JANY, the Journalists Association of New York, is looking to continue its work in honoring journalism excellence and continuing training and advocacy. The organization, formerly the New York State Associated Press Association, held an excellence contest and a successful banquet and awards ceremony in 2022. Now, they are reaching out to its print, broadcast, and digital members to see what they would like JANY’s future to be. The organization is especially interested in thoughts on 2024 and the continuation of the contest and the banquet/awards event. There is a survey being taken right now that you can find here. For additional information, contact Randy Gorbman, News Director WXXI Public Media at rgorbman@wxxi.org

Those of us working in local broadcasting are fortunate enough to have an exciting career in an industry that serves local communities across New York State. Regardless of whether you are an on-air news anchor, on-the-street reporter, account executive, producer, or marketing specialist, you can make a difference in your community. It’s time to help the next generation. Every year students across the state are making decisions about their careers. Many students do not understand or realize the opportunities that exist in local broadcasting. Some need help in landing that first job or internship. To remedy this situation, NYSBA seeks to obtain a library of short videos that describe what it is like to work in broadcasting. This initiative aims to encourage students to select broadcasting as a career. We will be collecting videos through January 5, 2023. You may submit up to 10 videos on the different topics outlined below. Our goal is to launch the program in mid-January. We will collect these videos and upload them on a news career page of our website and share them across our social media platforms. If your video is selected and posted by NYSBA on its website or social media accounts, you will become eligible to win a $100 gift certificate. The videos will be arranged by topic/profession and must be less than a minute. We want to create a short “bite-size” video library that will give students industry tips/advice about the benefits of a career in broadcasting. The videos should be recorded on your phone in a well-lit area with no background noise. Please note that videos must be recorded vertically so that formatting remains consistent upon upload. When completed, please send the recording to the Director of Communications, Trevor Elmendorf, at telmendorf@nysbroadcasters.org. All submissions become the property of NYSBA and the decision to use a particular video will be made by us and is up to NYSBA’s discretion alone. However, we will obtain your permission before posting a video. Here are some suggested topics for each video: *Each person should introduce themselves with their job title, radio/TV/digital, and location.* General Questions Why do I love my job? What does a typical day look like? Why is broadcasting “in style”? On-air talent (Entertainment) The best part of being on air What it’s like being a radio show host What it’s like to be a local TV host Internship opportunities/experiences (i.e., the benefits) Relevant coursework/clubs/extracurriculars to consider at school On-air talent (News and Sports) What it’s like being a newscaster What it’s like being a sportscaster What it’s like to be a broadcast reporter Internship opportunities/experiences (i.e., the benefits) Relevant coursework/clubs/extracurriculars to consider at school Production What types of content do you produce? Can you be creative? Do you produce both traditional broadcast and digital content? Do you produce commercials? Internship opportunities/experiences (i.e., the benefits) Relevant coursework/clubs/extracurriculars to consider at school Sales and Marketing Why broadcast sales? What is a typical day like? How did you get into sales? Internship opportunities/experiences (i.e., the benefits) Relevant coursework/clubs/extracurriculars to consider at school Technical/Engineering Do I need an engineering degree? Do I have to focus on a specific area such as RF, software, IT, or electrical? What is a typical day like? How do you get into the technical side of issues? Internship opportunities/experiences (i.e., the benefits) Relevant coursework/clubs/extracurriculars to consider at school Other Short Videos to Address General Issues: Small market vs. big market Advantages of starting a career in a small market Advantages of working for a company with multiple stations in other markets Work/life balance How do you balance the demands of work Is this a 9 to 5 job? What is essential to know before getting into the field? How to get a job Is there a specific major to take such as journalism or business What outside activities should I focus on – college radio and TV? Should I begin to use social media to learn on-air skills Internships How important is entering? How do you get an internship? Does it matter if an internship is paid? How many internships should you have? When should you start thinking about internships? Do you look for internships on resumes? Interviews What do you look for when interviewing a person? Some of the “dos” and “don’ts” of the interview process How to properly prepare for the interview Send us your videos today and become eligible for a $100 gift certificate! If you have any questions, contact Trevor Elmendorf at telmendorf@nysbroadcasters.org.

