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GVSU Signs New Deal with Cumulus Media’s WLAV
Grand Valley State football will air on a new dial this fall, moving to flagship station WLAV-FM (Grand Rapids) for the 2021 season. The move comes as part of a department-wide partnership with Cumulus Radio which will includes weekly shows, men’s and women’s basketball coverage and crossover special events with the various radio stations in…
Read MoreMPA Foundation’s Janet Mendler Passes at 75
The MAB has learned about the passing of former Michigan Press Association Foundation Director Janet Mendler. Mendler died April 26 at age 75 following a battle with cancer. | Mendler graduated from Dearborn High School in 1963 and earned a BA degree from Northern Michigan University and a Master’s in Journalism from the University of…
Read MoreAre You Encountering Problems with Your PPP Loan Application?
In a significant win for broadcasters last year, NAB was able to secure expanded Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) eligibility for stations as part of the COVID relief package that was signed into law at the end of 2020. This allows broadcasters to have the same physical-location based eligibility as restaurants and hotels under the original…
Read MoreMike Schram Joins WILX as News Director
Veteran News Director Mike Schram has joined Gray Television’s WILX-TV (Lansing) as News Director, effective May 3. A graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Journalism, he started his career in broadcast journalism as a newscast producer at WLNS-TV in Lansing. He then spent several years as a producer at sister Gray station WJRT-TV (Flint). …
Read MoreKresge Foundation Joins Listeners to Fund New Transmitter for WDET
On April 22, the Kresge Foundation and Wayne State University’s WDET-FM (Detroit) announced a foundation grant to replace the station’s aging and failing transmitter to ensure over-the-air broadcasts for years to come. Station general manager Mary Zatina said that Kresge’s grant of $150,000 complements more than one thousand donations, large and small, raised from generous…
Read MoreFCC Approves 10-Application Limit For Upcoming Noncommercial FM Window
A 10-application precedent has prevailed at the Federal Communications Commission which has voted to adopt that limit on broadcasters in an upcoming filing window for noncommercial FMs, according to a report in InsideRadio. The decision allows the Media Bureau to move forward with the filing window, which will be the first time in more than…
Read MoreWWJ’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…
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