The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) has announced that Michigan Radio’s Rachel Ishikawa is the winner of their 2023 Excellence in Audio Storytelling, News Feature Award. Ishikawa won the award for her feature “The story of Kinuko Yada DeVee.”
18 Michigan Television stations, both public and commercial, along with cable networks, ad agencies and production houses throughout the state have received nominations for this year’s National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS)/Michigan 45th Annual Regional EMMY® Awards.
On May 15, the FCC’s Media Bureau released a Public Notice announcing that it was repealing the COVID related guidance released in March 2020 that allowed broadcasters, local cable operators, and other media companies subject to the requirements that political candidates be offered Lowest Unit Rates during pre-election periods, to offer free advertising time to advertisers and other local businesses without those spots being considered in calculating the LUC during the periods that these spots were running.
Mission Broadcasting, Inc. announced May 17 that it has agreed to acquire WADL-TV in Detroit, Michigan from Adell Broadcasting Corporation. The MyNetworkTV affiliated station has been serving Detroit, the nation’s 14th largest market, since its launch in May 1989, and currently reaches nearly two million television households. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Kalamazoo radio veteran Bob Salmon (Bob King) has died. Salmon passed away at the age of 81 on Sunday, May 14 at his home in Modesto, California, with his partner of 30+ years, Sadhna Perez, and his younger sister, Ann Nichols, at his side.
InsideRadio reports that after four consecutive years of paying more in annual regulatory fees, the radio industry is in line for a rollback this year. Under a proposal drafted by the Federal Communications Commission, most stations would see their annual fee shrink by five percent – but some of the smallest stations could see a reduction of as much as 43%.
The Nebraska Broadcasters Association (NBA) and the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association (MBA) have announced the launch of The High School Radio Project (HSRP). Beginning in the fall of 2023, The Michigan Association of Broadcasters will join Nebraska and Massachusetts in the project.
The Pulitzer Prize Board announced May 8 that the Michigan Radio news story, Nine Days in a Michigan Abortion Clinic, as Election Looms was a Finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in the Audio Reporting category.
Gray Television’s WILX-TV (Lansing) has announced the expansion of it’s commitment to local news coverage with First @ 4. Launching this past Monday (5/8), viewers can join anchor Taylor Gattoni every weekday starting at 4 p.m. for their first look at the day’s biggest stories and live interviews with local newsmakers.
WILX Media has hired Rick Sarata to lead the sales department as General Sales Manager. He will join the station starting Monday, May 22. Sarata has spent his career in sales and leadership for both television and radio and brings a wealth of experience including a deep knowledge of the Lansing/Jackson market.