JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 CHAIR’S COLUMN Wex’s WBA New Year’s Resolution Happy New Year to Wisconsin’s local Resolution No. 3: Lobby with the WBA. Our state and federal elected broadcasters. officials work for us. Time and time again, when we’ve spoken with a strong and unified voice, we are heard. Join us for our state Legislative It’s been an honor to serve as your Chair during this Day and the Federal Legislative trip to Washington, D.C. turbulent, exciting, and challenging year. I’ll leave you Resolution No. 4: Invite young people into your business. Look with some resolutions that I hope we all can agree are around the management and ownership tables and you’ll likely see a good for our industry, our state association and each group of dedicated professionals who love television and radio. But how Steve Wexler other. WBA Chair many of them represent the next generation of professionals who will be Resolution No. 1: Become a First Amendment making important decisions about our future? Speak to students. Invite zealot. The freedoms of the media, guaranteed in our sacred younger broadcasters into the fold. Mentor a student. Our future Constitution, have never been under attack in the manner they are depends on it. today. State legislators try to gut Wisconsin’s open records laws. The President of the United States refers to the free press as the “enemy of Resolution No. 5: Be a change embracer. I decided a while ago to stop the people.” Regardless of your political leaning, we need to be vigilant pining for the past. The future is here, it is now, and yes: everything is and more aggressive in protecting the First Amendment on behalf of our changing. Our industry has seen changes in technology, audience audiences and fellow citizens. behavior, content and delivery of our products at breathtaking speed. But isn’t it reassuring that regardless of how we deliver our products, Resolution No. 2: Recommit to the WBA. Your state association there is strong demand for information, entertainment, and local advocates and serves on your behalf. Let’s reciprocate in bigger and commerce solutions in our markets? more meaningful ways. Attend our conferences (and send more of your fellow employees), make donations to the WBA Foundation to help Finally, thank you for your support of your WBA and to Michelle, ensure our legacy, serve on WBA committees that interest you, run the Linda, Kyle, and Liz for “herding cats” and keeping us moving forward to NCSA/PEP schedules (this is our No. 1 funding source!). In short, our our next year, which will undoubtedly be full of new challenges and association needs all of us like never before. Let’s step up. opportunities. PRESIDENT’S COLUMN CONTENTS 2019 WBA Slate of Officers, Directors announced. 2 Broadcasters mark the season by helping Thompson awarded first WBA Distinguished Service Award . 3 others Awards Column . 3 WBA establishes Legislative Committee . 4 I hope you all had a joyous holiday season! And….I’d like to WPT announces education-focused extend a very special thank you to those of you who made partnership. 4 year-end donations to your WBA Foundation! Educators’ Column: Seminar set to help Michelle student broadcasters. 5 Vetterkind, We would also like to thank our less fortunate during the holiday season. Check out our Committee approves body cameras bill . 5 CAE valued members as… website to find a video that highlights just a few Young Professionals Column: Toolbox event WBA President ‘bigger and better’ for 2019 . 6 and CEO Broadcasters made a examples. If your station did something to help out, please let us know. Email [email protected]. Podcasting and Young Professionals difference while spreading holiday cheer Session . 6 Winter Conference and State We are proud to say that radio and TV stations Come to Your WBA Winter Conference and Legislative Day. 7 throughout Wisconsin celebrated the holiday State Legislative Day Members in the Spotlight . 8-15 season by helping their communities. Your WBA Winter Conference and State Legislative Names in the News . 9 Stations held food drives, phone banks, contests, Day agenda is set and we're hoping to see you at the Walker Broadcast Management Institute. 16 and other promotions to raise money and food to Madison Concourse Hotel on Jan. 30. Two ways to recognize great help causes in their communities and help those broadcasters. 17 The day starts with the job fair followed by a valuable Jacobs Media: Broadcasters What a wonderful treat to spend EEO session and our business luncheon where we will looking ahead to 2019 . 18 some time with WBA Hall of Famer be honoring former Governor Tommy Thompson with Support the WBA with a Larry Busse at the Dec. 30 game at the first ever WBA Distinguished Service Award. click of your mouse . 