Michigan Association of Broadcasters

Hosted by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, in cooperation with the
Society of Broadcast Engineers, Chapter 91, and the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters.

GLBC Sessions & Speakers

Monday, March 10

8:00am – 6:00pm – Registration Open

8:00am – 6:00pm – Exhibit Hall Set-Up

8:00am – 5:00pm – Sessions

“A Better Watchdog” (8:00am- 5:00pm)
David Donald, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.
This full day workshop, presented by MPRN, is intended to help journalists at small- to medium-sized news organizations, and those in bureaus of larger organizations, to learn the investigative skills that keep government and business accountable and to produce enterprising and informative stories. Critical among the skills is the art of finding and cultivating sources, making effective use of the Internet for investigations, following the money trail in elections, and much more. Program materials include some of the best IRE tipsheets on beat coverage!

“VSB Measurement Seminar” (8:00am- 5:00pm)
Gary Sgrignoli, Meintel, Sgrignoli & Wallace
This full-day seminar will prepare you for the upcoming DTV transition by presenting the ATSC’s digital television (DTV) vestigial sideband (VSB) transmission system measurement methodologies. Attendance at this seminar earns one SBE credit towards re-certification. An in-depth 800-page seminar notebook is required and will be available to all attendees at a cost of $50 per book. Register by February 21 and receive this book for FREE!

“HD Radio Multicasting and Measurements” (9:00am-12:00pm)
Kyle Evans, Project Manager, NPR Labs
Steve Hasskamp, Engineer, Continental Electronics
Gary Liebisch, Nautel
This half-day seminar will provide a look at early and established successes of HD Radio broadcasting as a road map for broadcasters including multicasting.

Gary Liebish of Nautel will lead off the discussion on upgrades to HD. Stations implementing HD Radio today are curious as to what the upgrade path options might be, and how they might best protect their current equipment investments. This presentation will examine the most commonly used digital combining methods to illustrate how the optimum HD solution could shift depending on station power and current constraints - plus how power output is determined in a digital transmitter, and how that would change with an elevated analog to digital signal ratio.

To improve digital signal penetration, some experiments have been conducted with analog to digital signal ratios at an elevated -10 dB, although it is still too early to predict when or whether the digital standard may be modified to accommodate such operation.

Kyle Evans of NPR Labs will be speaking about the team's research and development projects focusing on efforts related to accessibility, HD radio reading services, HD coverage and mapping, and HD PAD/PSD creation and distribution.

Steve Hasskamp will review planning considerations for upgrading to HD Radio. With the time demands on today’s broadcast engineer, a properly planned transmitter site will result in far less downtime, lower operating cost and better overall performance. Mr. Hasskamp will outline the numerous factors that should be considered to “do it right”, whether it’s a new site, or upgrading an existing site to accommodate HD radio

“HD Radio Station Tour” (1:00pm- 5:00pm)
Radio broadcasters will take a half-day field trip (PM) to visit Grand Rapids area radio stations that are successfully broadcasting HD.

5:00pm – 7:00pm – Exhibits open (paid attendees only)

Exhibit Hall Preview Dinner and Casino Night
Tour the latest in services and equipment before everyone else and enjoy Casino Night, GLBC style! Join us for food, networking and fun in the Exhibit Hall.

7:00pm – 9:00pm

Beer and Bull
Join attendees, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors after dinner for beer and a little bull. This year’s Beer & Bull will be at GP Sports in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

Tuesday, March 11

8:00am – 8:30am – Coffee and Rolls in Exhibit Halll

8:00am – 5:00pm – Exhibit Hall Open

8:30am – 9:30am – Keynote Address

“The Future of Michigan’s Economy: A Dialog with Michigan Industry Sector Giants”
Celebrating Michigan has never been more important than it is now. Join high-profile Michigan-based business leaders from commerce, tourism, banking, technology and economic development as we explore why Michigan is a logical destination for business and citizens alike. Don’t miss this intriguing and informational panel.

