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2026 WBA Awards for Excellence Rulebook available now
Hello Wisconsin Broadcasters, On behalf of your WBA Awards Committee, we hope you have had a great first half of the year, and that you have been saving your potential entries for this year’s contest. You are a part of the largest state broadcaster awards program in the nation, and we can’t wait to see…
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Ambassador program extends to second UW campus
The WBA campus ambassador program is expanding to a second campus after its pilot year at UW-Oshkosh. Two students at UW-Whitewater will serve as WBA ambassadors starting in the fall semester. The ambassador program was launched in 2025 on the UW-Oshkosh campus with two students: Dylan Przybylski and Jacob Link. The students acted as representatives…
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Wisconsin Broadcaster available now
The September/October issue of Wisconsin Broadcaster is now available. Highlights from this issue:
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Shockleys establish Young Broadcasters Development Fund
WBA Hall of Famers Terry and Sandy Shockley are the founding grantors of the newly established Young Broadcasters Development Fund, aimed at inspiring career building in the broadcast industry. “Our mission with this fund is to inspire and motivate young people to pursue a career in broadcasting,” Terry and Sandy Shockey said. “The rewards are…
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Student scholarship competition underway
Do you know a student who could use assistance with educational expenses? The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation offers three $2,500 scholarships and one $1,500 scholarship. Students who meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for these scholarships. The application process is online. It’s available on the WBA website at wi-broadcasters.org/scholarships Students who have completed at…
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Antigo radio host dies
The host of a morning radio show in Antigo has died. Gary Hartl hosted the WATK Breakfast Club. During his career he served as DJ, news director, and salesman at WRLO/WATK. He was also a car salesman for Parsons of Antigo for 30 years. Hartl died Tuesday. He was 68. According to his obituary, Hartl…
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Radio personality rescued by 13-year-old
A middle school student in Merrill received a special commendation for his efforts to save a local radio personality who was trapped in the snow. Merrill police said on Feb. 21 they were called to the WJMT studios when 13-year-old Michael Dickman heard someone calling for help as he walked past the studios. The boy…
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WBA Foundation Educational Support Grant Program taking applications now
In 2010, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation Board of Directors created the Educational Support Grant Program. This program awards up to $10,000 annually to assist non-profit college and technical school broadcast education programs to acquire equipment, hardware, software, and/or other teaching materials necessary to conduct broadcast education programs and promote careers in broadcasting. Communications educators…
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Sen. Johnson, Rep. Stiel join cosponsors of Local Radio Freedom Act
Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Bryan Stiel are joining four other Congressmen from Wisconsin 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…
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Students ‘learn a lot’ at WBA Student Seminar
“Great to meet with possible contacts.” “Thought it was great overall” “I learned a lot.” ”Great experience that stretched me out of my comfort zone.” “This is my third year attending, and it’s always fantastic.” ”Thankful I have this outstanding and incredible experience.” Those were just a few of the comments from over 150 students…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
