Weatherman challenged downplaying of anniversary; photos of drowned toddler too powerful not to show; Trump lashes out at Abdul-Jabbar after critical essay; station uploads video of fatal police shooting of citizen; anchor tells viewers why she says it the Spanish way; who says Vester Flanagan was mentally ill?; Harris Faulkner sues toy company over use of name; AM broadcasters want action on access to FM dial; Olympics not factored in for NABJ-NAHJ convention (9/2/15)Weatherman Challenged Downplaying of Anniversary
Photos of Drowned Toddler Too Powerful Not to Show
Trump Lashes Out at Abdul-Jabbar After Critical Essay
Station Uploads Video of Fatal Police Shooting of Citizen
Anchor Tells Viewers Why She Says It the Spanish Way
Who Says Vester Flanagan Was Mentally Ill?
Harris Faulkner Sues Toy Company Over Use of Name
AM Broadcasters Want Action on Access to FM Dial
"As we approach yet another Radio Show (Atlanta 9/30-10/1), despite what appears to be universal agreement that it needs to be fixed, broadcasters are still waiting for the FCC to follow through with its plan to revitalize the AM radio dial," RadioInk reported Tuesday.
"There's been a lot of chatter about it from the FCC. There's been a lot of fancy speeches about it from the FCC. And there's been a lot of promises made by the FCC that AM radio will be fixed so it can compete in the modern media world. And AM broadcasters wait....and wait...and wait. . . ."
Much of the discussion has turned to FM translators, which enable AM stations to broadcast on the FM dial.
RadioInk added, "So why are minority broadcasters ticked at the current Chairman? The CEOs of 50 minority-owned AM radio licensees, (140 stations in all), have written a letter to FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler voicing their displeasure with his decision not to open an FM translator window for AM broadcasters.
The letter states, 'Any other approach will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for AM stations, including many of our own, to obtain the translators they urgently need to remain competitive and provide our communities with the service they deserve. If the Commission truly aims to advance minority broadcast ownership, and to fulfill its goal of revitalizing AM radio, it should promptly open an FM translator filing window that is limited to AM licensees. . . ."
Olympics Not Factored in for NABJ-NAHJ Convention
Next year's joint convention of the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists will overlap with the Summer Olympic Games, but that was not factored into the choice of convention dates, NABJ Executive Director Darryl R. Matthews Sr. said Wednesday.
The joint convention is to be held Aug. 3-7, 2016, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington. The 2016 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled from Aug. 5 to Aug. 21 in Rio de Janeiro, diverting some news organizations' attention and resources from the journalists convention.
"Reached out to the meeting planner who helped us facilitate the RFP [request for proposal] and site visits, he reminded me that we were only told to stay away from sweeps week," Matthews said by email. "The date of the Olympics was never a factor in consideration of the planning process by [either] group."
Bob Butler and Hugo Balta were presidents of NABJ and NAHJ, respectively, when the convention documents were signed. "I wasn't part of that discussion," Balta messaged.
[Butler said by email on Thursday: "We received several proposals and the others did not work for various reasons, dates, rates, etc.
["Some of the dates offered were in June, others were in late August. June dates don't work because many children are still in school; late August dates don't work for the same reasons. Television sweeps runs from roughly June 27-July 26, so those dates don't work either."]
