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…

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    List of WBA Student Awards for Excellence winners

    2019 Student Awards for Excellence Winners High School High School – Sports Programming (TV) 1st Place              Union Grove High School – UGHS Broncos Media Sports Play-By-Play 2nd Place                   Lakeland Union High School – LUHS Sports Features 3rd Place                     Only two entries High School – Sports Programming (Radio) 1st Place              Bay Port High School – Hockey…

  • Wisconsin broadcasters take their message to Capitol Hill
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    Wisconsin broadcasters take their message to Capitol Hill

    More than 35 people representing Wisconsin broadcasters were in Washington DC this week to meet with the state’s two Senators and eight House Representatives to talk about their service to their local communities and several issues facing the industry. WBA leadership arrived early to attend NAB’s State Leadership Conference on Tuesday to get updated on…

  • Mike, Patty O’Brien join Legacy Club

    Mike, Patty O’Brien join Legacy Club

    The VP/General Manager of WCLO/WJVL in Janesville, Mike O’Brien, and his wife Patty, have joined the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation’s Legacy Club. The Legacy Club was formed in 1998 to provide a formal procedure and recognition for those who make bequests or agree to make bequests to the WBA Foundation in their wills.  For more information…

  • 46 year veteran of WKBT-TV dies

    46 year veteran of WKBT-TV dies

    Larry Johnson, a longtime colleague of employees at WKBT-TV in La Crosse, has died. Johnson worked at WKBT for 46 years. He retired in 2014. Many will remember him as WKBT’s weatherman in the days long before computers came to dominate the weather department. He was also the voice of many announcements on WKBT over…

  • Marquette student to be recognized for leadership
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    Marquette student to be recognized for leadership

    The general manager of the student-run television station on the Marquette University campus will be honored with the WBA Student Leadership Award. Tara Schumal stood out right away as a leader, according to MU Director of Student Media, Mark Zoromski, who described how Schumal taught students who were new to the station. “She was patient…

  • Lavin named WBA Chair

    Lavin named WBA Chair

    Steve Lavin, WBAY-TV, Green Bay, took the position of WBA Chair during the WBA Winter Conference Business Luncheon at the Madison Concourse Hotel. Lavin replaces Steve Wexler, Good Karma Brands, Milwaukee, who finished his term as chair and will now serve as immediate past chair for the coming year. The rest of the officers for…

  • 4 Wisconsin lawmakers cosponsor Local Radio Freedom Act
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    4 Wisconsin lawmakers cosponsor Local Radio Freedom Act

    Four Congressmen from Wisconsin are among a bipartisan group of 124 Members of Congress supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act. The resolutions in the House of Representatives and the Senate oppose “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” on local broadcast radio stations. Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI-3), Glenn Grothman (R-WI-6), Sean Duffy…

  • Braun featured in Alzheimer’s NCSA/PEP campaign

    Braun featured in Alzheimer’s NCSA/PEP campaign

    Legendary Badger sports broadcaster Paul Braun is featured in an upcoming campaign sharing his personal story about spotting the warning signs of Alzheimer’s. Braun’s wife was only 57 years old when she started exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer’s. She died eight grueling years later. The Alzheimer’s Associations spots are airing on radio stations across the state.…

  • Milwaukee TV station hosts awards to recognize African American leaders

    Milwaukee TV station hosts awards to recognize African American leaders

    Milwaukee TV station WISN-TV sponsored and hosted the 34th annual Black Excellence Awards on Friday. The awards honor African Americans from across the Milwaukee area who serve communities, inspire peers, and provide leadership. The theme for this year’s awards was “The Excellence of Imagination, Boldness, and Innovation: Honoring our Entrepreneurs.” The event was held at…

  • Scholarships to be given to 4 broadcasting students
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    Scholarships to be given to 4 broadcasting students

    Scholarships will be given out during the WBA Student Seminar on March 2 to four students studying broadcasting in Wisconsin. The recipients are: Erica Gelman Erica Gelman is the 2019 recipient of the Morgan Murphy Media Scholarship. Erica is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is majoring in Journalism, English, and Psychology. Erica will graduate…