The FCC is stepping up its enforcement against illegal radio stations operating in New York. Its most recent actions involve several of the most noted illegal pirate stations in the New York area. Bronx: The FCC imposed a $2.3 million fine against a station operating on 105.7 in the Bronx. In assessing the large fine, the FCC noted that it had evidence that the station had been operating since 2018. Mount Vernon: The FCC imposed a $2.3 million fine on a station operating on 104.5 FM in Mount Vernon. The FCC noted that the station has been operating for 15 years and has ignored previous enforcement attempts. Brooklyn: The FCC imposed a $1.7 million fine against a pirate station operating on 99.4 FM. The FCC noted that the station has been operating during the past two years. We applaud the FCC’s actions in finally moving forward against illegal pirate stations in New York. When issuing the fines, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said: “In the PIRATE Act, Congress upped the ante. It increased the penalties for those who transmit unauthorized signals over the FM and AM radio bands because they can compromise public trust in this service and jeopardize the broadcasting of emergency alerts. This means higher fines and more regular enforcement sweeps in our largest radio markets. Here, we propose fines against three unauthorized radio operators in New York that are the direct result of an enforcement sweep taken pursuant to this new law. They add up to more than $6,412,000 in penalties. They also demonstrate that the agency’s field agents are taking their broadcast enforcement duties under the PIRATE Act and that we are taking our responsibility as stewards of the public airwaves seriously.” We applaud Rosenworcel for her continued leadership with respect to enforcing the PIRATE Act. The next step will be for the Department of Justice to take these cases to court for enforcement. Unfortunately, the FCC lacks the authority to go to court to enforce its orders. That must be done through the Department of Justice. The size of the fines in these cases should attract the DOJ’s attention. We will watch this process very closely. You can see the FCC’s decision regarding 105.7 in the Bronx here. View the FCC’s decision regarding 104.5 FM in Mount Vernon here. See the FCC’s decision regarding 99.4 FM in Brooklyn here.

In September 2022, the FCC adopted a rule that would change the timing of EAS alerts for local stations. Currently, a station will receive them from both the traditional EAS daisy chain alerts and the IPAWS/CAP system. Current EAS radios accept and rebroadcast the first message they receive. Under new rules, EAS receivers at local stations that first receive an EAS alert through the EAS daisy chain would be required to delay retransmitting the EAS alert for at least 10 seconds. During the delay, the EAS receiver would look to see if it received a message from the IPAWS/CAP system and give that message priority over the alert from the traditional EAS message. If no IPAWS/CAP message is received, the alert obtained through the traditional EAS system would then be retransmitted by the station. In asking for the delay, NAB noted that Sage, one of the major EAS encoder-decoder manufacturers, is unable to provide the necessary firmware update to their EAS equipment on time. SAGE equipment is used by many local broadcast stations. As a result, NAB has asked for a 90-day extension until March 11, 2024. You can see NAB's request for a delay here. You can see the FCC decision from last year here. You can see a discussion of the issue by noted Communications Attorney David Oxenford here.

For nearly 80 years (since the dawn of police radios), broadcast journalists have been able to report on NYPD activities by scanning police radios. Over the past year, however, the New York City Police Department has been deploying a new “encrypted” digital communications system. Unfortunately, these new encrypted radios prevent journalists from learning about police activities. The system has already been rolled out in 10 precincts in Brooklyn. The radios are expected to be deployed throughout the city by the end of 2024. The New York City Council held a hearing yesterday to address this matter. NYSBA testified, arguing that broadcast journalists should maintain access to basic police dispatch information. We stated: “The public’s right to know is fundamental to a functioning democracy in New York City. This is especially true with respect to its policing activity. Transparency is essential. The citizens of New York have a right to know the location of an event involving the NYPD in real time. Basic public safety requires that citizens know which areas of the city to avoid if there is ongoing criminal activity or a civil disturbance. For decades, journalists have had access to basic police radio “dispatch” communications.  Access to such basic information has been essential to providing New York’s citizens with life-saving information about events in the city involving the NYPD. The deployment of encrypted police radios, which prevent journalists from accessing basic information, impairs our ability to inform the community.” We noted that journalists should have access to information in “real-time” and not be delayed by 30 minutes. We are concerned that NYPD seeks to delay a decision on the issue until the entire city has new radios, thereby presenting journalists with a “fait accompli.” We believe that NYPD and other police departments can rely on the recent New York Gun law, which prevented the general public from gaining access to body armor. When implementing the law, New York State allowed professional journalists access to body armor because of the dangerous nature of covering the news. We believe NYPD can use the same standard when crafting a policy that would allow journalists to maintain access. In addition, legislation has been introduced that would prevent police departments across the state from encrypting communications to prevent journalists from gaining access to police communications. You can see a copy of our testimony before the NY City Council here. You can see the NY Department of State’s decision to allow journalists access to body armor here. A copy of the recent legislation introduced by New York Senator Gianaris here.

