Issue #2 - January 25, 2016 | View online
Week of January 25, 2016
Greetings!

In this issue we bring your attention to important new proposed FOIA legislation, member participation in the State of the State, plus pictures and the wonderful work that members all over the state are doing to help citizens of Flint during these trying times. Please send us your activities and photos of your station efforts to help Flint. Remember to give us feedback on the new weekly News Update.

Karole L. White



STATE OF THE STATE 2016 REPORT
State of the State was carried live on air and on the websites of member television and radio stations in every market. Recently, you received an email asking for your web views during SOS and your viewership on air during SOS. We need to take every opportunity to show the superiority of broadcast media.

from L-R: Debbie Kenyon (MAB Vice-Chair and Senior VP Market Manager CBR Radio Detroit); Karole L. White (MAB President); Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-30); Elena Palombo (MAB Government Relations Manger)

MAB is grateful to WCMU-TV Central Michigan Universty for providing the uplink truck staff and technical support, and WKAR for  their help booking uplink time for all of us. A big congrats to MAB's own Dan Kelley, who handled the project expertly again this year. 


LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
State of Michigan Legislative Update

Zorn Moves to Repeal Local 'Gag Order' From Law 
State Senator Dale Zorn (R-17) submitted legislation to repeal a recently enacted prohibition on schools and local governments from providing factual information on ballot questions during the 60 days prior to the vote. Read more...

Federal/Congressional Update

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would create the most sweeping reforms to federal open records laws in nearly a decade. The measure would limit exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that now allow federal agencies to hold back information.

As reported last week, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), unveiled a draft bill, the Viewer Protection Act. This bill empowers the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to fully protect both broadcast viewers and mobile broadband users who may be affected by the upcoming Broadcast Incentive Auction by funding viewer education efforts, creating an additional $1 billion emergency fund for broadcasters and directing the FCC to create a repacking plan within six months of the conclusion of the auction. Read more...


According to Broadcast Law Blog, one of the biggest issues in radio may see some action by the FCC before the end of January. Read more...


In July 2014, the FCC adopted new rules that require video clips delivered by Internet Protocol (IP) to be captioned if the clip is from video programming that was shown with captions on television. The rules and standards for captioning such IP clips are the same as those for regular full-length programming if the clip is posted to a station's website or app after it was shown on television with captions.
UPCOMING AWARD DEADLINES

This year's BEA Awards deadline is Friday, February 12 at 12 noon. Click here for all BEA information.


The final deadline for the Student Broadcast Awards is Friday, January 29 at 3pm. Click here for all Student Broadcast Awards information.


SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE UPCOMING WEBINARS
AM Revitalization WebEx Part II

AM Revitalizagtion Part I was a successful.  More than 100 broadcasters from all over the nation participated.  This is part of a new series of live WebEd offerings that MAB is designing for you. The series will be called "Expert at your Desk." Let us know how to improve it, and what else you would like to see. Don't forget to join us for AM Revitalization Part II on February 19 at 2pm eastern. Discuss your technical questions with consulting engineer Jeremy RuckBe ready for the January 29 FCC filing deadline

Part 2: Friday, February 19 at 2pm eastern.
This call will be just Jeremy Ruck and will be additional technical questions you may have after the January 29 deadline.

Click here to sign up for part two. You will receive a confirmation email with the link and other information for the call.


Jacobs Media: The 10 Things We Learned At CES That Impact Radio 

Jacobs Media will share their observations, thoughts and perspectives about what they saw - and what it means to radio.


P1 Learning's New Training Course: 12 Tips to Get the Renewal

The old saying goes, "It is a lot easier to keep an existing customer happy then to develop a new one." You may be in the process of beginning...or just wrapping up. Guess what? It's never too early (or late) to start thinking about getting that customer renewal. 


Not signed up for P1 Learning? Call them at (816) 456-8603. Free to members!


EDITORIALS
Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) - What is it and why does it wake us up?
By: Karole L. White, MAB President/CEO

On Friday, January 15 at 2:00 AM, a WEA was issued for the full states of Michigan and Colorado by Michigan State Police in the form of an AMBER Alert for two missing/abducted children from Coloma, Michigan. Thanks to excellent police work, a law enforcement officer in Colorado recognized the vehicle from a police notification he received earlier, and the abductor was captured. The children were recovered unharmed. Read more...


Here's Your Most Important Digital New Year's Resolution
By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media

It's that time of year when we step back to look at the big picture. What do we hope our stations will accomplish in 2016? I'd like to suggest one digital New Year's resolution above all the others: Set up a weekly web meeting.  Read more...


