1. Broadcasters Shine During National News Literacy Week
This week, January 22-26, is National News Literacy Week, a project from the News Literacy Project and the E.W. Scripps Company to turn a spotlight on local news and its role in a healthy democracy.
Read more: On the NAB Blog, we rounded up a variety of initiatives broadcasters have launched to combat online misinformation and keep Americans informed.
2. Hot Topics for TV and Radio Broadcasters at NAB Show
Join your peers in the Broadcast District at the 2024 NAB Show and attend sessions on the hottest topics for television and radio broadcasters.
Saturday, April 13: Kick off your NAB Show experience with the annual NAB Small and Medium Market Radio Forum and reception. Topics include AI, content creation, political ad buys, syndication strategies, community building, promotions, developing talent, digital ad sales, media planning and audience engagement.
💰 Save $150 on your NAB Show registration when you register for this forum. Space is limited – reserve your seat now.
Sunday, April 14: During TVNewsCheck’s Programming Everywhere, media company senior executives will join leaders from programming, production, news, marketing, technology, and streaming media as well as program providers to address issues such as audience engagement, new sources of revenue and technology’s role in streamlining program creation, production and distribution.
Register now for NAB Show and we'll see you in Vegas!
3. Sportscaster Rich Eisen Shares Exclusive Insights on NAB Podcast
Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Emmy-nominated broadcaster and Marconi Award winner Rich Eisen, who recently celebrated 20 years as the voice of the NFL Network.
Dig in: Eisen shares his thoughts on AI’s impact on broadcasting, mentors who have helped shape his career, his on-air approach and importance of the NAB Marconi Radio Awards.
4. FCC Test of Disaster Information Reporting System Set for February
In preparation for the 2024 hurricane season, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct an exercise of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) from February 6-8, 2024.
Why it matters: The upcoming test is intended to help ensure that communications providers can access and file in the new, modernized DIRS system, train new employees to become familiar with the DIRS reporting process and update DIRS contact information.
Detailed information on creating DIRS accounts, as well as using the system, can be found in the user’s guide.
Here's the plan: The upcoming test will include a simulated event and commence with the FCC sending a mock activation letter on February 6 to all registered DIRS participants. The mock activation letter will provide a list of pre-selected counties that form the disaster area for this practice event.
Providers will be asked to report data on any of their communications assets in the affected area. Since this is only a simulated event, the FCC does not expect to receive actual counts of outages.
If a provider does not have any communications assets in the affected counties, it can still participate by reporting notional data for the pre-selected counties.
The FCC asks that event participants provide their initial data sets by 10 a.m. EDT on February 7 with an updated report filed by February 8 at 10 a.m. EDT. The Bureau will send a deactivation letter by 3 p.m. EDT on February 8 notifying participants that the simulated event has been completed.
Broadcasters are encouraged to participate to avoid problems when the next real activation of DIRS occurs. If your station is interested in participating, please email michael.caiafa@fcc.gov, john.healy@fcc.gov and ryan.hedgpeth@fcc.gov by February 2 with the following information:
Name of the provider;
Names of all participants from the provider;
Email and phone numbers of all participants from the provider; and
Specific geographic areas (counties, state) that the provider would like to have included in the disaster area for this exercise (optional).
The 2024 NAB Board of Directors election will be conducted by Vote-Now.com from February 8 to April 10.
What's happening: The 2024 election is for even-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.
2024 Radio Districts District 2 -  New York, New Jersey
District 4 - Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
District 6 -  North Carolina, South Carolina
District 8 -  Louisiana, Mississippi
District 10 – Indiana
District 12 - Missouri, Kansas
District 14 - Iowa, Wisconsin
District 16 - Colorado, Nebraska
District 18 - Southern Texas
District 20 - Montana, Idaho, Wyoming
District 22 - Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
District 24 - Southern California, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, MP
(Northern Mariana Islands)
2024 Schedule of Electronic NAB Board Elections
February 8 – Notice requesting nominations goes out to all membership from Vote-Now.com
March 8 – Nominations window closes andcandidates verified for eligibility
March 14 – Ballots sent to voting representatives via Vote-Now.com
April 8 – Ballots due
April 10 – Notification of winners and determination if run-off election required
6. Time is Running Out: Get Recognition for Your Community Service Work
🏆 Get your hard work recognized with these awards from NAB.
The NAB Crystal Radio Awards honor outstanding community service efforts undertaken by radio stations throughout 2023.
Last call: Stations must submit an online entry through My NAB describing their community service efforts for the 2023 calendar year. The deadline for entry submissions is January 31.
The Celebration of Service to America Awards honor excellence in community service philanthropy and the impact made by local television and radio stations across the country.
Click here for more information and to submit your station’s work today.
7. NAB Mourns the Passing of Charles Osgood
Earlier this week, legendary broadcaster and NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee Charles Osgoodpassed away.
“NAB extends our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the countless listeners and viewers who were touched by his remarkable work. Charles Osgood's legacy will forever be a beacon of excellence in broadcasting,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.
8. NAB on the Move
NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt participated in a fireside chat at the recent E.W. Scripps Company general managers meeting with Dean Littleton, senior vice president of Local Media. Jenn Flemming, vice president, NABPAC and Advocacy Initiatives, also attended the event.
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