Issue #48 - February 14, 2017 | View online
Hello Michigan Broadcasters!


We continue with our preview of The Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference (GLBC),with a preview of two radio programming sessions you won't want to miss. If you're not registered yet, you and your staff can do so here.  Get the early rate now, but hurry...this ends February 19!



Also inside:  lots of news out of the FCC with the new administration, plus notice of EEO audits, an engineering spotlight, news from around the state and a management piece from contributor Dick Taylor.



Have a great week.
 

Dan Kelley

Director of Technical Services

Digital Communications Manager


GLBC 2017!


Radio Programmers:  Don't Miss These Sessions at GLBC!



From important educational sessions to the ever popular Broadcast Excellence Awards Ceremony, the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference (GLBC) is designed with YOU in mind and planned so that you can make the most of your time at the conference! Longtime radio programmer and consultant Kevin Robinson is at GLBC this year to present thought-provoking sessions with ideas that you can take back to your station.



Make plans to attend the conference today!  Read more about the radio programming sessions here.  Click here to register for GLBC.  Register before February 19 to get the early rate!




GLBC Exhibit Hall Filling Up!



Only a few booths remain for the exhibit hall at the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference. Get a sneak peak at the Tuesday, March 7 exhibit hall preview reception, then book your appointments over beer and bull at our legendary welcome event.



Remember, Exhibit Hall tickets are FREE.  And, if you don't see the supplier you want, give them a call and tell them you want to see them at GLBC 2017!  Read more here...





Find your Next Top Employee at the GLBC Career Fair



Do you need to recruit some young, talented, driven individuals? Then it's time to sign your station up for the MAB Foundation's most popular and highly attended career fair!  Read more here...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
State of Michigan Legislative Update



Senate Committee Passes FOIA Exemptions



Information on bids, quotes or proposals involved in a procurement process would be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) until after the contract is awarded under Senate Bill 69, which was voted out of the Senate Government Operations Committee. The information would be publicly available after a vendor is selected, but trade secrets, proprietary and other financial information about a company that may cause competitive harm to the company would not be available through a FOIA request under this legislation. Read more here...
Federal/Congressional Update



FCC Releases First EEO Audit

for 2017




Over 200 radio and almost 80 TV stations named in the audit notice, including Michigan stations.



By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP



In the swirl of news about the deregulatory efforts of the new FCC, one could almost forget that there are still many regulations in place that require significant amounts of paperwork retention by broadcasters. That point was hammered home last week,  when the FCC released its first EEO audit letter of 2017 for radio and TV broadcasters.  Read more here...





Pai Revokes Wheeler's Regulations



FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the commission was revoking a number of orders and reports issued in previous Chairman Tom Wheeler's term, what Pai called "midnight regulations." Pai said, "In the waning days of the last administration, the Federal Communications Commission's bureaus and offices released a series of controversial orders and reports. In some cases, commissioners were given no advance notice whatsoever of these midnight regulations." Read more here...





Chairman Pai Institutes Greater Transparency



According to a report by TVNewsCheck, FCC Chairman Pai on February 7, released a "process reform measure" that changes previous commission procedure that he said he has sometimes found "inappropriate and disrespectful."

Read more here...





FCC Lifts Quiet Period for Broadcasters



According to a report in Broadcasting & Cable, the FCC lifted the quiet period and enabled broadcasters who participated in the incentive auction to talk freely and negotiate among themselves to buy or sell their stations.

Read more here... 




ENGINEERING SPOTLIGHT
Erik Jones (Cumulus Media/Ann Arbor)


Erik Jones is Chief Engineer for Cumulus Media Ann Arbor (WWWW-FM/WQKL-FM/WTKA-AM/WLBY-AM) and IT Support Engineer for Cumulus Media Great Lakes Region.  Erik has been in his present position since October of 2012.  Read more about Erik here...
IN THE NEWS
Television Groups Announce Spectrum Proceeds



Without mentioning any specific call letters of affected facilities, major broadcast groups have begun announcing the proceeds they expect to receive from the FCC's broadcast spectrum auction, now that the commission has lifted the quiet period for broadcasters. Read more here...





jacapps Adds Sari Zalesin, Shifts Alex Burnstein to Marketing Director



On February 6, Bingham Farms-based jacapps, a leading radio mobile app developer, announced an expansion of its sales force by adding former radio programmer, salesperson and on-air talent, Sari Zalesin, to focus on new product lines for radio. The company is shifting Alex Burnstein, who has held that role for the past seven years, into the newly created position of Director of Marketing.  Read more here...