The auto industry continues its attempt to block the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 3413 and S. 1669). In a recent blog post, a trade group representing the auto industry claimed that by 2030, it would cost $3.8 billion to continue including AM radios in vehicles. Most of the costs involve shielding and including filters to avoid interference from electric engines. Of course, filters and shielding are necessary to prevent interference with other systems in the vehicle. It is wrong to attribute these costs solely to including an AM radio. 12 out of 20 auto manufacturers have already figured this out. Often overlooked are the costs to consumers from the auto industry’s communications plans. While keeping AM radio in a vehicle may present a slight one-time cost to consumers, eliminating free radio will force all consumers to purchase subscription services to access local radio stations that they currently receive for free. This auto industry figure vastly inflates the costs. The Congressional Budget Office stated that implementing the AM bill would only slightly increase the overall costs. CBO expects this would primarily affect manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs) who have removed or announced plans to remove standard AM radio equipment from their vehicles, though the bill would prohibit future phase-outs in gasoline and diesel passenger vehicles as well. Based on sales data, this would require manufacturers to update media equipment and infotainment software in about 2.5 to 3 million EVs per year. Because the unit costs of those updates are small, CBO estimates the total cost of the mandate would be several millions of dollars each year the requirement is in effect and would not exceed the annual threshold established in UMRA for private-sector mandates ($198 million in 2023, adjusted annually for inflation). We continue to push the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act in both the House and the Senate. As it stands, 181 members of The House and 39 U.S. Senators have signed on to the legislation. This includes Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. In New York, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Gillibrand support the bill. On the house side, 14 members of the New York delegation have co-sponsored the legislation. Jacobs Media has released an interesting analysis here. You can see the cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office here. You can see the NAB’s well-written response to the auto industry here.

For the last several months, news reports have been filled with issues surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI). We are seeing the beginning of an intense regulatory and legislative process that will occur at both the federal and state levels. At the federal level, the White House issued a broad Executive Order. One aspect of this very long order that may ultimately impact broadcasters is the focus on notifying consumers about AI-generated “synthetic content.” For example, the Executive Order states as one of its goals: “To foster capabilities for identifying and labeling synthetic content produced by AI systems, and to establish the authenticity and provenance of digital content, both synthetic and not synthetic, produced by the Federal Government or on its behalf:” Of course, this largely applies to federal agencies. To meet this goal, the Secretary of Commerce will submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to identify best practices and develop standards to: Authenticate content and track its provenance Label synthetic content, such as using watermarking Detect synthetic content In response to this directive, the Federal Trade Commission plans to commence a proceeding to consider whether to initiate a proceeding that examines how to use its authority to protect consumers from AI-enabled voice cloning harms, such as fraud and the broader misuse of biometric data and creative content. Specifically, the FTC will be looking at voice cloning: Voice Cloning Challenge Announcement: FTC staff will announce an exploratory Voice Cloning Challenge to encourage the development of multidisciplinary solutions—from products to procedures—aimed at protecting consumers from artificial intelligence-enabled voice cloning harms, such as fraud and the broader misuse of biometric data and creative content. The challenge complements efforts across the federal government to address and mitigate the risks of AI. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has expressed his concerns about the need for Congress to address AI in the context of political advertisements and campaigns. AI-related bills are being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. At the state level, we are also seeing AI-related legislation being introduced in both the New York State Assembly and Senate. A number of these bills address the problems with AI in the context of political advertising, as well as commercial advertising. Basic Principles: Legislation and regulation relating to AI can be very complex. We will be approaching these efforts from a basic set of principles. Content Issues Generative AI should not be able to use or “scrape” our content without our consent and payment. Broadcasters should not be liable where content is taken, modified, and then used by AI in a disparaging manner. Broadcasters should not be liable for broadcasting “fake” content not created and produced by the station. Stations receive and broadcast thousands of hours of content every week from program suppliers and lack the ability to review and edit all content. Stations have no way to determine what is fake. Liability, if any, should apply only to the entity that creates and produces false “synthetic” content and the AI software/system that generates the content, not the broadcaster. Stations must be given prior notice and an opportunity to cure before any liability can be imposed. There needs to be exemptions from liability for news and public affairs programs. Local stations should be given the opportunity to use AI where applicable, consistent with its FCC obligation to serve the public interest. We plan to apply these basic principles to both state and federal legislation. Of course, each bill will present its own issues. Moreover, priorities may change. However, we need to approach AI-related legislation to allow stations to continue serving their communities using the latest technology while at the same time protecting them from unwarranted litigation. You can see the FTC’s Meeting Notice regarding proposed AI regulations here. You can see the White House’s  Executive Order here.

