MAY/JUNE 2018 CHAIR’S COLUMN Our Real Threat TV was going to replace radio. FM was Perhaps like you, I had the broadcast “bug” when I was a kid. I created a “faux” radio station in my room in my folk’s house in Shorewood, supposed to replace AM. Tapes would Wisconsin when I was 14 years old (“WEXL, We Excel In Music!”). I rode supplant records. 8-tracks would kill my bike to Journal’s WTMJ when I was 17 years old and asked if I could tapes. Cable would end television. be on the radio. I was told “no”, but was invited to meet radio personality Jonathan Green, who asked me to hang around, answer the phone, get Later, satellite would be the end of terrestrial radio. his coffee, and learn all about broadcasting. Steve Wexler And today, digital audio and video is predicted to If an intern showed That was the beginning of a journey that WBA Chair foreshadow the end of free, over-the-air television and up in your lobby would take me from unpaid intern to the radio. today and expressed head of the radio division. Of course, none of this turned out to be true. interest in TV or If an intern showed up in your lobby today Instead, broadcasters adjusted and revised business strategies to meet radio, what response and expressed interest in TV or radio, what consumers and advertisers where they are: on the air, online, and over would they get? response would they get? Would someone numerous digital platforms. come out and talk about our business and None of the tremendous technology and media advances over the past potential opportunities with them? More to the point, are young people 50 years should scare us. In fact, they ought to energize and stimulate interested in our business in the first place? our thinking, propelling us forward to innovate and create new ways to As I think about the WBA’s many outreach programs and activities, I find reach our audiences on behalf of our advertisers. the work we do with students the most inspiring. At the recent Student What does scare me, however, is our inability and/or reluctance to Seminar, I met many young energetic and talented students eager to recruit, train, promote, and encourage young people to become part of talk about careers in media. Many of them were lured by on-air positions our industry. and some even seemed surprised to hear about the many opportunities in production, sales and marketing, and promotion. continued on page 2 > CONTENTS Walker re-elected to NAB Board. 3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Website helps viewers know when to rescan for repack. 3 WBA Summer Conference . 4 WBA ramping up for busy season The Toolbox . 7 Educators’ Column . 7 Spring is (finally) here and your WBA Team could not be Young Professionals’ Column. 7 Hall of Fame: Four new names to be added . 8, 9 happier! I’m sure many of you (especially you Wisconsinites) WBA Newsroom . 11 feel the same way! EAS Live Code Test Recap. 12 Michelle Awards recognize openness, lack of openness 12 Vetterkind, This is, without a doubt, one of Panelists named for WBA Foundation CAE our busiest seasons at your WBA. primary debates. 13 WBA President Let me highlight a few of our Wisconsin stations pick up 24 regional and CEO Murrow awards . 13 upcoming events: Four to Receive Local Broadcast Legends Wisconsin Army National Guard Awards. 14-15 I recently had lunch with Recruiting and Members in the Spotlight . 15-16 Retention Battalion Commander LTC Dean NAB Show in Las Vegas . 17 Nemecek and Capt. Mike Olson from the Four new names to be added to Wisconsin Army National Guard. WBA Foundation Hall of Fame . 18 Vetterkind with Wisconsin Army National Guard Recruiting and We, and they, are so pleased with the renewed Jacobs Media: Retention Capt. Mike Olson and Battalion Commander LTC Dean partnership at the National Level—and we all so How do all of your station’s digital tools Nemecek connect back to the bottom line?. 18 appreciate the support that you, our valued Jowett Fellowship supports training for members, have provided for the Army National visits to several Wisconsin stations. We so photographers . 19 Guard with our NCSA/PEP Program. appreciate the support you’ve shown them. I know 15 graduates join Walker Broadcast Our Guard friends are also in the process of making they have certainly enjoyed your hospitality. Management Institute alumni . 