Broadcasting Industry News
WILX-TV Holds Telethon To Find Bell Ringer Volunteers
This past Wednesday (10/13), Gray Television’s WILX-TV held a different type of telethon; one that wasn’t intended to directly raise money, but rather intended to find volunteers in the community to help the Salvation Army this upcoming hollday season. Every year, Salvation Army volunteers are out ringing bells and collecting toys to help make sure…
Read MoreBig Ten Conference Announces The Lisa Byington Award
The Big Ten Conference announced last week (10/7) that it will recognize a female student broadcaster each year with the introduction of the Lisa Byington Award. Michigan native Byington, a graduate of Portage Northern High School and Northwestern University has been called “a trailblazer in the industry.” She was just named the first woman to…
Read MoreAl Allen Inducted Into 2021 Class of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame
On October 10, Al Allen, a radio and TV reporter on the streets of Detroit for 50 years, joined 6 other journalists with induction into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Conference Center. Allen moved to Detroit from his hometown in Little Rock, Arkansas and started…
Read MoreFCC Notes: WBMI Sale Approved; Aurora Media Acquires Translator in Escanaba
This past week saw some FCC activity with Michigan Broadcasters. The license transfer of WBMI-FM (West Branch) was granted by the FCC on October 6. Florida-based Peggy Warner’s 105.5fm, LLC is acquiring the station from receiver Mark Sanger. WBMI went silent in late January 2020 and fell into receivership. Sanger returned the station to the…
Read MoreWZZM-TV Announces “Fresh Weekends” Lineup
TEGNA’s WZZM-TV (Grand Rapids) (13 ON YOUR SIDE) has announced a new weekend lineup to begin Saturday, October 9. Viewers will welcome some fresh faces into their homes on the weekend when they turn on 13 ON YOUR SIDE with the addition of Blake Hansen and Alana Holland. Blake will be joining weekend morning anchor,…
Read MoreJacobs Media & PRPD Release Public Radio Techsurvey 2021
In partnership with the Public Radio Program Directors Association, Bingham Farms-based Jacobs Media has released Public Radio Techsurvey 2021 (“PRTS”), its latest annual study exploring the ongoing digital media revolution and its impact on public radio. In last year’s PRTS study, there was a dramatic shift in listening patterns due to the pandemic and summer…
Read MoreWLHT Welcomes Joe Pesh Back to West Michigan
Townsquare Media announced October 4 that its WLHT-FM (Mix 95.7) debuted the “Big Joe Show” to weekday mornings in Grand Rapids. The Big Joe Show is helmed by Michigan native Joe Pesh as he returns to West Michigan Morning Radio. Pesh has extensive connections to West Michigan and the state.Originally from Howell, he began his…
Read MoreWKAR Promotes Drew Henderson, Welcomes Dave Mann
This past week, WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) formally announced that Drew Henderson has been named Senior Director of Broadcast Operations and that Dave Mann has joined WKAR as Director of Broadcast Technology. Henderson most recently served as senior director of radio strategy and operations at WKAR. In his new role as senior director of…
Read MoreWilliam Palmer Pyle: 1937-2021
As we announced last Friday at press time, W. Palmer Pyle, former President and Founder of Northern Star Broadcasting, passed away September 30th, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on June 12th, 1937, in Keokuk, Iowa to William and Cathryn [Johnson] Pyle, and was the oldest of three boys.…
Read MoreEarlene McMichael to Leave WMUK
Western Michigan University’s WMUK-FM (Kalamazoo) announced that veteran journalist and local Morning Edition host Earlene McMichael is leaving the station after a 9-year run. McMichael will be joining Kalamazoo Valley Community College as its Marketing Project Manager, effective November 1, where she will apply her journalistic skills to publications, social media and much more. Over…
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