As we have noted on numerous occasions, you must be timely when uploading your quarterly issues programs lists into your online public file. The FCC’s Media Bureau just fined a station $9,000 for failing to upload its quarterly issues programs list in a timely manner. The station was late for 10 quarters. The Media Bureau noted: “Issues/programs lists must be placed in the station’s OPIF by the tenth day of the succeeding calendar quarter and copies must be retained until final action on the station’s next license renewal application. On September 29, 2020, the Licensee filed its Application. A staff inspection of the Station’s OPIF revealed that the Licensee failed to upload some copies of its issues/programs lists by the deadline established in section 73.3526(e)(11)(i) of the Rules. The Licensee did not file 10 quarterly lists and provided no explanation  but rather stated that it had timely filed the lists after it returned the Station to the air in May 2016.  Licensee uploaded missing files only after Commission staff alerted it to the deficiency.” Again, please make sure you upload your issues/program lists on time. You can see the Media Bureau’s decision here.

Believe it or not, the FCC has not resolved its 2018 Quadrennial Review concerning several of its ownership rules. Earlier this year, NAB filed a mandamus petition with the US Court of Appeals, which asked the court to compel the FCC to reach a decision in this proceeding. NAB won and ordered the FCC to issue a decision by December 27th of this year. There are several issues under consideration: Review of local radio ownership rules Local TV ownership rules involving two of the top 4 stations in a market Shared Service agreements in TV Dual network rule that prevents common ownership of two of the top four TV networks. NYSBA has long argued that the FCC’s broadcast ownership rules must be revised to reflect current marketplace realities. Given the rapid rise of streaming and other digital services, the FCC needs to revise its rules. The days of an insular marketplace in which broadcasters compete with each other have long passed. With three democratic Commissioners, it is unlikely that the FCC will significantly relax its rules.   Nonetheless, it will now be compelled to justify any rules in light of current marketplace realities. We eagerly await the FCC’s decision. After all, we have been waiting since 2018. Noted communications attorney David Oxenford posted a good discussion of the issues involved in the case here.

Radio suffered during the height of the COVID pandemic as many people worked from home. That trend is changing, and “drive time” is back. The return to commuting was observed in a recent article in Inside Radio. According to the article, several key research companies, including Cumulus Media/Westwood One, MARU/Matchbox, and Advertiser Perceptions, all observed a return to traditional commuting patterns. The article noted: “Compared to results from earlier surveys by MARU/Matchbox and Nielsen since April 2020, the height of the pandemic – when more than half (52%) of pre-COVID commuters were working at home – that share gradually fell to just 6% in the recent survey, meaning 94% of average Americans are now commuting to work. In just the past year, that represents an increase from 87%, although from April 2020 to March 2021, the work-from-home share dropped sharply, from that 52% to 21%.” The article also noted that many marketers do not fully realize that commuting levels have returned. Now is the time to reengage. You can see the complete analysis in Inside Radio here.

With Presidential elections, elections that may determine control of the US House and Senate, and many local elections, there are predictions that 2024 will be the biggest year ever for political advertising. Already, we are seeing many ads for candidates for elections in 2024 – and we are already witnessing disputes over the content of those ads. Are you up to date on all the FCC rules that govern your sale of political ads? Do you know who you must sell political ads to, the rates that you can charge, and all the paperwork that is required – including the latest on the online political file? On November 29, the staff of the FCC’s Office of Political Programming – Bobby Baker, Gary Schonman, and Sima Nilsson – will be on hand in a webinar moderated by David Oxenford of the DC law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP. They will provide a refresher on the rules that you need to know to prepare for the 2024 election season and highlight the potential issues that may arise with political candidates and issue advertisers on your stations. Be sure that you avoid any of the problems that can occur in your sales of political advertising in 2024 by signing up for this timely webinar. NYSBA is working with the Michigan State Broadcasters Association to provide this webinar to members in good standing for free. You may register in advance for the webinar here.

