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Broadcasters collect their WBA Awards for Excellence
Radio and television stations from across Wisconsin came together Saturday to celebrate their award-winning work at the 2026 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards Gala. The awards were handed out at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton with 350 in attendance. Competition for this year’s awards was as strong as ever with 1,322 award entries. A total…
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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…
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4 to be inducted into WBA Hall of Fame in June
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation is proud to announce the 2026 WBA Hall of Fame inductees: Dave Magnum has turned a network of radio stations into a second generation legacy in Wisconsin. Kelly Radandt’s broadcasting career reflects a rare blend of strategic leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to people and community. Jeff Tyler’s career stands…
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4 to be honored as Local Broadcast Legends
Four Wisconsin broadcasters are 2026 WBA Local Broadcast Legends. Randy Allen, an on-air presence with deep knowledge of country music and unwavering professionalism which has made him a trusted companion to listeners throughout the Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh markets. Dave Luczak, the voice Milwaukee woke up to, becoming one of the most trusted and enduring…
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WBA 75th anniversary Summer Conference agenda released
The preliminary agenda is now available for your WBA’s Summer Conference celebration of the association’s 75th anniversary will be held June 17-18 at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva. Registration is also open. The registration deadline is May 28. The hotel booking deadline is May 25. Speakers for this year’s conference include: Keynote: Curtis…
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Jacobs Media announces second COVID-19 study for radio
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has affected all aspects of Americans’ lives, from the way they shop, to how they are working (or not), to how they consume media. And since mid-March, when the pandemic first took hold, it seems every week brings change and uncertainty. In response, Jacobs Media fielded its first national tracking study in…
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Wausau TV stations raise $104K for food bank
WSAW/WZAW-TV in Wausau raised $104,714 for a local food bank with its ‘Singing for their Supper’ campaign. The money was raised for The Neighbors’ Place, Marathon County’s largest food bank. It will help feed those struggling to put food on the table in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The total raised locally equates to…
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4 to be inducted into WBA Hall of Fame
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame was created in 1989 to honor broadcasters that have devoted a minimum of 15 years to the broadcasting industry including a minimum of 10 years as a Wisconsin broadcaster. The award recognizes an individual’s history of exemplary leadership in community and statewide service as a broadcast professional. The first…
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5 to be honored as Local Broadcast Legends
Five Wisconsin Broadcasters have been chosen as 2020 WBA Local Broadcast Legends. The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Local Broadcast Legends Award was established in 2015 under the direction of Bruce Grassman, owner/president of Results Radio. The Local Broadcast Legends Award is a great honor and recognition for individuals that work behind the scenes and within their…
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Thrive through pandemic by ‘turning setbacks into comebacks’
Years ago, when I was member of the National Press Photographers Association, I attended a conference that featured guest speakers who shared stories of their careers and examples of their work. One featured speaker resonated with me with a simple but effective message that has stuck with me ever since. He had pursued a career…
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Weekly Radio Addresses discuss pandemic recovery, lawsuit
This week’s Weekly Radio Addresses from Wisconsin lawmakers touch on Gov. Evers’ Badger Bounce Back plan and the GOP lawsuit involving the “Safer at Home” order. These addresses are available for Wisconsin broadcasters to use as they see fit. NOTE – for equal time purposes, through the November elections, the Addresses will be provided by…
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Baldwin, Johnson sign letter asking for support for broadcasters
Wisconsin Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson have both signed a letter asking the federal government to help local broadcasters through the purchase of advertising. The letter from Senators Daines (MT), Manchin (WV), and Barrasso (WY) asks the Office of Management and Budget to use federal funds to purchase advertising to help local broadcasters continue…
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How advertiser needs have changed due to COVID-19 (and how broadcasters need to respond)
When the impact of the pandemic began to hit around mid-March, broadcasters got hit hard by cancellations, as their clients shut down their businesses. Bills stopped being paid as everyone struggled to try to figure out what it meant. A month later, we are seeing signs some clients are beginning to think about what their…
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Madison radio veteran dies
A radio veteran who spent most of his life in Madison has died in North Carolina. John Rustad, 82, was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s and receiving nursing care when he died from COVID-19, according to his obituary. He died April 14. Rustad was born in La Crosse and spent most of his career…
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News, sports personality leaves legacy in Racine
A man who spent 36 years providing news and sports reporting in Racine has died. Gary R. Suhr, 86, died Monday in South Milwaukee. Suhr started his broadcasting career at WFHR in Wisconsin Rapids before moving to WRJN in Racine in 1962 were he retired in 1998 as the station’s news and sports director. According…
