KBBG-FM, Waterloo on the ropes

Afro-American Community Broadcasting Inc. is appealing for financial support to stay on the air.

“We’re in dire straits right now,” said Edyce Porter, the station’s community outreach director and daughter of Jimmie Porter, who founded KBBG in 1977.

KBBG Executive Director Deborah Berry, board president Robert C. Wright and staff said the current budget crisis stems from unexpected equipment failures, lost federal support and declining donations as its older patrons pass away and aren’t replaced by younger listeners.

“It’s just really been a struggle for us,” Berry said. “The community is not donating as we had planned.”

Berry and rest of KBBG’s staff have been laid off for about six weeks but continue showing up at the station’s Newell and Mobile street building.

“Our staff people are so dedicated, so committed, they are volunteering,” she said. “We know how important this radio station is to this community.”

Berry took the reins in July 2017 after the previous volunteer director passed away.

The station retained a consultant to help update the organization, which included adding new board members; steps were taken to update the programming to attract younger listeners, and fundraising became a year-round push.

A Community Learning Center project for students interested in broadcasting careers was started with new partnerships throughout the Cedar Valley.

But the station’s vintage equipment started failing and undermining those efforts.

The transmitter and the digital-audio delivery system both died and needed to be replaced. All the station’s digital music, underwriting, public service announcements, and other digital files were lost when the system went down in March.

.

BANKOLE THOMPSON REJOINS THE 910AM SUPERSTATION FAMILY

Respected and trusted Detroit journalist Bankole
Thompson rejoins the 910AM Superstation family from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00
p.m. Monday through Friday

The 910AM Superstation weekday lineup will be Coco, Sam Riddle,
Bankole Thompson, Stephen A. Smith, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Michael
Baisden.

“This new lineup speaks to the Detroit community,” says 910AM
Superstation CEO Kevin Adell.

Bankole adds, “I’m happy to be back at 910AM Superstation and I’m
looking forward to making Detroit’s recovery and poverty the front and
center of our conversation.”

LEGENDARY MORNING RADIO HOST COCO JOINS THE 910AM SUPERSTATION FAMILY

Legendary morning radio host Coco joins the 910AM Superstation family from 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday…

“Coco speaks to the community,“ says 910AM Superstation CEO Kevin Adell.

Coco says “I’m happy to be joining the 910AM Superstation family ”

 

 

SOURCE 910AM Superstation

http://www.910amsuperstation.com/

Scripps adds broadcast leader to its Board of Directors

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) has added Marcellus Alexander, former executive vice president of television at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and president of the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF), to its board of directors.

Prior to his work at the NAB, Alexander served as vice president and general manager at local television stations including CBS-owned KYW (CBS3) in Philadelphia and WJZ in Baltimore.

In his most recent role at the National Association of Broadcasters, Alexander was responsible for working with broadcast operators across the industry to help shape the NAB’s legislative and regulatory agenda. Under his leadership at the NABLF, Alexander helped the organization advance the business of broadcasting through education, professional development, and diversity initiatives as well as a focus on community service and journalism’s First Amendment protections.

“Marcellus is an established leader in broadcast media who will bring his experience and deep understanding of the continued evolution of our business to the boardroom as we further expand our footprint across the country,” said Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson. “His passion for educating and teaching other young leaders in the industry resonates with Scripps’ longtime motto, ‘give light and the people will find their own way.'”

A native of Austin, Texas, Alexander holds a bachelor’s degree in speech and journalism from Texas State University.

Alexander serves on the advisory board for the Media Institute of the Caribbean, whose key initiatives include developing a business case for investigative reporting in small-nation islands. He also has held positions on boards including the International Radio and Television Society, Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications, the Washington Urban League, the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust and the Emma Bowen Foundation.

With the addition of Alexander, Scripps has 12 members on its board of directors. Roger Ogden has informed the company he intends to retire when his term expires on the date of the board’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2020. Ogden has served on the board since 2008. Upon his retirement, the number of directors will return to 11.

About Scripps

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of local and national media brands. With 52 television stations in 36 markets, Scripps is one of the nation’s largest independent TV station owners. Scripps runs a collection of national journalism and content businesses, including Newsy, the next-generation national news network; podcast industry leader Stitcher; the fast-growing national broadcast networks Bounce, Grit, Escape, Laff and Court TV; and Triton, the global leader in digital audio technology and measurement services. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company