By: Gordon H. Smith, President/CEO National Association of Broadcasters Two hundred and thirty-one years ago this week, Congress passed a collection of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ten of which would become the Bill of Rights. Foremost in the Bill of Rights is the First Amendment, which allows Americans to worship how they please, speak…
America’s broadcast radio and TV stations are the pulse of our communities – delivering critical news and information, weather and emergency updates and entertainment that connect and inspire us. Now more than ever, what you do for your communities is vital. In the past six months our country has been devastated by a global pandemic,…
Scripps Media’s WMYD-TV (Detroit) is airing a series of special programs leading up to the November election that explores the impact of the African American vote on the outcome of the election and the future of Michigan. The series “Inside Michigan’s African American Vote,” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. on WXYZ through Nov. 1, 2020.…
The FCC has announced that holders of FM translator construction permits awarded to AM stations in Auctions 99 and 100 that expire on or before June 30, 2021 have an opportunity to extend the permit’s expiration date by up to six months. The bureau “is aware that shutdowns associated with the pandemic have forced stations…
Entercom has announced that WYCD-FM (Detroit) afternoon personalities Rob Stone and Holly Hutton have been tapped for a new national evening show to air on Entercom-owned country stations nationwide. The program is part of a new initiative by the company to launch national midday and evening shows for its country programmed radio stations. Meanwhile, Rob…
Townsquare Media’s WITL-FM (Lansing) has announced that Cadillac Jack and Erica Gray have joined the station for mornings. Cadillac Jack’s previous on-air stints include WYCD-FM (Detroit), WQYK-FM (Tampa) and WXTU-FM (Philadelphia). Gray previously hosted middays at WBTU-FM (Fort Wayne),WKYS-FM (Gainsville, FL) and mornings at WBTI-FM (Port Huron). “We are beyond excited to have Caddy &…
Houghton Community Broadcasting’s 97.7 The Wolf (WOLV-FM) has begun broadcasting a series of town hall meetings to inform local residents of the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Keweenaw Peninsula and the U.P. Produced by the Health Research Institute at Michigan Technological University, “COVID-19 Impact & Response,” features moderators Steve Elmer and Kelly Kamm,…
WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) has collaborated with Michigan State University’s College of Engineering to produce a video showing the effectiveness of wearing a mask during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Entitled “Display it, don’t spray it,” the video features Dr. Rob Stephenson, science educator and Emmy-award winning host of WKAR’s Curious Crew, along with high-resolution,…
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told Michigan business leaders on Thursday (9/17) the state of emergency she enacted in March to respond to the coronavirus pandemic will likely last months longer, according to a report in Gongwer. She outlined a similar timeline in an opinion piece published on Friday (9/18) in The Detroit Free Press. Speaking to…
The White House announced Tuesday (9/15), that President Trump intends to nominate longtime telecom lawyer Nathan A. Simington, who is currently senior advisor in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) specializing in network and telecommunications policy, to the Federal Communications Commission. He is being picked to replace current Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, who’s nomination for…