An Electronic Publication of the National Association of Broadcasters

NAB Board Election Results Announced

Congratulations to the newly elected members of the NAB Board of Directors!

David Santrella, president of Broadcast Media for Salem Media Group, was elected chairman of the NAB Joint Board of Directors, NAB announced last week. Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television, Inc., had previously served as board chair until his term expired.

Bill Wilson, chief executive officer of Townsquare Media Group, was elected radio board chair by the NAB Radio Board. John Zimmer, president and owner of Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri, Inc., was elected radio board first vice chair, while Kevin Perry, vice president and chief operating officer of Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Company, was elected radio board second vice chair. Collin Jones, senior vice president of Corporate Development and Strategy for Cumulus Media, Inc., was elected to the radio board's major group representative seat on the NAB board's executive committee.

Perry Sook, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Nexstar Media Group, was elected as NAB television board chair. Lynn Beall, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Media Operations for TEGNA, was elected as TV board first vice chair, Pat LaPlatney, president and co-chief executive officer of Gray Television, Inc., was elected TV board second vice chair and Emily Barr, president and chief executive officer of Graham Media Group, was elected TV board third vice chair.

Christopher Wood, senior vice president and associate general counsel for Government and Regulatory Affairs at Univision Communications, Inc., was appointed to the designated TV network seat on the NAB board's executive committee.

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New Cosponsors Added to the Local Radio Freedom Act

Eleven more members of the House of Representatives have added their support to a resolution opposing "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA), which signals members of Congress' opposition to any potential legislation that imposes new performance royalties on broadcast radio stations for music airplay, now has 153 cosponsors in the House and 18 in the Senate.

Take action today and thank your members of Congress who are supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act, bipartisan legislation that opposes "any new performance fee, tax or other charge" on local radio and is currently supported by 149 members of the House and 18 senators, or encourage them to cosponsor if they are not already.

Recently, the American Music Fairness Act was introduced in Congress to impose a performance fee on local radio stations. Read how this bill could significantly harm broadcast radio on the NAB Blog: Radio Delivers for Artists. That's "Music Fairness."

Act Now to Preserve Local Journalism

Local radio and TV stations are at the heart of our communities, providing the most trusted news, weather and emergency information to keep the public safe. Never has this been more critical than during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming power of big tech giants is threatening Americans' access to quality local journalism. Their algorithms favor certain news sources over others, sometimes steering you towards controversial misinformation instead of the high-quality journalism broadcasters provide. Without someone to shine a spotlight on local government, health care, education and the environment, communities see less accountability in communities and the public is less informed.

Act now to tell your legislators how much you value your local stations and ask them to stand up for listeners and viewers like you by supporting the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act.

Reminder: Analog TV Translators and LPTV Stations Must Go Dark Tomorrow, July 13

All analog low-power TV (LPTV) and TV translator stations must terminate analog television operations by 11:59 p.m. local time tomorrow, July 13, 2021. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that over 1,000 analog LPTV or analog TV translator stations have not yet transitioned to digital or begun the digital transition process by filing for a digital construction permit. These analog operations include a number of facilities licensed to NAB members.

EAS: Nationwide Test and Reminder to Issue Accessible Alerts

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on August 11, 2021, at 2:20 p.m. (EDT). A test of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) will be conducted simultaneously. A back-up test is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. on August 25, 2021 in case of circumstances requiring a postponement.

Important Reminder: File Cable Copyright Royalty Claims

Remember to file your station's cable copyright royalty claims by the August 2, 2021 deadline. Click here to read more. If you have any questions about the filing process, contact the CRB's eCRB user support line at (703) 841-6386 or eCRBSupport@egov.com; Olegario Perales, Crowell & Moring, at (202) 508-8812 or operales@crowell.com or Bijou Mgbojikwe, NAB, at bmgbojikwe@nab.org or (202) 429-3185.

2021 Celebration of Service to America Awards

Watch the NAB Leadership Foundation's 2021 Celebration of Service to America Awards, now airing on local television stations and streaming on local radio station websites through August 14.

Join Emmy-award winning host Tamron Hall and other celebrity guests as we honor local radio and television stations and community leaders like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Procter & Gamble for their unwavering commitment to the local communities they serve.

Go Behind the Scenes on the NAB Podcast

Find out more about this important industry event – why it was created, why it's important to take time to celebrate and details about this year's event, now airing across the country.