Back to Basics
By: Gary Berkowitz, Berkowitz Broadcast Consulting, Inc.

Back to Basics: Start the New Year off with a review of your most important elements - the basics. 

First and foremost, air check your jocks. PD's are busier and multi-tasking more than ever, and this art seems to be falling in-between the cracks. There is no better way to build relationships and help jocks sound better than to close your door, turn off devices, listen to their show, and offer constructive feedback. Read more...


Reinventing Your Problem
By: Jim Mathis, Reinvention Nation™

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." - Charles R. Swindoll

As a new year begins, we often reflect on the choices we've made and vow not to repeat the bad ones. We spend years filled with regret about the bad decisions we have made. I've made some very bad decisions in my life. I tell myself that if I had some of those moments to live over again, believe me, I wouldn't repeat them! But those choices made me what I am today... Read more...
COMMUNITY SERVICE: HELPING FLINT
Art Van Furniture and WDIV-TV's "Help Me Hank" Create Community Initiative

WDIV-TV (Detroit) has partnered with Art Van Furniture to create a community initiative to collect water for the city of Flint. Read more...


FOX 2 and iHeart Media Team Up for Flint Water Drive

On Saturday, January 16, a joint effort between Fox 2 Detroit, iHeart Media, and the Salvation Army was able to collect water donations at the Kroger on 13 Mile and Woodward.  Read more...


9&10 News, Fox 32 and VanDrie Home Furnishings Team Up to Collect Water Donations

In Northern Michigan, WWTV-TVWWUP-TVWFQX-TV, and VanDrie Home Furnishings have teamed up to collect donations of water for the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. Read more...


ASSOCIATE MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: 
THE YAFFE GROUP
By: Mike McClure, Creative Director at The Yaffe Group

Our founder, Fred Yaffe, helped Little Caesar's come up with the "Pizza Pizza" concept.

Over half of our staff has been here for more than 10 years and the majority of them have been here for more than 20 years.

Tired of seeing the best advertising prospects coming from MSU, Fred founded the Yaffe Center for Persuasive Communication in the Ross Business School to give his alma matter, the University of Michigan, a way to create marketing professionals of equal or better caliber.

Click to read more about what makes The Yaffe Group unique.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: MI COLLEGE GOAL
MI College Goal is a team effort of the Michigan Department of Treasury's MI Student Aid unit, Michigan Student Financial Aid Association, Michigan Department of Education, and EduGuide.

"Students and families often experience difficulties and frustration when filling out the FAFSA," State Treasurer Nick Khouri. "But, expert help is available. MI College Goal locations have staff on hand to help families complete the application for free and maximize financial aid awards for students headed to college."
IN THE NEWS
Ralph Hauenstein Passes Away

WGVU Public Media (Grand Rapids) joins the community in mourning the death of Ralph W. Hauenstein.

After a career in newspapers in Grand Rapids, Hauenstein served in intelligence during WWII under General Eisenhower. After a distinguished military career, he became a business leader in the import-export business. Hauenstein went on to become a leading philanthropist in the region. Read more here.


WTCM-FM Celebrates 75th Year on Air

WTCM-FM (Traverse City) is celebrating their 75th year on air in 2016. The station was founded by Les Biederman, and went on air for the first time on January 8, 1941, using a hand-built control console. Read more here.


Jennifer White Leaving MI Radio for WBEZ

All Things Considered host Jennifer White has left Michigan Radio for Chicago, where she has accepted a position as on-air anchor and host at Chicago Public Radio, WBEZ. Read more here.

TRAFFIC DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT: CAREY JARVIS
Carey Jarvis, WSYM Fox 47

Carey Jarvis is the Traffic Manager at WSYM Fox 47 in Lansing, where he has been for ten of his twenty years in traffic. Click here to read his spotlight article.

In This Issue
New Student Memberships!
High school or college student interested in the broadcasting and media industry can now get a yearly membership for $15!


Pay Your Associate Membership Online
You can now pay your Associate Membership online!


Upcoming Events
Please note the new date for GLBC:
May 2-3, 2016.



Shhh! 'Quiet period' before the spectrum auction has begun as of January 12, 2016. 

















Download the MAB's legislative directory app from the Apple or Google Play store. Click here to view our app online.



MAAF - Amber Alert Foundation


Legal Hotline June 1 2012
Michigan Assoc. of Broadcasters | 517-484-7444 | [email protected] | http://www.michmab.com
819 N. Washington Ave
Lansing, MI 48906