Broadcasting Industry News
WWJ’s Vickie Thomas Announces Retirement
Vickie Thomas, City Beat Reporter for Audacy’s WWJ-AM (Detroit), has announced her retirement at the end of the month. Her last day live on the air is scheduled for April 29. She will continue to host the weekly “Black Business Minute” feature for the station. Thomas tweeted on April 16, “After 30 years @WWJ950, I…
Read MoreWLUC’s Steve Asplund Announces Retirement; Andrew LaCombe Named Next News Director
Veteran WLUC-TV (Marquette) News Anchor Steve Asplund has announced that he will retire in February 2022 after more than 42 years at the station. WLUC Vice President and General Manger Rick Rhoades recently made the announcement. “Steve has served this station and this community for over 40 years,” Rhoades said. “No one is more trusted with…
Read MoreWinners Announced in 2020 MAPME Broadcast Contest
The annual Michigan Associated Press Media Editors broadcast competition has announced their winners in the 2020 Michigan APME awards. In the broadcast category, General Excellence awards for 2020 went to WLNS-TV (Lansing); WDET-FM (Detroit) and WKAR-AM/FM (East Lansing). Michigan’s APME’s “Rising Star” broadcast award went to Angeline McCall of WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids). The Kalamazoo Gazette…
Read MoreWOOD Reporter Barton Deiters Dies After Battling West Nile Virus
After a seventh-month fight against the West Nile virus, WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) Barton Deiters passed away April 16. Deiters spent a professional career of more than 30 years in journalism, first as a print journalist at the Grand Rapids Press and then later at WOOD-TV. In a tribute story on the station’s website, it was…
Read MoreChris ‘Boatman’ Herlein Passes
The MAB is sad to pass along word that Chris Herlein, affectionately known as “Boatman” by friends and listeners of WWKR-FM (Hart/Ludington), passed away April 18 at age 54, reportedly after contracting the COVID-19 virus. Herlein passed away at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. In a article pubished in Shorelinemedia.net, his daughter Heidi Bennet recalled that…
Read MoreFormer WXYZ Anchor Diana Lewis Honored by Detroit Urban League
On April 8, The Urban League of Detroit & Southeastern Michigan (ULDSEM) virtually held its 42nd Annual Salute to Distinguished Warriors Event. This annual event, which honors the legacy and impact of individuals that have contributed immeasurably in the areas of human and civil rights. Among the honorees is retired WXYZ-TV news anchor Diana Lewis.…
Read MorePaul Jacobs to Receive MSU Outstanding Alumni Award
Michigan State University’s school of Communication, Arts and Sciences has announced Paul Jacobs, Vice President/General Manager of Jacobs Media and President of jācapps is a recipient of its Outstanding Alumni Award. The announcement was made by Dean Prabu David on behalf of the department’s Alumni Board. Jacobs is one of five MSU graduates receiving the…
Read MoreTimothy Nicholson Elected Chair Of Detroit Public TV’s Board Of Trustees
Detroit Public TV’s (DPTV) Board of Trustees has elected as its new chair Timothy Nicholson, the chief operating officer of PVS Chemicals, Inc. He replaces Hannan Lis, principal and chief operating officer of The WW Group, Inc., who served two years and will remain on the board as a trustee. The board also elected the…
Read MoreWDIV Presents ‘Coronavirus Crisis: The Vaccines’
On April 14, WDIV-TV (Detroit) presented a live, hour-long special called “Coronavirus Crisis: The Vaccines.” The hour-long primetime special was hosted by anchors Devin Scillian and Kimberly Gill along with the station’s Good Health Medical Expert Dr. Frank McGeorge. McGeorge interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden, about why he thinks things…
Read MoreAudacy Study Finds Radio, TV News Sway Those Who Are Hesitant To Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Audio has the power to sway those reluctant to get a COVID-19 vaccine, followed closely by TV news, according to a new survey from Audacy (formerly Entercom). Results from the radio company’s Vaccine Hesitancy Custom Survey show that audio is the most trusted source of information about the COVID vaccination (46%), just ahead of TV…
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