Broadcasting Industry News
WKAR Public Media GM Susi Elkins Accepts Position at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union
Susi Elkins, WKAR Public Media General Manager and Director of Broadcasting at Michigan State University, will leave the station to become chief community development officer at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) in East Lansing. Elkins, who began her career at WKAR as a student employee and became general manager in 2017, made the…
Read MoreWinners Announced in 2021 MAPME Broadcast Contest
The annual Michigan Associated Press Media Editors broadcast competition has announced winners in the 2021 Michigan APME awards. In the broadcast category, General Excellence awards for 2021 went to WDIV-TV (Detroit), WDET-FM (Detroit) and WKAR-AM/FM (East Lansing). Michigan’s Public Radio stations dominated the radio categories in all market sizes. In television, Michigan’s commercial stations placed…
Read MoreWJR Celebrates Its Centennial!
Cumulus Media’s WJR-AM (Detroit) is celebrating its 100th Birthday! On May 4, 1922, the Detroit Free Press newspaper was issued a license, with the randomly assigned call letters of WCX. On August of 1925, the Jewett Radio & Phonograph Company received a license for a new station, WJR. The company also took over WCX, consolidating…
Read MoreLongtime Host of African American Inspiration Radio Show in Flint Passes
Bettye Jean Hendricks, 16-year host of the African American Inspiration radio show on WFLT-AM (Flint), heard on Saturday mornings died peacefully at her home on April 19 at age 74. In a story in MLive, the publication wrote that Hendricks’ impact on the Flint community is hard to describe because it was shown in so…
Read MoreMichigan-Based NEWSnet Announces $50M Investment; New News Director
NEWSnet, the 24/7 news channel with a focus on the headlines, announced on April 22 that it will invest heavily to propel the network forward and provide solutions that better meet the financial needs of broadcasters and carriers. NEWSnet is exhibiting for the first time at the annual National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in…
Read MoreAudacy Detroit Hosts ‘Step up to the Plate’ Radiothon for Detroit PAL
This past Monday (4/25), Audacy-owned stations in Detroit, including WWJ-AM, WXYT-FM, WYCD-FM, WOMC-FM and WDZH-FM aired the 2nd annual Step Up To The Plate Radiothon to benefit PAL, the Detroit Police Athletic League. PAL supports approximately 10,000 Detroit area kids and160,000 kids since 2007, according to the organization. So far, the 13-hour Radiothon has raised…
Read MoreMichigan Journalism Hall of Fame Inducts Five New Members
At ceremonies held last Sunday (4/24), the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame inducted five new members in it’s 2022 Class, including one Detroit TV and radio journalist: Beth Konrad, Detroit TV and radio journalist and news director; professor and FOIA champion. Robert Ankeny, dogged reporter on Jimmy Hoffa, Orville Hubbard and Kwame Kilpatrick. Greg Dorsett,…
Read MoreMelorie Begay Joins WKAR News Team
WKAR Public Media has announced the arrival of a new voice delivering trusted and essential information for Michigan’s capital region. Melorie Begay has joined WKAR’s news team as local Weekend Edition host and general assignment reporter. “We’re thrilled to welcome Melorie to our award-winning news team,” said Karel Vega, WKAR News Editor. “Melorie’s strong community…
Read MoreKevin ‘Meatball’ Kerr Joins Townsquare’s WRKR-FM
AllAccess reports that Kevin “Meatball” Kerr has joined Townsquare Media’s WRKR-FM (Kalamazoo) as co-host of the station’s “Rocker Morning Show.” Kerr has been teamed up with Mark Frankhouse and started on-air this past Monday (4/25). Kerr most recently was Program Director at KICT-FM in Wichita, Kansas. In a Facebook announcement, Kerr wrote, “I am stoked…
Read MoreFormer WJBK-TV Reporter Kathy Walsh Passes at 63
Former WJBK-TV Reporter Kathy Walsh has lost a battle with Huntington’s Disease and passed away April 14 at age 63. Walsh, a reporter at the station in the 1990s, had a reputation for her fearless tenacity. It was just the kind of fighting spirit she would need years later as she battled Huntington’s Disease. “She…
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