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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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Radio network raises $377K to help homeless
The Family radio network, 91.9/91.5 and 88.5 in Appleton, helped raise $377,000 worth of new hygiene and cleaning products to donate to local crisis programs in 15 northeast and central Wisconsin communities. In its 25th year, “Help for the Homeless” has provided $2.5 million worth of hygiene supplies to local crisis programs and those they…
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Getting media into the home with Alexa
The past fifteen years have about incredible disruption to broadcasters. It used to be so simple – you created a 24-hour stream of programming, sent it out from your tower to a specific broadcast area, generated ratings, and you were in business. Then along came technology that changed everything – DVR’s put the power of…
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WBA Awards Gala sold out
The WBA Awards Gala, scheduled for May 6 at the Madison Marriott West, is sold out. The reception will begin at 5 p.m. with an open bar until 5:45 p.m. While drinks are complimentary only during the reception, there will be a cash bar available during the dinner and awards presentations. The dinner and…
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Chippewa Valley broadcaster dies
A lifelong broadcaster with a career in the Chippewa Valley has died. Michael Anthony Phillips was born in Tennessee and started his broadcasting career in college, getting his first full time job in 1970 at WDGY in Minneapolis. According to his obituary, in 1975 at the age of 27, Phillips bought WMNE-AM in Menomonie with…
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Tornado warning tests successful
On April 20 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., two statewide tests of the Tornado Warning EAS code were conducted in Wisconsin. The tests were highly successful, with all of the stations we were able to monitor across the state carrying both tests. The tests were originated independently by the five National Weather Service (NWS)…
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New resources for journalists covering racially sensitive issues
he National Association of Broadcasters, in a joint initiative with the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation, recently unveiled an online toolkit entitled “Awareness in Reporting” to help journalists and newsrooms develop greater skill in covering race and racially sensitive news stories. The resource was unveiled at a kickoff event April 12 at the Newseum,…
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Green Bay radio station marks 40 years
A Green Bay radio station is celebrating 40 years on the air. WIXX is on air at 101.1 FM and launched its current Top 40 format on Feb. 12, 1977. To mark the occasion, the station played back memories submitted by past DJs, WIXX listeners and jingles from years past. Boasting one of the largest…
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Move into future by sticking to your roots
Generally speaking, people don’t need local radio to get the latest song from their favorite artist, or to hear new music from the next big star. With the Internet and the widespread use of smartphones, music is nearly always available anytime and anywhere. In the ever-changing, fast paced world of broadcast media, a question that…
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Services set for 50-year Wisconsin radio veteran
A memorial service is scheduled for a Wisconsin broadcaster who was in the business for 50 years. Larry Jay “Hoien” started in radio in 1964 at KRAD in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. He worked at WAUK-AM in Waukesha, WRIT-AM and WYLO-AM, WEZW-FM and WFMR-FM in Milwaukee and joined WTKM in Hartford in 1997. He left…
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Day-long training offered on ‘Secrets for Success in Science Journalism’
The Madison chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will host “Secrets for Success in Science Journalism,” designed to offer journalists, science communicators, and students tips for producing accessible, accurate, and intriguing science stories. The full-day conference will be held Friday, April 21, 2017, on the UW-Madison campus, 2195 Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave., Madison.…
