Michigan Association of Broadcasters was born with the first meeting of the organization held on December 2, 1948. The association began as a volunteer organization, eventually adding part time manager, Thomas Cleary.

• When the MAB was formed in 1949, there were just 55 AM radio stations, 23 FM stations – and a mere 5 TV stations licensed in the state.
• The first elected President/Chairman of the MAB was Milton M. Greenebaum from WSAM Radio in Saginaw. Dr. Willis Dunbar of WKZO/Kalamazoo and WJEF/Grand Rapids became the MAB’s first vice president; and Howard Finch of WJIM/Lansing and WGFG/Kalamazoo was elected secretary-treasurer.
• The association was founded for radio stations; but television stations were soon invited to membership.
• MAB Presidents/Chairmans through the rest of the association’s first decade included Stanley Pratt, WSOO/Sault Ste. Marie (1950); Edward F. Baughn, WPAG/Ann Arbor (1951); Dan Jayne, WELL/Battle Creek (1952); W.A. Pomeroy, WILS/Lansing (1953); John F. Wismer, WHLS/Port Huron (1954); Fred Knorr, WKMH/Dearborn (1955); Carl E. Lee, WKZO/Kalamazoo (1956); Jacob P. Scherer, WHFB/Benton Harbor (1957); and Martin Giaimo, WJEF/Grand Rapids (1958).

WWJ-TV (Detroit) (now known as WDIV-TV) airs its first color TV broadcast with the NBC-TV network presentation of the Tournament of Roses parade from Pasadena, California on New Years Day.

J.P. McCarthy

Michigan entered the 1960s with 104 licensed AM radio stations, 41 licensed FM stations and 22 licensed television stations. On the radio, J.P. McCarthy began to “rule the roost” on WJR/Detroit. Ernie Harwell began providing radio commentary for the Detroit Tigers. Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg came to Detroit in 1963, first working at WCHB, then at WJLB. She played rhythm and blues and later soul and gospel music. During the 1967 Detroit riots, she calmed the rioters by preaching and praying on her radio show.

MAB Presidents/Chairmans through the association’s second decade included James H. Quello, WJR/Detroit (1959); Elmer A. Knopf, WFDF/Flint (1960); Don DeGroot, WWJ/Detroit (1961); Les Biederman, WTCM/Traverse City (1962); Willard Schroeder, WOOD/Grand Rapids (1963); E.L. Byrd, WILS/Lansing (1964); Harold W. Waddell, WKBZ/Muskegon (1965); Michael O. Lareau, WOOD/Grand Rapids (1966); Charles D. Fritz, WXYZ/Detroit (1967); Gene Ellerman, WWTV/Cadillac (1968); and Franklin G. Sisson, WWJ/Detroit (1969).

Congress became convinced of the need for a national educational radio and TV network and passed the Public Broadcasting Act, paving the way for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). Michigan schools and colleges established stations to broadcast courses and to give students hands-on broadcasting experience.

The Non-Commercial Sustaining Announcement (NCSA) program begins after discussions with Governor James Blanchard. The program was to help the MAB bring in more money so the association could go full-time. 

MAB was granted approval to test a shortened Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) signal.

As enthusiasm for the association grew, so did the membership. In November 1985 MAB officially moves from a part-time organization to a full-time organization under newly-hired executive director Karole L. White.

The first TV station with closed-captioned newscasts was WDIV in Detroit.

“Baby Your Baby” campaign to reduce infant mortality kicks off in 1991 as a statewide Public Private Partnership Community affairs campaign including a partnership with TV, Radio, Print and Cable. As a result, calls to the state’s hotline increased 600% in the first year of the program.

Shape Up Michigan kicks off. The MAB partnered with Isiah Thomas, Thomas International. The Shape Up Michigan program gave Isiah the opportunity to speak to the children and parents of Michigan in a unified effort to communicate his message of building self esteem through physical fitness and making the right choices in life.

MAB holds first Legislative Station Break. Sixty-eight legislators were visited by members, broadcasters brought the legislators up-to-date on issues of importance to them.

MAB creates the MAB Foundation in 1994 based on an understanding for the need of a continued human resource pool of educated people interested in entering the broadcasting industry. The MAB had additional funds without a specific purpose. Over-reserving was something that the IRS, at the time, frowned upon. MAB formed the MAB Foundation to receive some of the reserves in hopes that it would grow to become financially sound & than if anything were to every happen to the MAB, the foundation might be able to take over some of the educational programming and services that MAB offered, continuing those things that fit their purpose.

