JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 WBA Awards Deadline is Jan. 8! CHAIR’S COLUMN Local newsrooms strive to inform communities without bias Reporters, managers doing excellent work years, I can’t watch it anymore because your news is biased.” They My name and email address is listed at the top rarely give specifics. They just claim bias. I enjoy corresponding of the station management contact page on our with these viewers so I can learn more about their accusations. It’s station website so viewers tend to send me the funny how a local news station can be both conservatively biased most emails with their questions or concerns. I and liberally biased all on the same day. get comments about anything you can imagine, Can our local news organizations survive in our markets if we and some are downright silly. A couple weeks ago served up a favored slant in our local news coverage? The last time Steve Lavin I found out how critical “General Hospital” is to I checked, Wisconsin is a solid purple state. We would lose half WBA Chair several viewers in our area. I guess live breaking our local news audience if we actually catered to one view or the news coverage of a violent attack on a school re- other. source officer and the safety of 800 local high school students was I have had some conversations with others in the business, and not enough of a concern for them. Some viewers can’t understand this is what I think: why they received six inches of snow at their house when our me- teorologists predicted 3-5 inches. Others are critical of our talents’ • Cable outlets devote prime-time hours to opinion hosts giving hairstyle or wardrobe. I could do a whole column on that subject. their takes and perspective on the news. Many cable show hosts would admit they are not journalists as they clearly favor a certain The concern that I have seen most often lately are the comments political view. like, “Although I have been watching your news religiously for 25 Continued on page 3> CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S COLUMN 2020 Slate of Officers............. 2 First Amendment campaign Grant takes new approach to helping extended............................... 3 Grant offers college debt future broadcasters relief...................................... 3 While the WBA’s scholarships continue listing the first two Young Professional of the Year Help to generate digital revenue................................. 4 to support students looking to start honorees on page 10. Heather Storm and Eric Bartos are the first two of six Young Professionals Winter Conference and State Michelle a career in broadcasting, one of our Legislative Day....................... 5 Vetterkind, scholarships is changing to a grant we will recognize ahead of the Broadcasters making a CAE aimed at helping young broadcasters WBA Summer Conference where difference............................... 6-7 WBA President who might want help paying down we will name one of the six as Member news........................ 8-9 and CEO their student debt. our WBA Young Professional of the Year. Young Professionals The Results Broadcasting Scholar- honored................................. 10 ship is now the Results Broadcasting Education Debt Do you have a YP on your staff How the WBA finds award judges................................... 11 Assistance Grant. who you think should be honored next year? You can submit nominations anytime. Check out the Obituaries.............................. 12 Grant originators Bruce and Don Grassman are inter- details on page 10. WBA Newsroom ested in helping those who have committed them- headlines............................... 13 selves to a career in broadcasting by providing $1,000 Fast turnaround on your survey answers Student Seminar in student debt relief. agenda.................................. 14 Thank you to those of you who responded to an online survey from Jacobs Media that we sent Nominations open for Hall You can read more about the grant on page 3, includ- of Fame, Local Broadcast ing all the requirements. We’re accepting applications to our members. We wanted to know about the Legends................................. 15 now through Feb. 28 and will recognize the recipient greatest challenges you’re facing regarding digital Speaker announced for Walker at the WBA Summer Conference. media. Broadcast Management Institute................................. 15 Young Professionals of the Year The results of the survey were very clear: You want help with monetizing your digital efforts. Calendar of Events................. 