Members of Congress Support Local Broadcasters
|
Several members of Congress praised broadcasters in speeches given on the House floor and submitted comments for the record on Feb. 25. The Representatives commended local broadcasters for their charitable work and their vital role as first informers during times of emergency.
Click to watch C-SPAN's video of comments from Rep. Kevin Cramer (ND-At Large), Rep. David Cicilline (RI-1), Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-1), Rep. Ted Poe (TX-2) and Rep. Blake Farenthold (TX-27).
Rep. Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA) submitted comments into the Congressional Record stating,
"Every community is impacted by broadcasters, the individuals who have dedicated their lives to disseminating important information by radio and television."
In other comments submitted into the Congressional Record, Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) said, "Broadcasters play an important role in our country. I want to applaud the work of broadcasters, particularly those in Sacramento, for working diligently to cover and provide local news programing to our communities, and for being strong community partners."
|
Stations Air Special Reports on Education, Important Issues |
Safe and Supportive Schools in Tennessee The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters (TAB), Tennessee Department of Education and Vanderbilt Peabody College collaborated on the documentary "Saving Lives: Safe and Supportive Schools in Tennessee" for television and radio stations to air in February and March. Students and teachers at four high schools, including Taylor Swift's alma mater, discussed their school's programs aimed at reducing violence and increasing academic performance. At Hendersonville High, students watched the music video for Swift's "Mean" before launching into a discussion on bullying with their classmates. |
Univision Events on Immigration, Education
Univision Houston hosted a Citizenship and Immigration Forum on Jan. 24 to provide resources related to pursuing U.S. citizenship. The event, which 300 people attended, featured informational sessions, free attorney consultations and access to service providers. Univision Houston's Career and Education Day on Feb. 14 provided students and parents informatiosn on college access, careers, financial aid and scholarships. The event complemented a national campaign, ¡Estudia, Hay Dinero! (There's Money to Study!), that ran on 67 radio stations, 61 television stations and social media. It included PSAs featuring First Lady Michelle Obama, a $1,000 scholarship sweepstakes, a text-message hotline, workshops on the federal student loan program, and digital resources. |
Raycom Media Airs Selma Anniversary Special
Forty-two Raycom Media stations aired the documentary "SELMA: A March to Remember" on Feb. 2 to honor events of Bloody Sunday and the historic Selma-to-Montgomery March that followed in 1965. Leaders, participants and witnesses who discussed their experiences in "SELMA: A March to Remember" included former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and U.S. Representative John Lewis, a leader in the Students for Non-violent Coordinating Committee. "As an Alabama based company, we are proud to be able to document the stories and history of our state, especially an event of this magnitude that has helped change our nation," said Raycom Media President and CEO Paul McTear. |
KGO-TV Investigates Health Care Access ABC owned-and-operated KGO-TV San Francisco recently aired investigative reports on the Covered California health care program. Thousands of people who signed up for the program last year reported that they could not find a doctor to care for them under their new plan. The California Department of Managed Health Care is now investigating complaints. |
WROC-TV's 'Rubber Room' Report
Nextar Broadcasting's CBS affiliate WROC-TV Rochester, N.Y., aired a special report on Feb. 12 called "The Rubber Room." The report exposed how teachers under investigation for misconduct were sent to the Alternative Work Location, dubbed "The Rubber Room." In the spring of 2014, the 15 teachers and administrators sent to the Alternative Work Location received their salary but were not given any work assignments, the report revealed. |
Broadcasters Provide Critical Election, Weather Information |
Burlington Mayoral Candidates Debate
Hearst Television's NBC affiliate WPTZ-TV hosted a debate on Feb. 18 between candidates for Burlington mayor: Independent Greg Guma, Progressive Steve Goodkind, Libertarian Loyal Ploof and incumbent Democrat Miro Weinberger. The debate aired live and was re-broadcast online that day. |
Candidates for Chicago Mayor Debate
ABC owned-and-operated WLS-TV Chicago hosted a debate between candidates for Chicago Mayor on Feb. 5. CBS owned-and-operated WBBM-TV Chicago hosted a debate between the candidates on Feb. 10. The candidates for this race include William "Dock" Walls, Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Bob Fioretti, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and Willie Wilson. Click here to watch video from the WLS-TV debate. |
Bostonians Receive Critical Storm Information on WCVB-TV Website
Hearst Television's ABC affiliate WCVB-TV Boston continued to provide viewers with critical weather information as multiple storms buried the area in snow. Over a three-day period from Feb. 13-15, the station's mobile and desktop news websites garnered 2.7 million visits, 11.9 million page views and 180,000 total live streams. |
Radio Stations Raise Millions for Children's Hospitals |
Univision Local Media Nets $3.5 Million for
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Univision Local Media's "Promesa y Esperanza" (Promise and Hope) Radiothon, held Feb. 5-6, raised $3.5 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The event featured musical artists and popular on-air personalities. Fundraisers are critical to St. Jude, as families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food while their children battle life threatening illnesses.
