An Electronic Publication of the National Association of Broadcasters

COVID-19 Vaccine Education Toolkit Now Available

NAB, the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) have launched an online toolkit to help local journalists craft COVID-19 vaccine education messages that best resonate with their audiences. The toolkit is designed to provide your station with information and resources to create news reports, public service announcements and other messages that promote vaccination.

The toolkit provides:

• In-depth insights into exclusive nationwide research regarding Americans' attitudes towards the vaccines, what information the public is seeking and the potential effectiveness of various educational messages.
• Information from the Kaiser Family Foundation and others on how to reach key audiences, including African American, Asian, Latinx and rural communities.
• Connections to reputable national and local healthcare experts who are available for interview, as well as to local pharmacists for live reports, interviews and information about vaccinations in local communities.
• Webinars that dive deep into the research and discusses how journalists can utilize this data to customize their coverage, b-roll, COVID data tracking and social media graphics.

The toolkit will be updated often as new research and information becomes available. It is free to all newsrooms and available in English and Spanish.

New Broadcasters' Policy Agenda Now Available

NAB is pleased to present the Broadcasters' Policy Agenda, an overview of the most important policy issues facing local television and radio stations during the 117th Congress. It also outlines the important and unique role broadcasters play in every local community. NAB looks forward to working with the new administration and Congress on bipartisan policies to address the crises facing our nation, while helping keep our millions of listeners and viewers informed, safe and connected.

House Resolution to Honor Journalists at Capitol Attack

Last week, Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) introduced a resolution to honor the journalists and news staff who risked their lives to report from the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection. NAB thanks Rep. Bustos for her leadership on this resolution recognizing the bravery and duty they exhibited and appreciates the support of members of Congress in imploring every American to respect the right of journalists to safely conduct their important work.

Showcase Local Stations' Role in Educating and Supporting Communities

We need your help educating lawmakers on the incredible value broadcasters provide. Please download and air NAB's We Are Broadcasters spots, showcasing stations' important role in delivering critical news and information to your communities, and air them as often as possible to send a strong message to policymakers.

Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Broadcast Ownership Cases

On January 19, the Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases (NAB v. Prometheus and the companion case FCC v. Prometheus), which challenged the Third Circuit Court of Appeal's overturning of the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) 2017 quadrennial review reconsideration order eliminating the cross-ownership restrictions and reforming the local TV rule, among other things. Due to the pandemic, the argument was held via conference call.

Important C-band Update: FCC Issues List of Unresponsive Earth Stations

The FCC is continuing to move forward with the transition of 280 MHz of C-band spectrum from satellite downlink to 5G use. The FCC has set an aggressive transition timetable that anticipates 5G operation by the end of 2021. To protect existing content distribution, the FCC provided incumbent C-band earth station operators the opportunity to register their earth stations to obtain filters and other equipment necessary to accommodate that transition and avoid disruption.

President Designates Jessica Rosenworcel as Acting Chairwoman of the FCC

On January 21, President Joe Biden designated FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel as acting chairwoman of the FCC. Rosenworcel is currently in her second term as an FCC commissioner. Prior to joining the agency, she served as senior communications counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. NAB congratulates Chairwoman Rosenworcel, and we look forward to working with her on issues concerning radio and television stations and their viewers and listeners.

U.S. Government Review of Music Licensing Consent Decrees Ends with No Action Taken

In 2019, the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated another review of the critically important antitrust consent decrees that underpin the music licensing marketplace. In 2016, after a thorough, multi-year review based on an extensive public record, the DOJ rejected proposed modifications from ASCAP and BMI that would weaken the consent decrees and reaffirmed their fundamental protections. Recently, despite no discernable changes in the marketplace, the DOJ again initiated a review of these decrees with a strong interest in terminating them. However, in January 2021, the DOJ ended another review of the decrees without modifying or sunsetting them, an outcome that pleased broadcasters, who had strongly opposed any significant modification or termination.

FCC Reminds Broadcasters to Ensure Accessible EAS Alerts

On January 7, 2021, the FCC issued an Enforcement Advisory to remind Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants, including television and radio broadcasters, of their obligation to comply with the EAS rules, particularly their obligation to ensure that EAS alerts are accessible to persons with disabilities.

NAB Statement on the Inauguration of President Joe Biden

NAB extends sincere congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their historic inauguration. NAB looks forward to working with the new administration and Congress on bipartisan policies to address the serious crises facing our nation, while helping keep our millions of listeners and viewers informed, safe and connected.

News Organizations Request Greater Transparency From Federal Agencies on Capitol Riot

NAB joined a coalition of news organizations to send a letter to federal law enforcement agencies calling for greater transparency and timely, vital information about the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building and the possibility of further violence. NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith wrote an op-ed in The Hill highlighting this need so that journalists may continue to inform the public, report the facts and uphold the First Amendment's enduring principle guaranteeing the freedom of the press. Read more at the NAB Blog.

2021 NAB Board of Directors Election

The 2021 NAB Board of Directors election will be conducted by Vote-Now.com from February 10 to April 12. The 2021 election is for odd-numbered radio districts and six of the at-large television seats. The eligible radio districts up for election are listed below followed by the election schedule.

NAB Crystal Radio Awards Entries Due January 31

Receive national recognition for the impact you've made in your market. Now accepting entries from NAB member stations for the prestigious NAB Crystal Radio Awards. Entry rules available here. Fifty finalists and 10 winners of the NAB Crystal Radio Awards will be selected by a panel of judges representing broadcasting, community service organizations and public relations firms. Submit now: the entry window closes January 31.

Helping Stations Navigate the Pandemic

While broadcasters have been on the front lines keeping our communities connected and informed, NAB has been working around the clock to provide vital resources and support the needs of all broadcasters. Our team is fighting for congressional and regulatory relief and providing tools to help your station continue to serve your local communities.

Your NAB membership means you have a team of professionals fighting for you every day in Washington, D.C. For assistance accessing these tools, don't hesitate to contact your NAB Membership Concierge at (202) 775-2555 or membership@nab.org.

COVID-19 Vaccine Education Webinars Available On-Demand

Visit nab.org/vaccine to view two new webinars and explore NAB's vaccine education toolkit. For additional COVID-19 resources, please visit nab.org/coronavirus.

• Researchers from SmithGeiger join Randy Picht of the Reynolds Journalism Institute and NAB's Michelle Lehman to discuss how recent research can provide guidance to local journalists.
• A discussion with Dr. Peter Marks of the FDA and Kathleen Jaeger of NACDS regarding vaccine safety, efficacy and distribution plans.

New on the NAB Podcast

Andrew Finlayson, executive vice president of Digital and Social Media Strategies and Dan Reines, Senior Vice President of Research, both from SmithGeiger, discuss the data behind NAB's Vaccine Education Toolkit for Broadcasters and maps out station messaging best practices on the subject.

Broadcasters Nationwide Produce Award-Winning Investigative Journalism

During the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic, local broadcasters across the country have stepped up to provide their communities with the news, support and comfort they need most. The We Are Broadcasters campaign is proud to highlight this service, including how local stations across the country are committed to serving and supporting their communities. Please air NAB's We Are Broadcasters spots to send a strong message to policymakers as we advocate for pandemic relief, and keep posting great stories of service on social media. Please tag your stories of service with #WeAreBroadcasters or reach out to WeAreBroadcasters@nab.org so we can honor your station's work.