Atlanta News First (ANF) has been announced as a nominee of the prestigious Peabody Award for their investigative series “The Sixth.”
The Sixth investigates the Atlanta prison system’s failure to provide a speedy trial, ensured by the sixth amendment.
Previously, the series was recognized by Columbia University. The team received the university’s duPont Columbia Award in recognition of their valiant efforts.
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Read more on ANF’s Award-winning investigation “The Sixth” here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/news/thesixth/
The fight to preserve access to AM radio through vehicles continues to gain momentum as the Energy and Commerce Committee holds a hearing on the matter.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington delivered the opening remarks of the meeting, which took place on Tuesday, Apr 30, 2024.
In her remarks, Committee Chair Rodgers points out the values of maintaining AM radio in commercially produced automobiles. AM radio boasts a variety of values, but most significantly it plays a major role in connecting local communities and delivering vital, life-saving information in the time of emergencies.
“AM radio fosters a sense of local identity, connecting people through regional programming that reflects the unique perspectives and traditions of their communities,” says Rodgers. “It’s closer to the people, telling the stories and sharing the perspectives that the national news doesn’t cover and sometimes ignores, and it plays a crucial role in ensuring local government accountability.”
Salem Media’s Val Carolin spoke with Atlanta News first last week regarding the legislation.
“We believe that AM and FM radio should remain free,” Carolin said. “I think it’s important, and it’s vital.”
Watch the full hearing here: https://energycommerce.house.gov/events/innovation-data-and-commerce-legislative-hearing-preserving-americans-access-to-am-radio
As of May 1, 2024, the AM for Every Vehicle Act had received the co-sponsors necessary in order to pass.
S.1669 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1669/cosponsors
H.R.3414 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3413
The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend 2024 is taking place this weekend, May 4 and 5.
“Each year, the Foundation sponsors the official national tribute to all firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year. Thousands attend the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland.”
The 2024 event will honor 226 fallen firefighters, five of which are from Georgia: Shaun Luke Daniel, Stephen Paul Richards, Matthew Brian Smith, Ryan Leonidas Taylor and Collin Veasley.
For additional information on the event, press materials and event attendance visit https://www.firehero.org/events/memorial-weekend/memorial-weekend-coverage/for-the-media/
The FTC has ruled to ban noncompetes. A practice that the committee declares, “…keeps wages low, suppresses new ideas, and robs the American economy of dynamism…”
Concerns have been raised that a ban on non compete clauses could be damaging to stations, specifically television stations. The investment of a station in its talent could backfire if a competitor station coaxes them with a higher offer. With the security of a noncompete clause, a reporter or anchor would have to wait a period of time before leaving one station and going to another. By removing noncompetes, a reporter or anchor could leave a station one day and appear on a competing station the very next.
In an effort to provide Georgia communities with accurate reporting on the upcoming 2024 presidential election, 11Alive WXIA has created a dedicated political reporting team to cover issues that matter to Georgia voters.
The team, led by 11Alive Executive Producer Ric Garni is comprised of 11Alive anchors Jennifer Bellamy and Faith Jessie; investigative reporter Zach Merchant, reporters Doug Richards, Joe Ripley, and Rarione Maniece; Executive Producer of Digital Jonathan Raymond; Executive Producer Kelsey Stanger; and producers Jesse Horne and Gabriella Nuñez.
Through November, 11Alive viewers can expect weekly segments including The Georgia Vote, “To the Polls” and “VERIFY: The Stance.”
Beginning on Monday, May 20, 2024, more than 900 industry members will receive ballots to cast up to six votes for the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame Inductee nominees. Among the 24 nominees, two broadcast in Atlanta, Georgia, Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan, of V103’s ‘The Big Tigger Show with Jazzy McBee, and Bert Weiss of Q100’s ‘The Bert Show.’
Voting will end on Monday, June 3, 2024, and the inductees will be announced on Monday, June 17th and will be honored at the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, September 19th.
The NAB’s President and CEO, Curtis LeGeyt, has officially extended his contract with the organization for the next 5 years. In his role, LeGeyt has proven himself as a leader in the world of radio and television broadcasting.
“I am deeply honored to be entrusted with the leadership of NAB,” said LeGeyt. “Representing the broadcast television and radio stations that unite our communities during this transformative period in media is a privilege.
In addition to the extension of LeGeyt’s contract, the NAB has announced the 2024 Board of Directors. The board is composed of 12 broadcast leaders from across the country. The board’s terms will officially begin in June.
Jerry “J” Chapman will be joining the board, filling the seat previously held by Mike Hulvey of Neuhoff Media. Hulvey now serves as President and CEO of the RAB, a role was previously held by Erica Farber.
Valdosta welcomed SUPRA 103.7 (LPFM) to its airwaves on April 24, 2024. The station, owned by Valdosta Alliance Inc., serves the Spanish speaking population of the area.
The bilingual station can be heard on 103.7 FM in the Lowndes County area.
Kristie Anderson of WXIA 11Alive has been selected to receive RTDNA’s Loren Tobia Leadership Award after three newsroom employees made nominations on her behalf.
Anderson has been a part of the 11Alive team in Atlanta for 11 years. In 2023, she stepped up to the role of assistant news director. In her role, Anderson has played a significant part in navigating the newsroom through difficult, groundbreaking stories.
RTDNA’s Loren Tobia Leadership Award, named for RTDNA’s former treasurer, is bestowed upon a broadcaster who exemplifies one of the organization’s core values: leadership.
Anderson will be recognized for the award at all three signature events including the annual RTDNA conference, the First Amendment Awards and the Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala.
In a move to boost diverse broadcast station ownership, US Representative Steven Horsford of Nevada has introduced the Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service (VOICES) Act. According to a report by Radio Ink, “The act would reinstate the Minority Tax Certificate Program, which previously increased minority and women-owned broadcast station ownership significantly between 1978 and 1995 but was repealed.”
Rep. Horsford hopes that the act will further open doors to women and people of color to act as leaders in the broadcasting industry.
The FCC is accepting comments on the rules of Geotargeting.
“The FCC gave unanimous approval to the concept of allowing FM stations in the United States to originate programming on boosters for a limited amount of time every hour, something boosters currently are not allowed to do.”
These comments are due to the FNPRM no later than May 16. Reply comments are due June 17.