19 Continued on page 2> PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Continued from page 1 You’ll be seeing many of our Wisconsin Army Hall of Fame Inductees and Local Broadcast Legends National Guard friends at the upcoming WBA Referring to two proud highlights of the event, Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards Gala and the WBA Summer Conference. please join me in congratulating our 2018 WBA Officers & Board of Directors As always, please join us in making them feel Hall of Fame Inductees: Tom Koser, Chris Lytle, welcome! Bob Smith, and Gary Timm and our Local OFFICERS 2018-2019 Broadcast Legend Award Recipients: Kathy Chair of the Board Awards Gala Steve Wexler Keene, Margaret Neader, John M. Wadd, and Jeff E. W. Scripps Company, Milwaukee What can I say? Record entries (and it’s looking Wagner. like record attendance as well). It’s going to be a Vice Chair - Radio, Chair Elect I look forward to seeing you (and celebrating Nancy Douglass WLKG-FM, Lake Geneva GREAT night! Do you have your Kentucky Derby with you) in June at the Hilton Milwaukee City Vice Chair - Television outfit yet? I do! My goal for the night is to not hit Center in downtown Milwaukee. It’s most fitting Steve Lavin WBAY-TV, Green Bay my co-host, Steve Wexler, in the head too many as the hotel is also the home of the WBA’s Treasurer times with my hat! Chris Bernier Radio Plus, Marinette/Fond du Lac amazing Hall of Fame display. You definitely won’t Secretary Jowett Fellowship want to miss it! Don Vesely WMTV-TV, Madison Don’t forget that applications for the (first ever) Primary Debates Immediate Past Chair Rick Jowett Fellowship are due on June 1 (see Dick Record Family Radio, La Crosse And….of course, our debates! While your WBA page 15). Foundation has a rich and proud history of BOARD OF DIRECTORS We’re tremendously proud of this Fellowship in offering debates for the gubernatorial and Judson Beck WLAX-TV/WEUX-TV, honor of our friend and are most appreciative of U.S. Senate elections in the general elections La Crosse/Eau Claire everyone who has contributed to the Jowett for over 30 years, we’re excited to venture into Lynn Bieritz Mid-West Family Broadcasting, Fellowship fund. We’ve also had several multi- hosting debates for the primaries this year. Eau Claire year pledges. If you’d like to contribute, just let The Democratic candidates for governor will Keith Bratel iHeart Media, Madison me know! debate Friday, July 13 at 7 p.m. in Madison. Juli Buehler WLUK-TV, Green Bay The Republican candidates for U.S. Senate will Brian Burns Morgan Murphy Media, Madison Summer Conference debate Saturday, July 21 at 7 p.m. in Wausau. Paul Cameron The Family Radio Network, Appleton This year’s WBA Summer Conference is shaping WBA Hall of Famer Jill Geisler will moderate Dave EdwardsWUWM-FM, up to be one of our best ever! If you haven’t both debates. The general election debates Milwaukee Public Radio, Milwaukee signed up yet, please do so now! I’m sure you’ll will be scheduled at a later date. JT Koser Koser Radio Group, Rice Lake/Hayward agree the Conference Committee did a wonderful job with the agenda. We’re thrilled to have NAB I look forward to seeing many of you over the Lupita Montoto La Movida WLMV Radio, Madison President and CEO Gordon Smith joining us and next couple of months (and some of you, multiple times)! Mark Strachota Weigel Broadcasting Co., we’re also looking forward to the debut of The Milwaukee Toolbox! The WBA Young Professionals have done Your WBA Team is well aware that we’re blessed Chuck Sullivan Entercom Communications, Hales a great job with planning this one-day event that to have such tremendous member participation! Corners Please know that we don’t take it (or you) for will take place on Friday following the Jan Wade WISN-TV, Milwaukee conference. Make sure to show your support by granted. Jeff Welton Nautel, Hackett’s Cove, Nova Scotia sending the Young Professionals at your station. Thank you, as always, for your time & support! Michael Wright Midwest Communications, You’ll be glad you did! Wausau Ex Officio - NAB Board CHAIR’S COLUMN Continued from page 1 Tom Walker I hope you’ll support these efforts, including the challenging, and fulfilling our industry can be. I am Mid-West Family Broadcasting, Madison Young Professional’s “Toolbox” one-day seminar on going to recommit myself this coming year to June 22, right after our summer conference in become more active in these efforts in my own Staff Milwaukee. New initiatives like this one, in addition company and within our own WBA. President & CEO to Ken Beno’s work with students across the state, Michelle Vetterkind, CAE Media technology will continue to evolve, bringing [email protected] help position our industry as forward-thinking and with it new challenges and opportunities as audiences Vice President - Administration relevant to a new generation of broadcasters. seek new ways to consume our content.