Conclave Offers Discount to MAB Members



MAB members can save $50 on their registration for the 42nd Conclave Learning Conference, to be held in Minneapolis, MN July 26-28, 2017.  From strategy sessions on generating ratings and revenue, to effective use of social, mobile and podcasting, attendees will gain actionable takeaways to implement at their stations immediately.  Read more here...

EDUCATION & TRAINING
New P1 Learning Training Course:

Managing an Enterprise Account: Five Minute Debrief


Course Description: You just finished meeting with a potential client. Did you get the sale? Did you achieve your goal? In this program, we discuss the five minute debrief. This debrief is to help you understand what went wrong or what went well during your call and if there's anything you need to improve before the next time you talk to your prospect.  Click here to log in and watch this course...


Support: For questions, support or additional information please contact our amazing support team by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 944-9377.



Don't miss out on your opportunity for free, online training as an MAB member!   Sign your staff up today!




SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES
WWJ-AM Raises 1.45 Million+


On February 10, CBS Radio's WWJ-AM (Detroit) held its 14th annual Winter Survival Radiothon for THAW (The Heat and Warmth Fund), raising more than $1.45 million to help thousands of families in southeastern Michigan who cannot afford to heat their homes or keep their lights on this winter. Read more here...


MANAGEMENT
What Amazon Could Teach Radio

By: Dick Taylor, CRMC/CDMC, Dick Taylor Blog

 
I can't think of a more competitive marketplace than one that offers infinite choice. This is the marketplace that Amazon operates in. It's called the Internet.



So how is Amazon doing?



Exceptionally well.  
Read more here...
SOCIAL MEDIA & WEB
Deciding What Pages to Put on Your Radio Station's Website (and Where to Put Them)

By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies


Last year, we redesigned the Jacobs Media website, enabling us to implement the same Content Marketing digital strategy we recommend to our clients. We believe strongly that whenever possible, we should do the same things we recommend to you. It's why we've been actively podcasting, and it's why we're executing essentially the same Content Marketing program we espouse. Read more here...

MABF
What's the Key to a Job in Media?  Find Out at GLBC!


The Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference & EXPO (GLBC) is the Midwest's premier educational and networking event for radio, television, media professionals and students alike.



What's the key to succeeding in the broadcast and media industries??? Networking with professionals and learning the skills you'll need to become competitive!  
Read more here...




2017 Student Award Winners are Posted!



THANK YOU to those who participated in the 2017 MAB Foundation Student Broadcast Awards! We had 689 entries this year!  The judging process is complete and we have posted the winners' names and schools on our website. Read more here...
MAPB
Spectrum Auction Includes Flint's

WCMZ-TV


On February 8, Central Michigan University outlined plans for its five public television and eight radio stations following the Federal Communications Commission's landmark broadcast spectrum auction, which was conducted to gain spectrum for the nation's cellular and digital services.



CMU Public Broadcasting will continue to operate its radio stations and four TV stations across central and northern Michigan while selling its Flint station (WCMZ-TV) for $14 million.  Read more here...





Michigan Radio accepts duPont-Columbia Award for Flint Documentary



Members of Michigan Radio's news team were in New York on Jan. 25 accepting the station's first Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award. Michigan Radio received the prestigious award for the documentary, Not Safe to DrinkRead more here...
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In This Issue
New Student Memberships!


High school or college students interested in the broadcasting and media industry can now get a yearly membership for $15!





CALENDAR


Thanks for the Support of Our Associate Members!


Adrian College/WVAC-FM 






Bell Media Inc.






















Hillsdale College/WRFH-LP



Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan












Michael Murphy








Robert Ridder Broadcasting Consultants


















Michigan Assoc. of Broadcasters | 517-484-7444 | [email protected] | http://www.michmab.com

819 N. Washington Ave

Lansing, MI 48906



Michigan Assoc. of Broadcasters | 819 N. Washington Ave | Lansing | MI | 48906