James Announces Retirement
After 35 years of dealing with lake effect snow, Craig James is retiring. The chief meteorologist at WOOD TV8/Grand Rapids since 1985, Craig began his weather career as an observer for the United States Air Force.
More


WXMI Names Tracy Forner as New Co-Anchor
Grand Rapids, MI – WXMI has hired Tracy Forner as the co-anchor for FOX 17 Morning News. He will debut in that capacity on August 18th. Tracy will broadcast each morning with Sarah Brodhead, who joined the FOX 17 Morning News program in March 2008. Prior to coming to FOX 17, Tracy was the early morning co-anchor at WXIN FOX 59 in Indianapolis, IN for five years.
More


WMIC-AM 660 Celebrates 40 years On The Air Friday, June 27th
Radio station WMIC-AM (Sandusky) will observe it’s 40th anniversary on Friday, June 27th.

Owners, George E. Benko, President, and Robert P. Benko, Vice-President founded Sanilac Broadcasting in 1968. WMIC was originally at 1560 on the dial. General Manager Bob Armstrong has been with the station since 1971.
More

10 Habits Of Successful PDs/Part Two
by Gary Berkowitz, Berkowitz Broadcast Consulting
Have you ever wondered what makes one PD better than another? Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of program directors all over the US and Canada.

In May, we reviewed the common positive habits used by the most successful group of PD’s. This month is the second installment of two that will examine these strategies.
Download PDF here

Get On-Air Staff Motivated at Live Remotes
by Judy Crockett, Interactive Marketing and Communication
Selling a high-priced live remote broadcast can be a tough job for a sales person. There is a great deal of planning, positioning, and closing work that goes into a sales presentation. The sales person makes a lot of promises that need to be made good.

This is where your on-air person needs to play an important role. If the on-air person does not dress the job, bring the equipment, understand the promotion or simply wishes they were somewhere else, the entire public appearance goes down the drain - - along with future sales.
Download PDF here

MAB Addresses State Lawmakers on DTV
The Michigan Association of Broadcasters addressed the House Committee on Energy and Technology on Wednesday, June 4th to educate lawmakers on the impact the digital television conversion, and to suggest ways, they as community leaders may assist their constituents in their preparation.

Joining MAB’s President and CEO Karole White were General Managers Mike King of WILX-TV and Al Blinke of WNEM-TV and WNEM-AM. WKAR-TV’s Gary Blievernicht and Mike Winsky who works for WILX-TV were there to provide their expertise as engineers on the technical issue surrounding the transition.
More


MAB At Mackinac Island Policy Conference
The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) connected with many of Michigan’s key decision makers and community leaders during the annual Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Island Policy Conference. MAB’s President and CEO Karole White, accompanied by Government Relations Manager David Jessup, combed the island to discuss DTV conversion implications with top business and political leaders.
More

A Busy Week in Washington Is a Successful Week for MAB
It was a hectic week in our nation’s capitol for broadcasters and the issues they remain concerned about. From the National Association of Broadcaster’s Board of Directors meetings to Congressional hearings on DTV and Performance Taxes, Government Relations Manager, Dave Jessup’s first trip to DC representing the Michigan Association of Broadcasters was a busy one.
More

Recap: MAB Participates in Numerous FCC Proceedings
By Richard Zaragoza, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
The FCC has thrown at the radio and television broadcast industries multiple, concurrent proceedings proposing numerous, re-regulatory requirements. There follows a further updated listing of the FCC proceedings in which the State Broadcasters Associations have jointly participated since January 1, 2008.
Download PDF here

WOOD-TV Hosts Drive to Live Event
For the second year, Drive to Live was organized in response to a number of teen deaths on West Michigan roads. 24 Hour News 8 would like to thank all of the teens, parents and participants from the West Michigan community who again made Drive to Live a success.
More

U-M football took to the airwaves to benefit C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital
On Friday, June 13, The University of Michigan football team took over Ann Arbor Radio’s four stations, Sports Talk 1050 WTKA (1050 AM), W4 Country (102.9 FM), 107one (107.1 FM), and WLBY Ann Arbor’s Progressive Talk Radio (1290 AM) – to benefit U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital.
More

WIOG’s CMN Radiothon a Success!
WIOG-FM (Saginaw) raised $80,144 during the Hurley’s Annual Radiothon April 17-20, 2008 at Genesee Valley Center. The WIOG “Cares For Kids” Radiothon featured the Early Shift with Demas, Mandi, and Nate, raised the money for the Children’s Miracle Network at Hurley.
More

WDVD-FM Raises $122,658 For Kids
WDVD-FM’s (Detroit) Cares For Kids Radiothon raised more than $122,000 after a 13-hour broadcast on May 8th.
More

MAPB Selects Pioneer Award Winners
The Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters has announced its Pioneer Award winners for 2008. Ken Kolbe of WGVU Radio and Television along with The Telephone Pioneers are both recipents of honors this year.
More

WCMU to host Ready to Learn for Clare's 5th Annual Fun Day in the Park!
Join WCMU's Ready to Learn program at the upcoming 5th Annual Fun Day in the Park on June 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Shamrock Park in Clare. The day features activities that are free and open to the public for families with children ages 0-6 years.
More

WUOM celebrates 60 year Anniversary
WUOM (Ann Arbor) is celebrating their 60th anniversary. The station signed on July 5, 1948 as University of Michigan’s first radio station. WVGR (Grand Rapids) was added in December, 1961 and WFUM-FM (Flint) was added in August 1985, all operating under the Michigan Radio branding.
More

Help Further Education in Michigan
This summer, please consider devoting any unused inventory to help educate Michigan’s parents and grandparents about ways to save for college. With tuition rising every year, the State of Michigan offers various programs for parents to get ahead. The Michigan Education Trust, or MET, is the nation’s first prepaid tuition program. MET was established in 1988 with the mission of helping more kids afford college.
More

MABF Puts the "FUN" in Fundraising!
Join us in July for two great fundraising events and help support future broadcast education activities, scholarships and internship programs. Proceeds from participation and sponsorship at both events, goes to support the MAB Foundation and its mission...DON'T MISS OUT...sign up today and do your part to preserve Michigan broadcasting for future generations to enjoy!
More

MSU Football and Michigan Football Tickets Highlight Next MABF Online Auction…Bidding Opens June 30
Mark your calendars now to check out the MAB Foundation Online Auction set to open bidding on Monday, June 30. Items include: MSU Football Tickets, Michigan Football Tickets, Exclusive Passes to MSU’s Spartan Club (formerly the LaSalle Club) at Spartan Stadium for a September football game plus LIVE with MOJO in the Morning.
More