"The dedication and support we receive from Univision and its staff allow us to reach Hispanic radio listeners across the country and create awareness about our lifesaving research and treatments," said St. Jude Children's Research Hospital President and CEO Richard Shadyac, Jr. "The financial support and the commitment of the Univision family and their listeners will help us reach the day when every child can be saved." |
iHeartMedia National Event Raises $3.7 Million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
iHeartMedia raised $3.7 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during the annual "Country Cares" Radiothon, Feb. 19-20. Stations in 34 cities participated, including WACO-FM Waco, TX; WUSY-FM Chattanooga, Tenn; WHLW-FM Montgomery, Ala.; and KWNR-FM Las Vegas. The award-winning Bobby Bones Show, syndicated on 19 participating radio stations, supported the event. Hundreds of iHeartMedia stations fundraise for St. Jude throughout the year, in addition to participating in the "Country Cares" Radiothon. In 2014, iHeartMedia raised $7.5 million for St. Jude and is on track to match that amount in 2015.
Treatments discovered at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent in the past 50 years. St. Jude aims to drive the childhood cancer survival rate to 90 percent in the next decade. |
Fargo Radiothon Pulls in $155,000 for Sanford Children's Hospital
Midwest Communication's WDAY-FM and KVOX-FM Fargo raised $155,000 during the 15th annual "Cares for Kids" Radiothon at Sanford Children's Hospital in Fargo, Jan. 29-30. During the two-day event, parents and children shared their stories of medical miracles on-air. The money ensures that children in North Dakota and northern Minnesota receive the best pediatric care without leaving the region. |
WNCY-FM Raises $260,000 for St. Jude Midwest Communications' WNCY-FM Green Bay raised $260,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in its 18th annual "Y100 St. Jude Kids Radiothon," held Feb. 12. The station raised $55,000 more than it did in 2014 and has over $4 million in the past 18 years. |
KUPL-FM Listeners Pledge $178,000 Alpha Media's KUPL-FM Portland, Ore., held a two-day radiothon on Jan. 29-30. The event raised $178,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Click here to listen to a performance by KMCA Records Nashville recording artist Kip Moore that broadcast live during the radiothon. |
'Drive for Miracles' Event Nets $245,000 iHeartMedia's WDVI-FM and WHAM-AM Rochester, N.Y., raised $245,000 during the 14th annual "Drive for Miracles" Radiothon, held Feb. 12-13. All donations benefit the Golisano Children's Hospital, which will cut the ribbon on a new facility this summer. Click here to read a few words from children who benefitted from the hospital's services. |
Broadcasters Aid the Community, Troops |
WYCD-FM Detroit Helps an Army Reservist Surprise His Wife
CBS Radio's WYCD-FM Detroit helped Army Reservist John Deline III surprise his wife on Feb. 23. After Deline returned early from an overseas deployment to Afghanistan and Kuwait, he reached out to the station to inquire about surprising his wife, Kathy, with tickets to a Garth Brooks concert. An on-air personality from WYCD-FM went to Kathy's workplace with a bouquet of flowers, the concert tickets - and her husband. Click here to watch video from the surprise.
|
WKRC-TV Connects Pets and Families Sinclair Broadcasting's CBS affiliate WKRC-TV Cincinnati raised $80,000 for a local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). During its Jan. 17 Adopt-A-Pet event, all 26 dogs and cats featured were adopted. After the event, more than 100 families visited the SPCA to inquire about adoption. |
Competitors Help Station After Plane Crash
Raycom Media's NBC affiliate KCBD-TV Lubbock, Texas, was knocked off the air after a plane flew into a radio tower, killing the pilot. Nearby radio stations pitched in to ensure that KCBD-TV was back on-air within 12 hours. |