Confirmed speakers include: Tim Skubick, Capital Correspondent (moderator); Larry Patrick, Managing Partner of Patrick Communications; James Herbert, Chairman and CEO of Neogen Corporation; Mitchell Stapley, Director of Fixed Income Strategy at Fifth Third Bank; James Epolito, President and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; John Brown, Vice President of Government Relations at Jackson National Life Insurance Co; and Matthew Van Vranken, Executive Vice President, Spectrum Health and President of Spectrum Health Grand Rapids .

9:30am – 10:45am – Exhibit Hall Break & Educational Kiosks

10:45am - 11:45am – Sessions

“The Next Generation of Station Branding- Part One”
Karen Vigurs-Stack, 602 Communications
This two-part session will feature examples on branding campaigns that are changing the way stations are positioned. You’ll see some innovative and sophisticated positions that cast off the tired institutional campaigns of the last 20 years.

"Capturing the Experience: Writing and Sound That Take You There"
Howard Berkes, Rural Affairs Correspondent, National Public Radio
We work in an increasingly competitive environment, in which news consumers have plenty of alternatives to listening to us. But we also possess three of the most powerful storytelling tools: the written word; the human voice; and ambient sound. Learn how to combine them in compelling ways so that your stories attract and hold listeners, and keep them coming back for more.

“Compelling Stories on a Daily Deadline”
Boyd Huppert & Jonathan Malat, Reporter/Photographer Team, KARE, Minneapolis
“If I only had more time!” Who hasn’t expressed that frustration while shooting or writing a story under deadline? This session will explore techniques that will help you work not only more efficiently, but in a way that will produce stories viewers will remember long after the newscast ends.

"60 In 60: 60 Web Ideas in 60 Minutes"
Fred Jacobs and Tim Davis, Jacobs Media
Chris Brunt, Greater Media Detroit

Fred Jacobs and Tim Davis of Jacobs Media, and Chris Brunt of Greater Media Detroit will spend 60 minutes covering 60 unique and compelling ideas for ways to enhance your website, database marketing programs, add new dimensions to on-air programming, and increase digital revenue. It will be fast paced, but there's certain to be ideas for everybody in the room to leave with and implement right away.

“Analog TV Transmission: The End Is Near”
John F.X. Browne PE, John F.X. Browne & Associates
The turn off of analog television: it’s right around the corner. In what is nothing short of a momentous technical change and challenge for the U.S., analog TV transmission will cease in early 2009. The road to digital is apt to have yet a few more unexpected bumps before that occurs. As he has done so well for us in the past, nationally known broadcast consultant, John F. X. Browne will present his up-to-the-minute assessment of all relevant FCC and governmental actions (and inactions), technical logistic problems, and critical information you will need to know to navigate your station’s final course to digital transition.

“Designing For Reliability in HD Radio™ Systems” (10:45am-11:15am)
Timothy Anderson, FM/Digital Radio Product Line Manager,
Harris Broadcast Division, Mason, Ohio
Advanced Applications Services and the third generation architecture of HD Radio brings with it many challenges to reliably passing host FM audio and HD radio streams through station’s local area network infrastructure and bandwidth limited STLs. This presentation explores the HD Radio network traffic structure and networking requirements as well as the common causes of dropouts and time alignments slippage in HD radio systems. This presentation will aid station engineering personnel in the successful connection, integration and synchronization of the various components of an HD Radio installation.

“AM Directional Pattern Disruption by Cellular & Wireless Structures and The Simplification of AM Field Strength Measurements through MOM Analysis.” (11:15am-11:45am)
Raymond C. Benedict CPBE, CBS Radio
Ray Benedict will share first hand expertise from his work as leader with the AM Coalition, to the probable parts 17 and 73 revisions of the FCC rules dealing with harmonization of requirements for disruptions to an AM signal caused by construction and modification of cell and wireless structures in proximity to an AM antenna. He will also be speaking on the efforts being made to simplify and modernize AM field measurements and design requirements utilizing the principles of MOM (Methods of Moments Analysis).

Come and hear the latest updates in the world of radio broadcasting with Radio Guide’s Barry Mishkind.