Inside Radio reported on an analysis concerning an uptick in auto ad spending. According to the article: “There is something of a comeback underway for the automotive ad category, according to radio executives who say the impact of the now-ended United Auto Workers strikes against General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis has been minimal – just as the car industry picks up the pace of its recovery following three years of supply chain issues during the pandemic.” J.D. Power and GlobalData estimate that 1.2 million new vehicles were sold during October. That is a 6.6% increase from a year ago, even with one fewer selling day. Based on that pace, it now projects that 15.5 million new vehicles will be sold this year.” You can find more information from Inside Radio here.

Here is some good news for radio. An article in Radio Ink reported on the “Share of the Ear” study from Edison Research for Q3 2023. According to the study: “As radio fights for its place in the automobile dashboard, the latest Edison Research Share of Ear data from Q3 2023 shows radio’s percentage of time spent listening in the car is at its highest point in eight years. The proportion of OTA radio listening compared to any other medium rose 13%, finishing at 45% – tying Q4 of 2019’s pre-COVID numbers.” You can see the full article on Edison’s Report in Radio Ink here.

The New York Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) was honored recently for its exemplary work in educating New Yorkers about traffic safety. The prestigious “Serving New York” award was presented to the GTSC at the New York Broadcasters Leadership and Hall of Fame Luncheon in New York City. Brian DiPalma, Highway Safety Program Representative, accepted the award on behalf of the GTSC. In presenting the award, NYSBA President David Donovan observed, “GTSC’s traffic safety campaigns, including its most recent multiplatform e-bike safety campaign, have saved countless lives across the Empire State. We are honored to partner with Executive Director Licet Gaveau and her team at the GTSC to broadcast these critical traffic safety messages.” You can access GTSC’s website here. For information about the NY State Broadcasters Association, contact Trevor Elmendorf at telmendorf@nysbroadcasters.org

The New York Army National Guard (NYARNG) was honored recently for its exemplary work in service to New York. The prestigious “Serving New York” award was presented to the NYARNG at the New York Broadcasters Leadership and Hall of Fame Luncheon in New York City. Staff Sergeant Manuel Atiencia accepted the award on behalf of NYARNG. In presenting the award, NYSBA President David Donovan observed, “The New York National Guard is always there for us, saving lives during emergencies and protecting our freedoms. It is an integral part of every community in the Empire State. We are honored to partner with NYARNG to help New Yorkers understand its mission by broadcasting its messages on radio and television stations across the state. You can find more information about the NY Army National Guard here. For information about the NY State Broadcasters Association, contact Trevor Elmendorf at telmendorf@nysbroadcasters.org

At its recent meeting on October 26, NYSBA elected its officers and directors for 2024. A special thank you to all who serve on the board and make our association the best in the nation. Also, a special thank you to Alan Bishop for all of his work serving as Chairman in 2023. We also want to welcome Vinny DiMarco, who was elected to serve on the board in 2024. The officers serving on the executive committee for 2024 will be: Chairman: Roberto Yanez, NE Regional Manager, President & GM, Univision NY Vice Chair-TV: Chris Musial, VP & GM, WBBZ-TV, Buffalo Vice Chair-Radio: Katelin Tinley, VP & GM, Cox Radio Group, Long Island Treasurer: Bob Krummenacker, GM, WBNG-TV, Binghamton Secretary: Jim Loftus, COO, Seven Mountains Media, Southern Tier Stations NY Market Radio: Chris Oliviero, Market President, Audacy Inc, New York City The following executives will serve on the Board of Directors for 2024: Alan Bishop, Owner, Finger Lakes Radio Group and Chadwick Bay Broadcasting Karen Carey, Market President/Chief Revenue Officer, Townsquare Media, Utica Amy Collins, Associate Group Manager/VP & GM, Sinclair Broadcasting, Syracuse & Buffalo Vinny DiMarco, Market Manager, ESPN Radio, New York City. David Feinblatt, President & GM, WLIG LPTV, Long Island Marilu Galvez, President and GM, WABC-TV, New York City Johnny Green, Jr., President and GM, WCBS-TV, New York City Jon Hitchcock, GM, WNYT-TV & WNYA-TV, Albany Scott Hopeck, Division President, iHeart Media Markets Group, New York City Marc Jaromin, VP & GM, WKBW-TV, Buffalo Lew Leone, Sr. VP & GM, WNYW-TV, & WWOR, New York City Eric Lerner, President & GM, WNBC-TV, New York City Ed Levine, Owner, Galaxy Media Partners, Syracuse Chad Lopez, President, Red Apple Media, 77WABC Radio, New York City Maire Mason, VP & GM, Spanish Broadcasting Systems, New York City Chris McDonnell, VP and GM, WPIX-TV, New York City Robert Morgan, President, iHeart Media Upstate, Rochester Chet Osadchey, President, Cayuga Radio Group (SAGA Communications), Ithaca Mary Papuyo, Sports Director & National/Digital Sales Manager, Salem Media, NYC Jim Riley, VP & Market Manager, Cumulus Radio Stations Group, Buffalo & Erie Chuck Samuels, VP & GM, WHAM & WUHF TV, Rochester Norm Silverstein, President & CEO, WXXI Public Broadcasting Council, Rochester Theresa Underwood, SVP & Regional Manager, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, New York Additional information can be found on our website.