WDIV was the first TV station in Michigan with a website.

- MAB battles Low Power FM in Washington DC while encouraging Michigan’s delegates to support HR 3439

• MAB joins other state broadcast associations to contest the FCC’s action of establishing EEO requirements. This initiative continues throughout the first decade of the new century.
• MAB launches the Energy Choice Program.
• To assist members with the new EEO rules, MAB and MAB Foundation begin to offer EEO-friendly programs such a career fairs, judging the student awards and cross-training.
• Michigan stations take action after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In addition, the Michigan Army National Guard campaign as part of the MAB’s NCSA program becomes even more important
• Michigan stations combat “Localism Hearings” and, with the help of MAB, set-out to prove that Michigan broadcasters are local and serve their communities.

Amber Alert program is first launched. MAB works with various organizations for a number of years to improve this program for Michigan and even battles copycat programs.

MAB begins the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP).

MAB members complete a survey and strategic plan that helps create a new mission for the MAB

MAB adds new Engineering Hotline to list of member services.

MAB receives a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for EAS improvements.

MAB partners with MAPB to kick off the “Michigan DTV for Me” campaign to prepare Michigan broadcasters and citizens for the impending transition to Digital Television.

MABF partners with MHSAA to promote sportsmanship & sports broadcasting.

MAB introduces Kelley Cawthorne as its new state lobby firm.

Project Impact places emergency radio receivers in schools. The receivers were provided to area schools at no charge.

MAB launches the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (MABPAC).

MAB holds the first Getting Your Message Out seminar. The seminar offered the ability for each MI State Department to have questions answered about working with the media.

MAB launches “Countdown to 2-17-09 The Digital Transition” campaign. This campaign was designed to educate member stations so they might better serve their communities on the transition,

MAB holds Digital Day at the State Capitol to educate Michigan legislators on the pending transition to Digital Television deadline on February 17, 2009. Digital Day included a news conference, educational training session, reception and a visit from the NAB’s DTV Road Show truck. Hall of Fame sportscaster Ernie Harwell joined the effort as the PSA spokesperson.

White spaces becomes a bigger issue in DC as well as LPTV and Localism.

MI Healthier Tomorrow is launched. Michiganders take the pledge to lose 10% of their body weight.

Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters (MAPB) television stations are offering up their 24-hour PBS KIDS channels and have special tips for parents about how to keep children learning while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MAB has a Michigan specific webpage on coronavirus for members. It has state resources, PSA’s, social media posts and story ideas that you may use in your local coverage of COVID-19 showing the wonderful things neighbors and businesses are doing to help one another.

Karole L. White officially announces her retirement.  A transition committee is formed to seek a replacement President/CEO.

Sam Klemet rose out of 38 applicants to be the number one choice of the MAB Transition committee for the position of President/CEO in January of 2022.

Jennifer Clark is the new MAB Director of Finance replacing Tom Hahn who retired late last year after 18 years of dedicated service. Clark is a veteran of finance having served as Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer at the Michigan United Conservation Clubs and most recently as Deputy Director and Chief Operations Office

The MAB worked swiftly with the Lansing Parking Services Office to raise awareness about the importance of these spots which were restored within two business days.

“When we got word that the media parking spots at the Capitol were disappearing, we immediately reached out to Sam and the MAB. They got right on it – and within a couple of days, those spaces were restored,” said Jam Sardar, News Director of WLNS-TV and WLAJ-TV. “Those spaces are important to the people who do the important job of covering the Capitol for the people of Michigan and the MAB was important for making sure we got to keep them. Many thanks for their quick action and resolution!”

The award-winning Michigan-based public affairs television series Off the Record marks 50 years on the air this week. The first episode of the weekly show examining Michigan politics and government aired on February 4, 1972

Flint’s leading television stations began broadcasting with NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0), the revolutionary new digital broadcast technology. Stations participating in the launch include WJRT-TV, WNEM-TV, WSMH-TV, WEYI-TV and WBSF-TV.

NextGen TV adds a new dimension to TV viewing, with vibrant video and new Voice+ dialogue enhancement that brings voices to the foreground. Movie theater-quality sound lets viewers hear every voice clearly and keeps volume consistent across channels. NextGen TV also can be enhanced with Internet content, enabling viewers to get the most out of live sports, live news and live events in real-time, without looking away from the TV screen.

