The Supreme Court has begun putting cases on its fall calendar but has yet to decide whether to hear the appeal over media ownership regulations and efforts continue to convince the justices to review the case, according to a report in InsideRadio. At issue is whether a federal appeals court in Philadelphia overstepped its authority… read more
The MAB has limited openings still available in our 2020 Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program, (ABIP) season. Our inspector will travel through Bay City, the Thumb Area, Ludington, Traverse City, Cadillac, Petoskey, Alpena, Chalevoix and Harrisville from September 14 to 21. Think the FCC no longer does routine inspections? Guess again. Book your inspection now, as… read more
U.S. Sen. Stabenow, Congressman Upton will Provide Federal Updates at Annual Business Meeting Rob Elhenicky will Give Insight on the Primary’s Impact on Political Advertising Budgets The Annual Business Meeting of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters will be hosted on Zoom this year. Join us to gain valuable insight into Congressional efforts toward economic recovery… read more
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. announced that Jennifer Rieffer has been promoted to Vice President/General Manager for WSMH-TV (FOX) in Flint, effective August 3. She also will oversee Sinclair’s provision of services to WEYI-TV (NBC) and WBSF-TV (CW) under joint sales agreements. Rieffer is currently Vice President/General Manager of WDKY-TV (FOX) in Lexington, Ken. The announcement… read more
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-4) on Wednesday (7/30) became the sixth Michigan Congressman to cosponsor H.Con.Res 20, known as the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA). Congressmen Moolenaar joins Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-12), Fred Upton (R-6), Tim Walberg (R-7), Paul Mitchell (R-10) and Bill Huizenga (R-2) as one of the 225 bipartisan LRFA cosponsors. The resolution… read more
A bipartisan congressional duo has called on Congress to take care of broadcasters in the next COVID-19 aid package by allowing individual stations that are part of larger groups to qualify as local businesses eligible for the money, according to a report in InsideRadio. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) and Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), co-chairs of the Congressional… read more
State House Democrats remain woefully behind their Republican counterparts when it comes to cash on hand heading into the general election but kept fundraising close in the second quarter of 2020, according to a report from Gongwer. The Michigan House Democratic Fund raised $788,692 and The House Republican Campaign Committee raised $794,685 between April 21… read more
WLUC-TV (Marquette) reports that Buck LeVasseur, longtime station employee and creator/host of the show Discovering passed away July 28 at age 70. LeVasseur was with WLUC-TV for more than three decades, starting in the news department in 1976. In 1980, Discovering was created and he was the host, producer, reporter and videographer for the weekly… read more
Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) has announced that Lexi Krupp has been hired as the station’s new science and conservation reporter. Krupp comes to IPR from Gimlet Media, where she helped the “Science Vs” podcast team distinguish what’s fact from what’s not, and has written for a range of publications including Audubon and Vice. She will… read more
On July 30, Scripps Media’s WXYZ-TV (Detroit) and WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids) teamed together to present a virtual town hall on returning safely back to school. Moderated by WXYZ anchors Carolyn Clifford and Glenda Lewis and WXMI Anchor Mike Avery, the program brought in experts including State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice, Dr. Joneigh Khaldum, Chief Medical… read more