On August 20, MacDonald Broadcasting’s WQHH-FM (Dewitt/Lansing) held its 17th Annual Backpack Giveaway, handing out 1,000 backpacks to the community. Each backpack was filled with essential school supplies.
Michigan Public’s News Director Vince Duffy has been honored with The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA)’s Bob Priddy Award for 2026. Priddy is one of RTDNA’s most distinguished former board members, having served for 27 years before stepping down in 2010.
This past Monday, (8/17). Former Battle Creek/Ann Arbor/Detroit air personality Kevin Sanderson passed away at age 70, following a brief illness. He began his career at Keener 14 (WKFR-AM) in Battle Creek, and later worked for radio stations in Jackson, Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan.
Mac Edwards, best known in Michigan for his time managing Beasley Media Group’s Detroit cluster from 2016 to 2022 has announced his retirement from the company, effective September 4, 2026. He has been Vice-President/General Manager of the company’s Charlotte, NC cluster of stations.
On Friday (8/21), the FCC released its first EEO audit notice for 2026 – and the second to feature questions introduced last year to look for evidence of “invidious DEI” programs in place at broadcast stations. The FCC’s Public Notice, audit letter, and the list of the 400 radio and TV stations (both commercial and noncommercial) selected for audit is available here.
Longtime WDET-FM (Detroit) News Director Jerome Vaughn has retired after 34 years with the station. Vaughn joined WDET in January 1992 and has worked as an intern, producer, reporter, Assistant News Director, Senior News Editor, Executive Producer, News/Program Director, and Interim Program Director. He was appointed News Director in 2007.
Springart leads two iconic brands in Detroit, embracing the expanding opportunities available across audio, video, social media and other platforms. Both WRIF and WCSX remain deeply connected to their audiences through local personalities, music, sports and community-focused content. While she sees emerging technology as a creative tool, Springart believes authentic human connections remain essential.
Michigan Public has announced that its Doug Tribou was recognized with a Salute to Excellence Award from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). This award recognizes the Best Feature in the category of Radio – Top 15 Markets.
Born Johnny Nelson Sartin Jr., he spent 30 years at 7 News Detroit following stops in Mississippi, Oklahoma City and WDIV-TV in Detroit. He traveled the country early on in his career, covering mudslides and wild weather with WXYZ meteorologist Jerry Hodak in the 1990s, and spent weeks documenting the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with reporters Ray Sayah and Bill Spencer.
WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) is expanding its digital-first programming this month with the return of an award-winning favorite and the announcement of a new series coming this fall that will round out a youth-focused Curious About… series collection.