This is a reminder that the final FCC ETRS reports for the recent national EAS test are due by November 20, 2023. This provides the FCC with more detailed information about the station’s response to the national test from October 4. The FCC places a high priority on the EAS system. Participation in EAS is an important part of a station's commitment to public service. Moreover, it is an essential component of our defense to keep AM radio in automobiles. Please make sure you file off of the ETRS reports on time. You can access the ETRS form on the FCC’s ETRA website here.

As we noted earlier this year, the New York Office of Cannabis Management adopted overly restrictive cannabis advertising regulations. The rules effectively prevent newly licensed cannabis businesses from advertising on local radio and television stations. For example, cannabis advertisements may only be placed in programs where 90% of the audience is 21 years of age or older. This prevents advertising in most radio and television programs. Additionally, the length of the required warning labels makes it impossible to use on the radio. In many instances, the length of the warning label may exceed that of a 15, 30, or 60-second spot. Once again, we have argued that the policy currently applicable to alcohol advertisements should be applied to cannabis ads. Legally licensed cannabis businesses should be allowed to place ads where 75% of the audience is 21 years or older. Moreover, the length of warning labels must be significantly reduced to allow cannabis advertisements to be used on local radio stations. Ironically, New York is plagued with thousands of illegal cannabis stores. Today, consumers simply do not know whether a store is legal or illegal. Nonetheless, legal cannabis businesses are unable to advertise on local radio and TV stations. If legal outlets were allowed to advertise, they would be able to tell consumers to purchase cannabis from a licensed store and move consumers away from illegal operations. We urged members of the Senate to support S. 7572, introduced by NY State Senator Jeremy Cooney last session. The legislation would adopt a 75% audience placement standard. The legislation allows for a flexible approach to proving whether the audience standard has been met. In addition, it would limit the length of the warning labels to 15% of an advertisement’s total time. We recognize that it is still illegal to broadcast cannabis advertisements under federal law. However, this may change if the DEA changes cannabis from a class 1 to a class 3 drug. If this happens, we do not want to be prevented from accepting cannabis advertisements because of overly restrictive regulations in New York State. We will continue to push this issue during the upcoming NY legislative session. You can see a copy of our written testimony here.

An article in Inside Radio reported on a recent study conducted by the National Automobile Dealers Association. The NADA study found: “Local dealer auto spending was the strongest since before the pandemic during the first half of the year. Franchised dealerships spent a total of $4.28 billion from January to June on advertising, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association. That was the most spent by local dealers since the first half of 2019, with inventory levels returning to normal for many brands. The low point came in 2020 when the pandemic forced many local car dealerships to close their doors—some for good. During the first half of 2020, NADA said $3.6 billion was spent on advertising by dealers.” The return of the auto advertising industry is welcome news. The report indicated that the market should remain strong. You can see the NADA Report in Inside Radio here.

At a packed house in the iconic Rainbow Room at 30 Rockefeller Plaza 65th Floor, New York, the New York State Broadcasters Association inducted their annual Hall of Fame class. The luncheon was emceed by Ed Levine, CEO of Galaxy Media Partners. Levine is also the chair of NYSBA’s Hall of Fame committee. Around 190 people attended the luncheon. This year’s class includes broadcasters from both television and radio, small markets and large. The group is composed of Angie Martinez, Irv Gikofsky (“Mr. G”), Craig Stevens Harris, Dan Cummings, and Bob Matthews. Each inductee is an invaluable member of their local community and has enjoyed a tremendous career. They delivered moving, career-spanning acceptance speeches that showcased their impact on colleagues and the media market in which they worked. Congratulations to the inductees and thank you for your commitment to broadcasting. To see pictures from the event, click here. For additional information on each inductee, click here.