19 Lambeau Field! And a special thank That's followed by the introduction of our new WBA’s DC Trip . 19 you to Holiday Vacations for your Legislative Committee, a legislative briefing, our annual Calendar of Events. 20 gracious (and warm) hospitality! Continued on page 2> PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Continued from page 1 visits to the State Capitol, and the legislative Awards close on Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. CT. Disqualifications reception at the Concourse. have grown over the last two years, and many of those disqualified entries are submitted at the last We hope you can also make it to Madison the day Wisconsin Broadcasters Association before the conference (Jan. 29) for a special session minute. aimed at stations interested in podcasting and Awards Committee member Tom Swigert complied Officers & Board of Directors another aimed at young professionals. some tips to help you avoid disqualifications, and we OFFICERS 2018-2019 even produced a fun video to help you as well. Find Seth Resler from Jacobs Media will be at the Chair of the Board Concourse that afternoon to talk about how to get both highlighted on our website. Steve Wexler Good Karma Brands, Milwaukee started in podcasting, and if you're already Webinars Vice Chair - Television, Chair Elect podcasting, how to grow your audience. We've added a wonderful assortment of useful Steve Lavin WBAY-TV, Green Bay The young professionals’ session later that afternoon webinars for you (and your teams) for 2019. Put Treasurer will be about state politics and will meet at the State them on your calendar now before your schedule Chris Bernier Radio Plus, Marinette/Fond du Lac Capitol. The group will tour the Capitol and then gets cluttered. Secretary WMTV-TV, Madison meet with Michelle Kussow from The Capitol Group Jan. 8 Drive Them To The Website – What Your Don Vesely who will talk about how laws are made and changed Immediate Past Chair Clients’ Broadcast Ads Must Do to Increase Dick Record Family Radio, La Crosse at the Capitol. The young professionals will also hear Online Sales from veteran political reporter Jessica Arp. We hope BOARD OF DIRECTORS the attendees will consider joining State Legislative Jan. 17 Creative Sales Ideas from Paul Weyland Day the following day. Feb. 21 Dealing with Consumer Anxiety about Judson Beck WLAX-TV/WEUX-TV, La Crosse/Eau Claire Fake News with Esther Thorson, Michigan We will finish with a chance to mix and mingle at a Lynn Bieritz Mid-West Family Broadcasting, fun venue on the Capitol Square. All broadcasters are State University Eau Claire welcome to join us at Cooper's Tavern. April 18 Updating Website TOS Agreements Keith Bratel iHeart Media, Madison Agendas are on pages 6-7, and registration for May 16 Programming: You Are Doing It Wrong Juli Buehler WLUK-TV, Green Bay all of these events are on our website: with Kevin Robinson Brian Burns Morgan Murphy Media, Madison wi-broadcasters.org. Please consider sending your July 18 Chief Operator Rules with Larry Wilkins, staff members to these insightful (and fun) sessions. Paul Cameron The Family Radio Network, Appleton Alabama Broadcasters Association Dave EdwardsWUWM-FM, Nominations Open for WBA Hall of Fame and Sept. 19 What the Future Sales Team Looks Like Milwaukee Public Radio, Milwaukee WBA Local Broadcast Legends and How You Can Prepare with Laurie Kahn, JT Koser Koser Radio Group, Rice Lake/Hayward The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, but don't Media Staffing Network Lupita Montoto La Movida WLMV Radio, Madison delay! Learn more on our website and on page 17. Oct .17 Recruiting and Hiring Better Sales People Mark Strachota Weigel Broadcasting Co., Finally, I’d like to highlight another popular WBA with Chris Lytle Milwaukee Member Service: You can find many of our webinars archived on our Chuck Sullivan Entercom Communications, Hales WBA Awards competitions underway website. As always, our webinars are FREE to all WBA Corners The WBA Awards for Excellence competition and members. Jan Wade WISN-TV, Milwaukee WBA Student Awards are both open. Don't put off As we turn to 2019, it promises to be an eventful year Jeff Welton Nautel, Hackett’s Cove, Nova Scotia making your submissions! Truly, we can’t stress that for your WBA! Here’s to a happy, healthy, and Michael Wright Midwest Communications, enough. The deadline for the WBA Awards for prosperous 2019! Thank you, as always, for your time Wausau Excellence is Jan. 9 at 11:59 p.m. CT and the Student and support. Ex Officio - NAB Board Tom Walker 2019 WBA Slate of Officers, Directors announced Mid-West Family Broadcasting, Madison The WBA Nominating Committee has set a slate of officers and directors for OFFICERS Staff consideration by the WBA general membership.