Getting your radio station’s signal from here to there has evolved from using expensive equalized phone lines to radio-based STLs now to internet based STLs. The Energy-Onix Telelink III uses any Ethernet wired connection or spread spectrum wireless path to deliver full fidelity stereo audio reliably, with ultra low distortion and noise specs. Terminals can be configured for one-way or duplex operation if desired.

“Lights, Camera, Action!”
Louis Schaefer, IC Images
Lighting and camera angles can enhance or ruin a successful production. Learn important tips on producing the best productions.

“Business Strategist, Not Media Rep”
Charles Mefford, Lighthouse Consultants
Separate yourself from the hundreds of Media Reps that are calling on most of the same clients you are. Learn the three steps to building a solid business strategy and a strategy-based advertising campaign for any business owner.

“Careers in Sports Broadcasting”
Ever wanted to report from the sidelines of a sporting event? This panel of sports broadcasters will give you information on what to expect, how to prepare and what you need to do to become successful in sports broadcasting.

11:45am – 1:00pm

Main Luncheon and Awards Presentation
Join us for lunch as we honor the winners of the Michigan High School and College Broadcast Awards program as well as the 2008 Scholarship recipients presented by the MAB Foundation.

1:00pm – 4:00pm – MABF Career Fair

1:00pm – 2:15pm – Exhibit Hall Break & Educational Kiosks

1:00pm - 5:00pm - Special Session

“Producing for Public Television” (1-3pm)
Lawrence M. Miller, Schwartz, Woods and Miller
This session will provide for independent producers a section-by-section review of a new proposed independent programmer’s agreement with the Michigan public television stations and related procedures for getting your programs on public broadcasting stations. It will examine the new role of the MAPB and Executive Director Karole White and her staff in this process. Larry Miller will cover legal aspects of underwriting, the FCC’s noncommercialism standards, rights clearances, and candidate appearance restrictions.

"Underwriting Credits" (3-5pm)
Lawrence M. Miller, Schwartz, Woods and Miller
This session will provide for public television station staff a review of the FCC’s underwriting standards and enforcement procedures. It will feature review and commentary on sample credits and a forum for discussion among those attending of how stations address underwriting content.

2:15pm – 3:15pm – Sessions

“Marketing You”
Whether you are preparing yourself for your first job in broadcasting or planning to move to a different job, this panel discussion and workshop will help you in preparing your resume, demos and how to dress for that interview. Use this session to best prepare yourself for the Career Fair taking place before and after this session!

“The Next Generation of Station Branding- Part Two”
Karen Vigurs-Stack, 602 Communications
This two-part session will feature examples on branding campaigns that are changing the way stations are positioned. You’ll see some innovative and sophisticated positions that cast off the tired institutional campaigns of the last 20 years.

“The Manager as COACH”
Charles Mefford, Lighthouse Consultants
Sales manager will learn about how to attract the best players and get them onto the field and up to speed QUICKLY! This hour of pure management power shows you how to find the “eagles”, and coach them effectively to get them flying FAST.

“How to Become a Million Dollar Rep- Part One”
Michael Guld, The Guld Resource Group
Trying to sell your inventory?---Help your customers sell theirs! Trying to make your budgets?---Help your customers make theirs! Your clients don’t really care if you make your sales goals. They don’t really care about your sales pieces. They don’t really care about what you know until they know you care about what’s most important to them…the growth of their business. It’s not about assumed closes or the package of the week, its all about providing value and ROI on your client’s marketing investment.

As a former Account Executive, Sales Manager, General Manager and radio station owner, Michael Guld knows first-hand what its like to be in the streets. Michael Guld’s training will show you how to develop the right sales perspective, set and achieve your goals, prospect for gold, develop your prospects into clients, think like a marketer, gather information on your clients, set ROI goals and position your client’s business for success!

“Storytelling is a Team Sport”
Boyd Huppert & Jonathan Malat, Reporter/Photographer Team, KARE, Minneapolis
Good things happen when reporters and photographers learn to “dance” together. From interviews to gathering sound to lighting, this session will feature “live” camera demonstrations that will help make you a better teammate to your reporter or photographer.