On the NAB Podcast, join Darrell Brown, president, Bonneville International and NAB Leadership Foundation board chair, Michelle Duke, president, NAB Leadership Foundation and chief diversity officer, NAB and Tim Dotson, senior director, Development, NAB Leadership Foundation detail this year's Celebration to America Awards telecast, winners, production and more.

2021 John D. Dingell, Jr. Award Winners

The John D. Dingell, Jr. Award for Excellence, given at the Celebration of Service to America Awards, recognizes members of Congress who epitomize the late congressman's dedication to public service.

The NAB Leadership Foundation is pleased to present this prestigious award to Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Jerry Moran of Kansas, and Reps. Mark Takano from California's 41st Congressional District and former Rep. Phil Roe from Tennessee's 1st Congressional District. These exemplary legislators played an integral role as leaders on the Veterans Affairs committees in the House and Senate in the passage of legislation to provide much-needed mental health resources to our nation's veterans.

Don't Forget to #BroadcastGood

Be sure to share your station's story on social media using the hashtag #BroadcastGood so we can share the unique and critical role you play in your communities and nationwide every day.

NAB Statement on Recent Incidents Involving Broadcast Journalists

NAB released a statement from President and CEO Gordon H. Smith regarding recent attacks on journalists. "NAB is gravely concerned by recent incidents of violence directed against broadcast journalists who are covering local news. A cornerstone of American democracy is the right of the free press to document the stories and events shaping our communities and our nation. Journalists should be afforded the respect to safely provide this valuable service to the community without fear of violence, intimidation or harassment," said Smith.

NAB's Defending Journalists Toolkit contains resources to help stations navigate dangerous situations.

It's Time to Dig In

Start preparing now for a celebration like no other as we host three of our most significant industry events in one city: NAB Show, Radio Show and the Sales and Management Television Exchange (SMTE).

Learn from trusted brands and have conversations with industry pioneers at NAB Show this October. Conferences and programs are designed for the industry, by the industry. Don't miss the Broadcast Engineering and IT Conference, now in its 75th year, the Business of Media of Media Conference or, for the first time ever, the co-located Radio Show and Sales and Management Television Exchange (SMTE) events. Member pricing per conference starts at $399.

All NAB Show and co-located event registrants receive access to the NAB Show floor, open October 10-13, as well as all-access NAB Show Main Stage sessions and special events. Maximize your conference experience and get a taste of two or more of these events with a registration bundle offer.

Register Now for the 2021 Radio Show

We look forward to coming together again with you at the 2021 Radio Show, produced by NAB and RAB, October 13-14 in Las Vegas, as we welcome the audio community to the most important event of the year.

Register now and get your 2022 off to a strong start at the 2021 Radio Show, where you'll learn the secrets to how to thrive in today's new normal. Check out the schedule at a glance to see what's in store for you in Las Vegas.

Attend SMTE 2021 and Enter the SMTE Money Makers Competition

Join your peers in TV sales at the Sales and Management Television Exchange (SMTE) October 8-9 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Gain innovative sales and management strategies to increase your station's bottom line.

Be sure to enter the SMTE Money Makers competition for chances to win money and prizes in Las Vegas. TV stations are encouraged to enter by submitting your station's best original ad sales promotion ideas. Compete against other television stations to win money, prizes, and top recognition for your station. Plus, gain proven revenue-generating ideas for the year to implement at your station immediately. The deadline to apply is July 23.

Spotlighting How Broadcasters Bring Critical News and Information to Their Communities

NAB regularly shares with members of Congress examples of how local broadcasters have been at their best during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing fact-based journalism, breaking news, vaccine education and supporting local businesses. Recently, we looked back at how stations provided resources and support to their communities during Mental Health Awareness Month. Read more here.

To help us continue to educate Congress on the important work of broadcasters, please air NAB's We Are Broadcasters spots, which showcase stations' important role in delivering critical news and information to your communities. Air them as often as possible and keep posting stories of your public service on social media to send a strong message to policymakers.

Don't forget to tag your social media posts with #WeAreBroadcasters or reach out to WeAreBroadcasters@nab.org so we can help amplify your station's work.

New Voices From the Field: Priya Sridhar

NAB's Voices from the Field campaign is showcasing broadcasters from in front of and behind the camera to policymakers. This week, Priya Sridhar, reporter, NBC 7 San Diego, joins Voices from the Field to reflect on her journey as a broadcaster and a member of the military and how those career paths intersect and allow her to serve both her country and her viewers in local news.