We begin this week's News Briefs with a special announcement for all stations, commercial and public, from the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters (MAPB), concerning proposed funding cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and its impact on Michigan. 

Also in this issue, details on the upcoming Statewide Tornado Test; some sad news out of Detroit; and a great sales article by Duane Alverson, President of MacDonald Broadcasting Company in Saginaw and Lansing.

Have an excellent week! 

 
Dan Kelley
Director of Technical Services
Digital Communications Manager

President Trump's proposed budget eliminates funding for public media and the arts.  The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), is the nonprofit agency that primarily channels funding for programming and operations to local public radio and TV stations nationwide. Additional funds go to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), who supply programming to thousands of local affiliates including Michigan Public Broadcasters.
Read more here...

On Tuesday, March 28, Senator Mike Kowall (R-Whitelake) and Senator Margaret O'Brien (R-Portage) introduced a resolution that the members of the Michigan Senate proclaim March 29, 2017, as "Vietnam Veterans Day."  Read more and see video here...

The MAB just wrapped up the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference (GLBC) a few weeks back and now we're gearing up for our next big event: the annual MAB Advocacy Conference and Annual Meeting, to be held at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, August 22-23.
Read more here...

According to a report in Broadcasting & Cable, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has petitioned the FCC to reconsider its "flawed" framework and timeline for repacking TV stations after the incentive auction, saying not to do so will hurt broadcasters and their viewers.  Read more here...

In conjunction with Michigan's Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 16-22, broadcasters and emergency management partners statewide are encouraged to participate in a statewide tornado drill at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 19.  Read more with updated details here...

The MAB is putting together a new member resource:  a list of available contract engineers working in the state, available for stations in the event they need assistance.
Read more here... 

By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP
www.broadcastlawblog.com

With April Fools' Day only a few days away, we need to play our role as attorneys and ruin the fun by repeating our annual reminder that broadcasters need to be careful with any on-air pranks, jokes or other bits prepared especially for the day.  Read more here...

We have never had so many choices! Just look at how many different screens you can watch March Madness on this year. And most of them are not sitting in your living room in front of your favorite chair. Read more here...

Every radio station should be building a text message list. Text message lists are inexpensive ways to stay engaged with your P1 listeners. It is far easier for listeners to opt in to a text message list than give you their email address when they are out and about with nothing but their mobile phones. This means that text message lists are perfect for concerts, sporting events, and other on-premise promotions. Read more here...

The application deadline for HOMTV's Internship Program for the Summer 2017 semester is April 1, 2017.  More detaila and links to the application here...