By: Sam Klemet, 
MAB President/CEO

The MAB remains focused on being forward thinking and helping members through programs and initiatives that prepare Michigan TV and radio stations for the future. Over the past nine months, the MAB has worked in collaboration with our membership, board, and committees to identify new opportunities.

And over the next several weeks, the MAB is launching a series of new initiatives to provide support and education to our members.

New Website to Better Connect and Support Broadcasters in Michigan

Last week, the MAB launched a new website MichiganMedia.com. The site is designed to better support, connect, and inform broadcasters in the state. A more user-friendly, modern site allows visitors to learn about what is happening in broadcasting in the state. Pages such as the community service page provide details on the impact of local radio and TV in Michigan with statistics and video. The site is updated weekly with new news items for visitors to keep a pulse on broadcasting in the state.

MAB Fights for and Achieves Streaming Access for Broadcasters

The MAB worked with the MHSAA to amend their video streaming rules to allow broadcasters to carry local high school games, live.

Broadcasters can now distribute live video of regular-season games from schools that are National Federation of High School (NFHS) members. That’s about 70% of schools in the state. Being able to cover these games is important not only for serving your local communities, but it also provides a potential new source of revenue for the coming year and beyond for Michigan TV and radio stations.

With the new opportunity, the MAB wants to help your stations deliver a video streaming product that is at the top of its game.

In partnership with Michigan Digital, the MAB is offering a streaming workshop on August 17th -sessions at 2PM and 7PM - for stations to learn about the equipment needed to add video to your radio broadcasts from simple and affordable to complex.

Presenters will be Dave Scott and Shawn Watts, long-time Michigan broadcaster and live streaming producer. Dave currently broadcasts the West Bloomfield Lakers games on local radio, cable tv, and streaming outlets. Shawn is with Advanced Lighting and Sound in Troy Michigan. ALS is one of the state's leading producers of live streaming content and represents the major manufacturers of live streaming switchers, cameras, and other technology.  Register Here.

MAB Launches Mental Health Support for Journalists Initiative

Journalists are the eyes and ears of their communities covering some of the most important stories and topics every day. From a once-in-a-generation pandemic, to protests, school shootings, and life change policy, reporters get a first-hand view of history.

But, that can be challenging and weigh heavy on a journalist, mentally.

To provide a level of support, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) and Mental Health Association in Michigan (MHAM) is offering a four-part series on mental health support to journalists and all broadcasters from across the state.

The FREE program consists of four, structured sessions that will include psychoeducation about the impact trauma and acute stress has on individuals. Each program will include “tools” for helping journalists and broadcasters cope with and reduce the impact their job-related experiences have upon their mental health and well‐being.

MHAM will provide Michigan broadcasters with psychoeducation and virtual support groups designed to assist and support its membership in developing healthy ways to cope with the stress and secondary trauma inherent in the field of journalism. Journalism is a profession that includes exposure to traumatic events, including chronic, and sometimes acute, stressors resulting from reporting on these events.

Sessions will be held via ZOOM and attendees can participate completely anonymously. You do not need to turn on your camera or provide your name. Confidentiality will be assured by MAB and MHAM.

Each session will last about two hours. The first 30–40‐minutes will be a psychoeducational program and the remaining time will be used to give participants enough time and opportunity to talk anonymously about their experiences, feelings, and emotions.

The psychoeducational session will be recorded and shared with those who register so they can watch on-demand. The sharing session will NOT be recorded to ensure confidentiality among participants.

The next session is August 24th at 9AM. You can register here.

Site Safety Assessments to Secure Michigan Broadcast Facilities

Unfortunately, media outlets and personnel have become targets of violence and harassment. To help provide protection to broadcasters in Michigan, the MAB and Michigan State Police Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Desk are partnering to help broadcast stations ensure safety for their staff and facilities. Starting in September, the MAB and MSP are offering Station Site Safety Assessments that will evaluate and make practical recommendations of security operations at broadcast stations.

The CIP desk will offer several tools for stations including the Security Assessment at First Entry (SAFE) designed to assess the current security posture and identify options for facility owners and operators to mitigate against relevant threats.

Registration will open on August 19th.

SCHEDULE

September 5-9
Southeast MI
Counties: Wayne/Oakland/Macomb/Washtenaw/Monroe

October 10-14
Lansing area
Counties: Ingham/Livingston/Jackson/Eaton/Clinton/Shiawassee/Hillsdale

November 14-18
West side
Counties: Berrien/Cass/St. Joe/Branch/Calhoun/Kalamazoo/Van Buren/Allegan/Barry