Lupita Reyes created Holland’s first Spanish-language radio show at WHTC-AM/FM’s studios on Central Avenue in Holland more than 57 years ago. On December 31, 2021, she’s retiring. Reyes wanted a Spanish-language show to serve Holland’s growing Latino community and asked the station’s then-manager, Bill Gargano, to make it happen. After some back-and-forth — and Gargano’s…
This past Tuesday (11/2), The Michigan Association of Broadcasters was honored to recognize Traffic Directors from across the state on National Traffic Professionals Day, which was the 101st anniversary of the first commercial broadcast. Their hard work is often unseen but is critical in ensuring viewers and listeners in Michigan get the important news, information…
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP Last week, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission approved an application for Commercial Radio Australia to collectively bargain with Google and Facebook over the carriage by these tech platforms of news content from Australian radio broadcasters (press release here, application and approval here). This approval is an outgrowth of the…
Western Michigan University has announced that it has finalized purchase of WKDS-FM from Kalamazoo Public Schools. The station was purchased on behalf of the University’s WMUK-FM, after approval was granted by the governing boards of both bodies. The total purchase is valued at $186,000, including a three-year tower lease agreement. WMUK has been operating WKDS…
The annual WLUC-TV (Marquette) TV6 Canathon kicked off this past Monday (11/1). The Canathon is a month long effort to collect donations of canned goods to help feed a hungry neighbor. This is the 40th year for the event and organizations like the Salvation Army say it’s an important effort at a time of year…
The NAB has announced that the journalism payroll tax credit has been included in the just-released Democratic reconciliation text that House leadership plans to bring to the floor as soon as this week. This represents a significant step towards inclusion of this provision in any final Build Back Better Act package. While there remain some…
Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Extends SCRUB Club Food Safety Education Course for Additional Year! The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA) has extended the SCRUB Club curriculum through September 30, 2022. The free online food safety education course which was developed for middle school-aged children and their families was launched in April and previously…
A groundbreaking documentary on the deportation of U.S. veterans from WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University and filmmakers John J. Valadez and Carleen L. Hsu will air nationally on PBS in primetime. Filmed over seven years, American Exile is the story of two unlikely war hero brothers who became veteran’s rights activists after being…
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP In a Federal Trade Commission notice published last week, the agency warned the advertising industry that penalties could be coming for the use of deceptive endorsements. The FTC not only released the notice, but it also sent a letter (a version of which is available here) to hundreds of businesses (a list…