Investigative Reporting: What it Takes to Uncover Secrets

M.L. Elrick of The Detroit Free Press has been holding public officials accountable in the paper and on the air for more than 15 years. Elrick will tell what it takes to uncover secrets like Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's text messages that contradicted his sworn testimony about an affair with his chief-of-staff, and how the mayor hid the lease for his wife's Lincoln Navigator inside the police budget.

As an investigative reporter on WDIV's Rescue 4 Undercover team in Detroit, Elrick exposed a judge who left lawyers and their clients in limbo while she hit the golf links -- giving new meaning to the phrase "court recess." He showed how the mayor and his relatives on the city payroll lied on their resumes. And he exposed the criminal records of politicians in Detroit and Lansing.

Elrick says investigative reporting requires a passion for the job, curiosity, doggedness, and the occasional lucky break. He is a two-time Michigan Emmy winner and his print work has won local, state and national investigative reporting awards.

“DTV and FCC Update”
David Silverman, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
2007 & 2008 have been filled with new rules from the FCC and major changes in the landscape of the broadcasting industry. During this session David Silverman from MAB’s Washington DC legal firm will give station managers the latest updates on the changes at the FCC impacting both Radio and Television, as well as give managers insights into the legal issues with the DTV transition.

“Speaking with Authority”
Arthur Joseph
Do you dread speaking in front of a crowd? Nationally renowned voice coach, Arthur Joseph, will provide key tips to overcoming this fear. Learn the best way to present yourself, maximize the power of your voice and increase confidence.

“60 Tips in 60 Minutes (Final Cut Pro)”
Steve Julin, Media Power
This unique workshop will cover 60 power tips to take your editing levels to the next level. Steve Julin (an Apple Certified Instructor) will show you some of his best used tips and tricks including how to quickly navigate around Final Cut Pro’s interface, how to edit more productively and how to get the most out of your effects. For this one-of-a-kind workshop, Steve has handpicked 60 of his favorite shortcuts, secrets, and workarounds for Final Cut Pro 6.0. Come learn 60 tips and tricks you’ll use the minute you get back to your edit suite! Oh yeah, feel free to bring a stop watch!

“When It’s Time To Call The Consultant” (2:15pm-2:45pm)
Ed Trombley, Munn-Reese Consulting Engineers
Just like you, AM Directional Antennas have good days and bad days. When is the right time to call the consultant? Before you start cranking on the phasor (maybe making a bad problem worse—and more expensive to fix!), there are some “Antenna Care & Feeding 101” basics that often get overlooked. Ed Trombley of Munn-Reese & Associates has seen the good, the bad and the ugly ones…and conquered most of them. Ed also promises to bring along some of his famous “photos from the field” for your edification and enjoyment.

“Nextel/Sprint 2GHz Relocation Project Update” (2:15pm-2:45pm)
Gil Ludwig, Sprint Nextel

The 2GHz spectrum relocation project is impacting Broadcast Auxiliary Services (BAS), Cable Television Relay Services (CARS), Local Television Transmission Service (LTTS) users and others. Sprint Nextel is funding and coordinating the relocation of operators within the entire 2 GHz band. Topics of discussion include a project review to date; current schedule and timeline; legal issues past & present; FRA’s; equipment deliveries, installation and checkout; training; market transition including converted markets as well as a Q&A for affected broadcasters.

“IP and Future Broadcasting” (2:15pm-2:45pm)
Orest Holyk, Director of Sales,, Evertz Microsystems Ltd.
With the end of Analog Transmission and the emergence of totally digital infrastructures becoming a reality, data and video networks are becoming more and more related. This presentation will examine some of the challenges of transporting Video over IP at the Facility level. We'll look at different Video over IP models, what to be monitoring for, and compare the classic Video router model against an all IP core routing solution.

“Cheap Cures For The Common Station” (2:45pm-3:15pm)
Chris Arnaut, IT Manager, WDIV-TV, Detroit
Think outside of the box for simple solutions for complex problems. Affordable solutions to common problems that broadcast engineers face will be discussed in an open forum. Bring our own clever ideas and discuss them with the group.

