The MAB is sad to share the word that former WLEW (Bad Axe) News Director Craig Routzahn , a trusted newsman and fixture on Huron County radio for more than four decades, passed away September 16 at the age of 68.
David Oxenford reviews some of the important filing dates coming up in October that may affect broadcasters in Michigan.
Last week, Liggett Communication’s WSAQ-FM (Port Huron) held its 30th Annual Roof Sit from the top of the MiMutual Mortgage building in downtown Port Huron. WSAQ morning personality Matt Markham once again spent a week looking over the city to raise funds for the St. Clair County Child Abuse/Neglect Council.
WCBY-AM (Cheboygan) sports broadcaster Mike Grisdale was honored last Friday night (9/13) before the Cheboygan Chiefs-Elk Rapids football game with the naming of the Western Avenue Field press box named after him, a show of appreciation to his 40+ years of sports broadcasting.
WCMU News Director Rick Brewer, writing on the station’s website, reports that after 13 weeks of intense training, hundreds of interviews and publishing a total of 130 stories, the cohort of four reporters of the Michigan News Group Internship graduated from the program last month. This was the sixth consecutive summer of the internship program at WCMU Public Media.
In a deal announced last week, James ‘Jim Carlyle’ Angus’ Packer Radio Greenville has sold WGLM-AM/W270CN (Greenville) WGLM-FM (Lakeview-Greenville) to James ‘Jim Aaron’ Chesley’s JAM Radio. Chesley, who is morning host at WGLM-FM, will also transfer his 25% stake in Angus’ Packer Radio WION-AM/W224BZ/W262DN (Ionia) as part of the acquisition.
Michigan Public has announced a significant stride toward bolstering environmental journalism. The organization is amplifying its coverage of the Great Lakes and drinking water issues, thanks to a generous $200,000 grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation. This funding breathes new life into the Great Lakes News Collaborative, a dynamic partnership that unites Michigan Public, Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, The Narwhal, Detroit Public Television, and Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television.
On September 17, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing that its CORES system, through which regulatory fees are submitted, has been updated and the incorrect regulatory fee amounts for radio stations have been corrected. As we wrote last week, the FCC asked that radio broadcasters suspend their fee filings when it became apparent that many radio fees had been miscomputed and CORES reported those fees to be much higher than they were supposed to be.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. announced that its television stations serving the state of Michigan will host an exclusive multi-market live telecast of a debate between U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R), the top two candidates for U.S. Senator from Michigan. The hour-long debate will take place October 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET, and will be telecast throughout Michigan.
RadioInsight reports that Cumulus Media’s WHTS-FM (Grand Rapids) has hired Jordan Lass as Assistant Program Director and afternoon host. Lass most recently was Brand Manager and afternoon host at WZOX-FM (Kalamazoo).