Broadcasting Industry News
Michelle Duke Named NAB Chief Diversity Officer
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) President and CEO Gordon Smith announced Thursday (618) that Michelle Duke will assume the role of Chief Diversity Officer, effective July 1. In the newly created position, Duke will spearhead NAB’s internal efforts to further equity and inclusion at all levels of the organization and elevate NAB’s external role as…
Read MoreWKAR Addresses Race And Racism In America
Michigan State University’s WKAR-TV (East Lansing) is airing a series of films and new specials focused on race in America following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, and the ensuing protests that erupted across the country and in Michigan’s Capital Region. In addition, PBS will curate a playlist of programs from Frontline,…
Read MoreWLEN Celebrates 55 Years of Service
Lenawee Broadcasting’s WLEN-FM (Adrian) celebrated 55 years of broadcasting on June 9. Founded in 1965 by John W. Koehn, WLEN was the first FM radio station in Lenawee County. The stations first promotion was to give away FM radios so citizens could listen for entertainment and local news. WLEN began on the premise of service…
Read MoreMacDonald Garber Broadcasting Hosts Food Drive in Northern Michigan
To help with the pressure put on area food banks during the COVID-19 crisis, the stations of MacDonald Garber Broadcasting came together the week of May 18 to present “Feed Northern Michigan Week.” Stations participating included WKHQ-FM, WLXT-FM, WZTC-FM and WLXV-FM. AllAccess reports that all of the on air personalities got involved on a personal…
Read MoreWXMI Presents ‘Stand-up & Help’ with Feeding America West Michigan
On May 29, E.W. Scripps’ WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids) hosted “Stand-up & Help” with Feeding America West Michigan, a live fundraiser to help provide meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The one-hour special featured local West Michigan comedians and stories about how Feeding America West Michigan is helping the local citizens through the present crisis. The station…
Read MoreJason Addams Appointed OM of MacDonald Broadcasting Saginaw
Jason Addams joins MacDonald Broadcasting (Saginaw) as Operations Manager and Program Director of its four-station cluster. Addams will oversee Country WKCQ-FM, Adult Hits WMJO-FM and AC WSAM-AM/WSAG-FM. He’ll also handle afternoons at WKCQ. Addams returns to MacDonald, after serving as OM for the Lansing, MI cluster from 2003-2005 and PD for Top 40 WHZZ from…
Read MoreIPR Welcomes MSU’s Cassidy Hough as Environmental News Intern
Interlochen Public Radio has announced a new environmental news intern, Cassidy Hough. Houghy is a junior at Michigan State University, double majoring in environment, science and health reporting journalism and environmental studies and sustainability. A recipient of the Michael and Sandra Clark scholarship in environmental journalism, she also received the Meeman Award for Outstanding Undergraduate…
Read MoreWGVU to Acquire Grand Rapids FM Translator
Grand Valley State University’s WGVU-FM has struck a deal with Goodrich Radio, LLC to acquire FM translator W237CZ (Grand Rapids). The application for license transfer was filed with the FCC on June 3. The translator presently rebroadcasts Goodrich’s WPRR-AM in the market. With the sale, the primary station will switch to WGVU-FM. In an amendment…
Read MoreWWMT Celebrates 70 Years on the Air in Kalamazoo
Sinclair Broadcast Group’s WWMT-TV (Kalamazoo) is celebrating 70 years on the air. On June 1, 1950, the station signed on as WKZO-TV, West Michigan’s CBS affiliate, running out of the Old Burdick Hotel, now the Radisson Plaza Hotel. WKZO-TV was West Michigan’s 2nd television station after WLAV (WOOD), which signed on 8/15/49, and the 2nd…
Read MoreNAB’s Gordon Smith Discusses Capitol Hill Efforts on RBR+TVBR Podcast
NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith gave a 13-minute update on Tuesday’s (5/26) RBR+TVBR Coronavirus INFOCUS podcast about the organization’s efforts to gain federal relief for local radio and television broadcasters as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold across the country. “We have been very active on Capitol Hill” Smith said, adding that the NAB’s issues have…
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