“Delivering Robust DTV Signals To Mobile-Portable-Handheld Applications” (2:45pm-3:15pm)
Jay Adrick, VP Broadcast Technologies, Harris Broadcast Division
In-band mobile DTV will give broadcasters new business opportunities and consumers new products and services. The MPH™ In-Band Mobile DTV system is capable of providing robust DTV signals to mobile, pedestrian and handheld devices. For broadcasters, this new technology promises to create new and potentially lucrative revenue streams. For consumers, MPH enables users to view their favorite programs from local broadcasters, watch movies and sports, and access local news and weather information – even when traveling in fast-moving vehicles or using handheld video devices away from home. The MPH system maximizes broadcasters’ use of their DTV channel, enabling them to deploy handheld and mobile services while continuing to deliver HDTV, SDTV and datacasting services.

Advanced-VSB: Bringing Mobility to ATSC Systems (2:45pm-3:15pm)
Dave Benco, Rhode & Schwarz, Inc.
A-VSB is a technology proposal from Samsung and Rohde & Schwarz to bring extensibility to the 8-VSB physical layer. It was approved by ATSC BOD for review by ATSC RF Specialist group S9 in Dec. 2005. A-VSB provides tools to enable ATSC reception in dynamic multipath environments, and provides robust streams with Turbo Coding to allow low SNR reception. A-VSB also includes a tool to achieve an ATSC Single Frequency Network (SFN). There has been rigorous lab and field testing performed under the guidance of ATSC. The results of this testing was encouraging enough to lead others to believe there may be a true potential for future ATSC Mobile and Handheld M/H services. The ATSC has hence released a RFP for potential technologies to enable an ATSC Mobile/ Handheld Standard. The initial A-VSB proposal from Samsung / R&S has been extended to meet the full requirements of ATSC M/H and was submitted in response to the ATSC M/H RFP.

This presentation gives brief review of original A-VSB proposal and how this has been built upon and extended to meet the service requirements ATSC M/H services.

3:15pm – 4:00pm – Exhibit Hall Break & Educational Kiosks

4:00pm – 5:00pm – Sessions

“How to Become a Million Dollar Rep- Part Two”
Michael Guld, The Guld Resource Group
Trying to sell your inventory?---Help your customers sell theirs! Trying to make your budgets?---Help your customers make theirs! Your clients don’t really care if you make your sales goals. They don’t really care about your sales pieces. They don’t really care about what you know until they know you care about what’s most important to them…the growth of their business. It’s not about assumed closes or the package of the week, its all about providing value and ROI on your client’s marketing investment.

As a former Account Executive, Sales Manager, General Manager and radio station owner, Michael Guld knows first-hand what its like to be in the streets. Michael Guld’s training will show you how to develop the right sales perspective, set and achieve your goals, prospect for gold, develop your prospects into clients, think like a marketer, gather information on your clients, set ROI goals and position your client’s business for success!

Boyd Huppert & Jonathan Malat, Reporter/Photographer Team, KARE, Minneapolis
This session will be loaded with tips for reporters and photographers who want to improve their writing, shooting and editing skills. Jonathan Malat will share techniques that helped him become a two-time NPPA National Photographer of the year. While 2007 national Emmy winner Boyd Huppert demonstrates the magic that can happen when the right words are married to the right pictures.

“Radio Listening Session”
Howard Berkes, Rural Affairs Correspondent, National Public Radio
Join NPR Correspondent Howard Berkes and other radio colleagues attending the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference for a radio listening session. Bring a story already aired, a story with special challenges, or a prospective story idea you’re trying to focus. Get constructive feedback and fresh approaches. Please bring stories on CD.

“It’s A Digital World”
Broadcasting has fully entered the digital world with all of the new technologies available. Hear from industry leaders on what you need to know to take your stations further into the digital world and learn all of the legal issues and regulations concerning a digital transition.

Confirmed speakers include: David Silverman, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (moderator); Megan Pollack, HDTV Manager for the Consumer Electronics Agency; Jonathan Collegio, Vice President of Digital Transition for the National Association of Broadcasters; Anita Wallgren, Project Manager for the Convertor Coupon Program at the National Telecommunications & Information Administration; Al Blinke, VP/General Manager of WNEM-TV; and Barry Baker, General Manager of Delta College Public Broadcasting.