Powered by ATSC 3.0, NextGen TV is the most significant broadcast technology upgrade to date. Features available on NextGen TV will vary by device and station, as broadcasters roll out service across the country.

In an effort to enhance the news landscape and promote diversity and inclusion of voices among journalists and news sources in Southwest Michigan, a group of 12 news media outlets and organizations have formed the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative (SWMJC).

As a solutions journalism effort, the reporting in the SWMJC’s Mental Wellness Project will provide stories and information that help people understand problems and challenges and that show potential ways to respond. The Mental Wellness Project will pay special attention to the crisis brought on by social isolation and loneliness related to COVID-19.

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.

-Hosting special learning programs for sales and management teams with sessions in both the lower and upper peninsula to ensure members from all over the state have access. 

-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 75% 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.

-Inaugural first PitchFest for member stations and advertising agencies to network in a speed networking virtual environment. Over 25 members signed up for the event representing 80 stations across the state. The event was co-hosted by the American Advertising Federation of Lansing. Each station could upload video links, coverage maps, calendars and a bio for
their station(s).

Connected broadcasters to the next generation of talent at the Great Lakes Broadcast & Sports Media Academy – the largest event of its kind in the country.  

MAB to Offer Cyber Security Assessments for Broadcasters.

MAB Partners with BetterHelp to Provide Free Therapy for Broadcasters.

FCC Approves Michigan State EAS Plan.

The MAB and MHAM Continue to Offer Support & Resources to Journalists/Broadcasters in Need,

Through the efforts of the MAB, a Broadcast Engineering curriculum is announced at Ferris State University in Big Rapids.  The program to begin in the fall.  

With input from the MAB and its engineering committee, Michigan now has a school to train future broadcast engineers: Ferris State University in Big Rapids.  After identifying a need for broadcasting within the television industry, Ferris Television Engineer Bill Jung developed a solution with School of Digital Media Director Glen Okonoski to create a minor in broadcast engineering.

According to an story published in The Ferris State Torch, Jung was first given the idea at a Michigan Association of Broadcasters event when a woman misunderstood his engineer title and mistook him for a professor of engineering. When Jung corrected her, she replied, “Well you should be. We are in desperate need of engineers.”

“We have identified a need for broadcast engineers in [Michigan],” MAB President and CEO Sam Klemet said. “We are looking to get a new pipeline of engineers, and we have been working with Ferris to bring those that are in the broadcast engineering industry to talk to students and provide sample curriculums.”

“Ferris has a very strong reputation,” Klemet said. “We have graduates in Michigan at our broadcast stations [and] all over the country as well in various rolls. Whether it’s production or on air… having a degree from there does carry a lot of weight.”

MAB Joins Nebraska & Massachusetts with the High School Radio Project. This initiative, which received its funding from the MAB Board, was modeled after a similar programs started by the Nebraska and Massachusetts state broadcast associations. The project allows students to curate and schedule music, record radio breaks, produce news and sports stories, interviews, and PSAs, all aired on a streaming radio station heard all over the country.  The MAB purchased equipment, put the software and streaming licenses together and had two high schools on-board.  

Lee M. Thurston High School in Redford and East Kentwood High School in Kentwood signed on and had mixed results.  East Kentwood was very successful with tremendous student involvement while Thurston floundered and dropped out at the end of the school year.  We learned that it takes a willing teacher on site to make it all happen.  At this point, East Kentwood will continue in the next school year while we look for another second school willing to make the commitment.

The MAB joins in a nationwide effort to keep AM radio in cars with "AM Radio - Rooted in Michigan, Part of Our Future."

AM radio’s history has deep roots in Michigan. The oldest station in the state and first commercial radio station in the country – WWJ-AM – went on air in August of 1920 and since then, the AM band in Michigan has kept Michiganders entertained, informed, and most importantly safe during times of emergency and crisis.

And, while the media landscape over the last 100 years have evolved immensely, the people of Michigan and more than 82-million Americans overall listen to AM radio monthly.

The more than 280 AM radio stations in Michigan are an important place for dialogue and conversation.

AM radio remains a key place for local businesses to connect with customers and with the erosion of local newspapers, radio continues to be a primary source of local information and content. But, deeper than that, they are a fabric of the overall success of local communities

National Traffic Directors Day. Our traffic directors and all traffic staff are very often the unsung heroes at their station, and it was wonderful seeing so many people recognized by their managers and coworkers.