Broadcasting Industry News
PMJA Honors for Michigan Public Radio Stations
On June 24, at its 2021 Virtual Awards Ceremony, the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) announced the stations that will be receiving PMJA awards for work done in calendar year 2020. Four Michigan radio stations are award recipients. In Division A, WDET-FM (Detroit) won two first-place awards. First was in the Arts Feature category for…
Read MoreWMMI/WCZY Receives Congressional Recognition
Latitude Media’s WMMI-AM/WCZY-FM (Mt. Pleasant) has received Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman John Moolenaar, in honor of receiving the 2020 Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award. Moolenaar wrote that “under the leadership of Laurie and Bob Peters these two stations have continued to grow, providing quality entertainment and pertinent information to area residents. …
Read MoreWXYT-AM Becomes “1270 The Bet”
Previously airing on three Audacy-owned stations around the country, the company has expanded its Sports Betting “BetQL Network” to seven additional stations, including WXYT-AM in Detroit. The network debuted on June 21. The company will also plan to distribute the network via affiliate opportunities with additional network providers. Details to be announced in the coming…
Read MoreCasey Jones named WOOD-TV Community Affairs Director
WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) morning news anchor, Casey Jones, has been announced as WOOD-TV’s Community Affairs Director after six years anchoring West Michigan’s leading morning news program. “I truly cannot think of anyone more enthusiastic, passionate and with a heart for serving our community than Casey. His amazing and humanistic approach to storytelling stands out in…
Read MoreFire Destroys WOOD-FM Transmitter
iHeartMedia’s WOOD-FM (Muskegon/Grand Rapids) was knocked off the air temporarily due to a fire at the station’s transmitter site on June 20. This occurred during a weather system that brought two lines of severe thunderstorms to Michigan that resulting in a tornado sighting, downed trees and structural damage. The fire was reportedly set by the…
Read MoreWILX Teams With Red Cross for Telethon
On June 23, WILX-TV (Lansing) partnered with The America Red Cross to make it easy for people to sign up for a blood donation appointment. The Give Blood Telethon was held at the station’s studios from 4:30 – 9 a.m. and again 4 – 8 p.m. WILX encouraged the community to call to make an…
Read MoreWKAR Welcomes Megan Schellong As New Morning Edition Host
WKAR-AM/FM in East Lansing has announced that Megan Schellong has been promoted as the station’s new local host for NPR’s Morning Edition. Schellong joins the station from WLNS-TV (Lansing),where she spent the last one and a half years as a digital producer. Prior to joining WLNS, Schellong worked at KPCC-FM in Southern California as a…
Read MoreRegional Emmy Winners Announced
On June 19, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS)/Michigan presented the 43rd Annual Regional EMMY® Awards. The ceremonies were held virtually. Public stations winning in various categories include WCMU-TV, WKAR-TV and WTVS-TV. Commercial stations receiving awards in various categories include WDIV-TV, WEYI-TV, WJBK-TV, WJRT-TV, WNEM-TV, WOOD-TV, WWTV/WWUP-TV, WXMI-TV, WXYZ-TV and WZZM-TV. Three…
Read MoreWDIV’s Marla Drutz to Retire After 4 Decades in Detroit
WDIV-TV (Detroit) and Graham Media Group has announced the retirement of Marla Drutz, Vice President and General Manager of the station, after more than 13 years of distinguished service, effective in the upcoming months once a replacement is hired and transitioned into the job. Drutz is a broadcast industry legend with more than 35 years…
Read MoreWDET Announces ‘Artist Next Door’ Initiative
Six Southeast Michigan artists have been selected by a jury of artists and journalists to demonstrate their art, heritage and culture through an innovative program, The Artist Next Door, hosted by WDET-FM (Detroit) and made possible by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA). The artists representing mixed media, painting,…
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