“Flywheel Energy Storage – The Most Reliable Power Protection for Broadcast Applications” (4:00pm-4:30pm)
Kevin Wensley, Pentadyne
Voltage sags, surges and power outages can cost broadcasters hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue and equipment, not to mention unhappy viewers when their signals are distorted or lost. Broadcast engineers have traditionally depended on battery-based UPS systems to protect critical broadcast equipment, transmitters and uplinks. Lead-acid batteries typically used in these UPS systems are cheap, but spotty reliability, frequent maintenance and replacement costs, safety concerns, expensive HVAC requirements, fire hazards, spill containment, excessive space demands and disposal/environmental issues have motivated engineers to find alternatives that are reliable, safe and cost-effective.

Enter flywheel energy storage, a technology that has been around for a couple of decades, but has now reached true commercial viability. Being integrated in broadcast stations across the nation, the latest generation flywheel systems eliminate all those UPS battery issues with proven reliability to assure dependable voltage stability and seamless transfer to backup generators. One case in point is a flywheel energy storage system at Baton Rouge-based WBRZ-TV that kept the newsroom on the air during Hurricane Katrina without a glitch. This presentation examines how and why modern UPS flywheel systems are delivering better energy, space, environmental and cost advantages over problematic battery-based UPS systems.

“First Impressions are Lasting Impressions”
Katherine Carey, Frank N. Magid Assoc., Inc.
Dress for the job you want, not the job you’ve already got! Hear from nationally recognized style consultant Katherine Carey on how dressing for success is vital in today’s radio and television news industries.

“Final Cut Pro for Avid Editors”
Steve Julin, Media Power
If you’re an editor using Avid Media Composer and have been hesitant to start working on Final Cut Pro, here’s a workshop for you. Steve Julin (an Avid Certified Instructor and an Apple Certified Instructor) will guide you through the transition. If you feel it’s time to learn about Final Cut Pro don’t miss this workshop. As author of Avid Xpress Pro: Power Steve was one of Michigan’s first Avid editors to become an Apple Certified Pro in Final Cut Pro and uses both programs on a regular basis.

“Localizing Your Radio Stations to Meet FCC Expectations”

The FCC wants more localism and you want to market your stations better, but what can you do? Here is a sure-fire discussion about how to do a good job of local branding while actually serving your communities that is attractive, compelling, and entertaining. Can you train your programming people to be interesting and creative while still responding to the needs of your local community? Steve Warren takes on the whole universe of local radio problem solving with a fast-paced, fun, interactive session on radio programming.

"Lighting the Way Down the Paper Trail"
Eric Freedman, Michigan State University School of Journalism
Documents--whether retrieved from the Internet, slipped under your door by an anonymous source or discovered in dusty file cabinets--are key resources in uncovering, proving and exposing wrongdoing and waste. Pulitzer Prize-winner Eric Freedman will use his successful investigation of legislative corruption as a case study to explain effective techniques for securing and effectively using documents.

“What NextGen EAS Means to the Michigan Broadcaster” (4:30pm-5:00pm)
Larry Estlack, Michigan Association of Broadcasters
On July 12, 2007, the Federal Communications Commission issued its Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on the “Next Generation Emergency Alert System.” Additionally, the Michigan State Police has made vast improvements to emergency message delivery in several areas of the state. Larry Estlack, the Chairman of the State Emergency Communications Committee, has been served as a liaison between the law enforcement and broadcast community throughout these changes to EAS, and will describe to you what improvements and challenges NextGen EAS holds for Michigan broadcasters. Attendees of this session will find out what changes will be made to EAS, when these changes are likely to be made, and, most importantly, how this will affect your budgets and day-to-day responsibilities.

6:00pm – 8:00pm

Broadcast Excellence Awards Presentation – New Venue! (Separate registration required)
Join award winners for the annual Broadcast Excellence Awards presentation and dinner. This year’s presentation will take place at the Amway Grand Hotel’s Ambassador Ballroom so please plan to park at the Amway Grand Hotel instead of the DeVos Place for a shorter walk after the awards presentation.

March 10 - 11, 2008

GLBC Sessions & Speakers