News Archive

  • Podcast: The State of Spanish Radio: Its Future and Relevance

    Podcast: The State of Spanish Radio: Its Future and Relevance

    Monica Armenta (NM Broadcasters Assoc.) is joined by SDC Broadcasting’s Matt Martinez and Radio Ink and RBR+TVBR publisher Deborah Parenti to talk about Spanish-language radio; its growth, its challenges, and why it’s one of the most vibrant and resilient sectors of broadcasting.

  • WBA joins DC fly-in to keep AM radio in every vehicle
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    WBA joins DC fly-in to keep AM radio in every vehicle

    Your WBA was in Washington D.C. this week, along with broadcasters representing 30 other states, to call on Congress to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The bills in both houses of Congress have overwhelming bipartisan support. The House bill has more than 300 cosponsors and the Senate bill has 60 cosponsors. Broadcasters…

  • YP of the Month ‘excels in leadership’
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    YP of the Month ‘excels in leadership’

    A producer at WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, Melanie Walleser, is the WBA Young Professional of the Month for the month of July. The WBA Young Professional of the Month is a nominee for the WBA Young Professional of the Year Award. The award seeks to recognize young broadcasters who have made a significant impact on…

  • Jowett Fellowship recipient wants radio to excel with video
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    Jowett Fellowship recipient wants radio to excel with video

    A multimedia videographer at Woodward Community Media is the recipient of the Rick Jowett Fellowship. Logan O’Leary says while Woodward has a strong radio tradition, they’re forging a new path forward to also making it a reliable video production company. As the sole videographer for the company, he wants to grow the effort into a…

  • WBA Foundation announces date for gubernatorial debate

    WBA Foundation announces date for gubernatorial debate

    The WBA Foundation Board will continue its 36-year tradition of holding statewide televised debates for Wisconsin’s voters by airing a general election debate in the 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial race. Qualifying gubernatorial candidates will be invited to participate in a debate on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m., hosted by Milwaukee PBS. Radio and television stations from…

  • Weekly Radio Addresses focused on children, schools

    Weekly Radio Addresses focused on children, schools

    This week’s Weekly Radio Addresses from Wisconsin’s Capitol discuss children and schools. These addresses are available for Wisconsin broadcasters to use as they see fit. Here are the summaries from WisPolitics: — In this week’s Republican radio address Rep. Jon Plumer praises a bill that would allocate at least $100 million in American Rescue Plan…

  • Broadcasters should be ‘proud to serve’

    Broadcasters should be ‘proud to serve’

    Each year, Mike O’Brien and I team up at the Student Seminar for a session on advertising sales. The session provides a great introduction to radio and television sales and demonstrates how it impacts station operations. We also talk about the traits that are important in a broadcast salesperson…the salesperson DNA. Every year Mike uses…

  • WBA Board welcomes new members

    WBA Board welcomes new members

    Changes were made to the WBA Board of Directors at its August meeting and General Membership meeting, including the naming of a new chair. Don Vesely, WMTV-TV, Madison, was named chair and board members Judson Beck, WLAX-TV/WEUX-TV, La Crosse was named to the role of Secretary and Alesse Fielder, NRG Media, Stevens Point/Wausau was named…

  • How a line from ‘My Cousin Vinny’ describes a career in journalism
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    How a line from ‘My Cousin Vinny’ describes a career in journalism

    This fall marks my 20th year in the classroom. Teaching was supposed to be a temporary job until I could land my next TV gig. Remember Marisa Tomei’s character Mona Lisa in “My Cousin Vinny”? She learned about automotive issues not from school or career but from firsthand experience in her family’s auto mechanic business.…

  • Changes made to Foundation Board

    Changes made to Foundation Board

    The WBA Foundation Board added a new member at its August meeting after Scott Trentadue declined to seek another term on the board. Chris Bernier, Radio Plus, Marinette/Fond du Lac will take the seat held by Trentadue. Bernier was already serving on the board as a representative from the WBA Board. WBA Board member Colleen…

  • Raffle winner donates prize to WBA Foundation

    Raffle winner donates prize to WBA Foundation

    The winner of the 50/50 raffle at the WBA Summer Conference donated their winnings to the WBA Foundation. Jerad Clark from Mid-West Family in Madison won the raffle during the Wednesday reception at the WBA Summer Conference and donated his winnings to the Foundation. The raffle generated $2,220 for the Foundation. Thank you Jerad!

  • Wisconsin Broadcaster available now

    Wisconsin Broadcaster available now

    The September/October issue of the Wisconsin Broadcaster is now available. You can download it here [PDF].   Highlights from his issue: Incoming WBA Chair Don Vesely writes about the servant’s heart WBA Board welcomes new members, thanks outgoing members Nationwide EAS test goes well for Wisconsin stations Sen. Johnson joins Local Radio Freedom Act WBA…

  • Milwaukee photographer awarded Jowett Fellowship

    Milwaukee photographer awarded Jowett Fellowship

    A television photographer working in Milwaukee is the 2021 recipient of the Rick Jowett Fellowship. Ryan Whittaker works at WTMJ-TV. He was awarded $539 to take classes to take a series of classes on visual storytelling and drone photography through the Poynter Institute. He said his aim is to constantly improve as a photographer through…

  • WBA scholarships increase, accepting applications now

    WBA scholarships increase, accepting applications now

    Do you know a student who could use assistance with educational expenses?  The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation offers four scholarships that are increasing in value this year. Students who meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for these scholarships: David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund Scholarship – $1,500 (up from $1,000) Howard Gernetzke Scholarship…

  • Radio Milwaukee gets grant to start urban alternative channel

    Radio Milwaukee gets grant to start urban alternative channel

    88Nine Radio Milwaukee (WYMS-88.9FM) has received a $450,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to start a new Urban Alternative channel to reach young, multicultural audiences through on-air and digital streaming platforms, the station announced Tuesday. “Radio Milwaukee is thrilled to bring the Urban Alternative public radio format to Milwaukee,” Executive Director Kevin…