16 And...we have another first in this newsletter. We’re Continued on page 2> 1 Wisconsin Broadcaster | wi-broadcasters.org PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Continued from page 1 Well, we’re listening and so is WBA partner Making a Difference Jacobs Media. Paul Jacobs is coming to Madison Wisconsin’s broadcasters have a lot to be proud on Tuesday, Jan. 28 to make a pre- of and it’s made so clear during the holiday sentation about monetizing digital. season. Please be sure to turn to pages 6-7 to Jacobs Media is also going to focus on Wisconsin Broadcasters Association get a taste of what your fellow radio and TV sta- that topic in their columns and we will Officers & Board of Directors tion members did to make the season brighter continue to work with Jacobs Media on for people in their communities. Hundreds of OFFICERS 2019-2020 Paul Jacobs other ways to help members with this thousands of dollars were raised and countless Chair of the Board critical topic. Learn more on page 5. Steve Lavin WBAY-TV, Green Bay hours were dedicated to making life better for Vice Chair - Radio, Chair Elect Body cams likely to lead on State Legislative Day the people of Wisconsin. Your generosity knows Chris Bernier Radio Plus, Marinette/ We hope you will consider joining your fellow no bounds! Fond du Lac broadcasters on Wednesday, Jan. 29 in Madison You might already be a member Vice Chair - Television Don Vesely WMTV-TV, Madison to spend time with our state lawmakers. State As we wrap up the membership renewal sea- Treasurer Legislative Day is part of our Winter Conference. son, it’s a fitting time to remind you that anyone Lupita Montoto La Movida WLMV Radio, This year we expect to be talking to lawmakers who works for a station that is a WBA member Madison about a bill that would set rules regarding police is, themselves, a member of the WBA. Secretary body cameras, which include new rules about Jan Wade WISN-TV, Milwaukee The WBA offers memberships for retired broad- Immediate Past Chair the release of video recorded by these cameras. casters, associate members, but of course, most Steve Wexler Good Karma Brands, If you’ve never joined us for State Legislative Day, of our members are the radio and TV stations Milwaukee we can team you up with broadcasters who’ve of Wisconsin and all the wonderful people who BOARD OF DIRECTORS done it before. Getting to know your local law- work at those stations. Judson Beck WLAX-TV/WEUX-TV, La Crosse/Eau Claire makers can be an interesting and enlightening I hope you and your families and friends a safe, Brian Burns Morgan Murphy Media, Madison experience. We encourage you to get involved. happy, and fulfilling 2020. Paul Cameron The Family Radio Network, Contact us to learn more. Appleton Herb Cody QueenB Radio, Platteville Dave Edwards WUWM-FM, 2020 WBA Slate of Officers, Directors to be Milwaukee Public Radio, Milwaukee Anna Engelhart WKOW-TV, Madison considered at Winter Conference Aleese Fielder NRG Media-Wausau/ Stevens Point The WBA Nominating Committee has set a slate of officers and directors for consideration by the WBA JT Koser Koser Radio Group, Rice Lake/ general membership. As provided by WBA by-laws, Chris Bernier, Radio Plus, Marinette/Fond du Lac, Hayward the current WBA Vice Chair and Chair-Elect, will automatically be elevated to the position of Chair of the Mike Smith WFRV-TV, Green Bay Board at the 2020 WBA General Membership meeting. The committee made the following nominations, Mark Strachota WDJT-TV/CBS & Telemundo, which will be voted upon by the general membership during the WBA Winter Conference on Jan. 29. Milwaukee Chuck Sullivan Entercom Communications, Officers Two-Year Director Terms Hales Corners Vice Chair–TV/Chair Elect Don Vesely, WMTV-TV, Director (SW District TV): Judson Beck, WLAX-TV/ Jeff Welton Nautel, Hackett’s Cove, Nova Scotia Madison WEUX-TV, La Crosse/Eau Claire Michael Wright Midwest Communications, Vice Chair–Radio Lupita Montoto, La Movida, Director (NW District TV): Brian Burns, Morgan Green Bay/Wausau Madison Murphy Media, Madison Ex Officio - NAB Board Tom Walker Mid-West Family Broadcasting, Treasurer Jan Wade, WISN-TV, Milwaukee Director (NE District Radio): Andy Gille, Midwest Madison Secretary Michael Wright, Midwest Communi- Communications, Green Bay WBA Team cations, Wausau Director (SE District Radio): Chuck Sullivan, President & CEO Entercom, Milwaukee Michelle Vetterkind, CAE The 2020 WBA Board of Directors will also include Steve Lavin, WBAY-TV, Green Bay, who will remain as [email protected] Vice President - Administration ex-officio Past Chair. Linda Baun Mid-term Directors not facing re-election include: (NW Radio): Aleese Fielder, NRG Media, Wausau/Ste- [email protected] vens Point; (SW Radio) Herb Cody, QueenB Radio, Platteville; (NE TV) Mike Smith, WFRV-TV, Green Bay; and NCSA/PEP Coordinator (SE TV) Mark Strachota, WDJT-TV/CBS & Telemundo. Liz Boyd [email protected] At-large Directors are appointed by the Board. The committee recommended the Board appoint Sean Director of Operations and Public Dwyer, WXOW-TV, La Crosse; Colleen Valkoun, iHeartMedia, Milwaukee; Dean Kallenbach, Wisconsin Pub- Affairs lic Radio, Senior Regional Manager, Eau Claire (representing noncommercial broadcasting) and reappoint Kyle Geissler Paul Cameron, WEMI/WEMY/WGNV/WSTM, Appleton. [email protected] At-large mid-term Directors not facing re-election include: Anna Engelhart, WKOW-TV, Madison and WBA Board minutes are always available Jeff Welton, Nautel (representing our Associate membership).