NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Today is National Broadcast Traffic Directors Day!! The Kentucky Broadcasters Association, again this year, would like to show our deep appreciation for the traffic directors at our member stations, by giving you a sweet treat from Sugarwish.

Also known as National Traffic Directors Day or National Traffic Professional’s Day, the day honors the men and women who work behind the scenes to keep the programs, talk shows, news, and commercials flowing.

As promised, here is a photo dump of the 2023 KBA Annual Conference in Northern Kentucky, courtesy of photographer Reed Masterson.

The Kentucky Broadcasters Association mourns the passing of former WYMT General Sales Manager and Station Manager, Jim Boggs. Boggs passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 75 years old.

Boggs was from Harlan County and attended Loyall High School.

He worked at several radio stations in Michigan and Williamson, West Virginia in the 1970′s and 1980′s.

He was hired as General Sales Manager at WYMT in January 1990. For the next 25 years, Boggs took the sales department and station revenue to new heights.

His voice was heard on countless commercials, and he would occasionally appear in WYMT newscasts talking about events like the Mountain Basketball Classic.

“Mountain people are always giving and always sticking together...this is a chance for us to help each other,” said Boggs, about a partnership with God’s Pantry Food Bank in 2012.

“We are deeply saddened by Jim’s passing. Jim was a mentor and a friend to so many of us. We were lucky to have him at WYMT. He was a broadcast pioneer. Jim’s leadership took our sales team and this station to heights no one ever dreamed possible. He was an icon in our mountain family,” said WYMT General Manager Neil Middleton. “Jim was very talented. He wrote poetry and songs. He always had a smile on his face and words of wisdom to share. Even in the end, during our last conversation, Jim shared some life wisdom with me. That’s what I’ll miss the most: his friendship, his wisdom, and his laughter.”

Commonwealth Broadcasting welcomes Glasgow business leader Chris Houchens to the company's leadership team.  Houchens has been named General Manager of the company’s Glasgow operations, including Nash 103.7 (WHHT), 104.7 The Score (WCDS) and the area’s online news product, GlasgowNews1.com.

Houchens joins Commonwealth Broadcasting from his position as Sales Manager of Gerald Printing’s Glasgow operations.  Chris began his professional career as an air-personality and operations manager for Commonwealth, and before joining Gerald he served as a marketing director for two local businesses and worked for a local newspaper’s on-line division.  Additionally, Chris authored a book on marketing and was the principal of Shotgun Concepts, a marketing consulting business that served clients nationally and internationally.  He has also been actively involved in multiple community leadership positions.

 “We are thrilled Chris will be taking the lead of our local operations.  His extensive marketing and business leadership experience are spot-on for this role,” said Dale Thornhill, Commonwealth Broadcasting’s Chief Operating Officer.  “The fact Chris was with Commonwealth early in his career completes the circle.  He knows our values, and we know his. It is a perfect fit for us,” added Thornhill.

 “It feels good to come home,” Houchens said. “Media and broadcasting were my first love. I’ve spent the last 20 years in other businesses gaining knowledge and experience that I will now be able to use in the industry for which I have a passion. I'm excited to lead a great group of people to serve our community.”

Houchens began his role with Commonwealth on November 1st.  His initial duties will focus on the Glasgow operations.  In the months ahead, Chris will add leadership responsibilities across the company’s other locations and initiatives.

Joe comes to KPRN from the Louisville Courier Journal, where he was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news coverage of former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s controversial pardons on his way out of office in 2019.

Joe is a Lexington native and attended Transylvania University and University of Kentucky. He currently lives in Louisville and has covered Frankfort for more than a decade.

In his new role, Joe will explain relevant issues to everyday Kentuckians, hold public officials and institutions accountable and take a longer view of policy decisions.

The new position is part of an expansion of KPR’s statehouse team supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB is investing $2.25 million in seven states to enhance state government coverage and reach new audiences through in-depth reporting, investigations and innovative content.

The KPR Network includes Louisville Public Media, WEKU-Richmond, WKYU-Bowling Green, WKMS-Murray and WVXU-Cincinnati and reaches all 120 Kentucky counties.

As a result of this investment, KPR will have four dedicated journalists covering what goes on in Frankfort.

WTLO and WYKY in Somerset hosted a drive through trick-or-treat event and Halloween themed music show on Tuesday night. The staff gave out over 190 bags of candy.

We want to promote YOU! Send us your staff additions, promotions and special events. Email Chris at chris@kba.org

FACE IT, THEY'RE HERE TO STAY

This week I had the privilege of being a panelist on a live presentation. Some of my colleagues attended, including "the boss," Erica Farber. I'm always hungry for presentation input and thankful when I get it – particularly on improving.  After the presentation, Erica sent me a note saying, "The content, of course, was great, but overall, you didn't smile very much. Honestly, I was wondering if something was wrong. Are you ok?"  How's that for a supportive and caring leader? She's the best.  

I didn't realize I had not been smiling.  I had computer issues just before the live event and had to switch from my desktop to my laptop at the last minute, which might have thrown me a bit.  Virtual meetings are here to stay, and Erica's question reminded me of the importance of nonverbal communication when communicating with others. Not the least of which is to SMILE!

As though it was written just for me, Gary Genard's (The Genard Method) weekly email was an article entitled: Body Language: How to Look Great in Virtual Meetings. He shares three key points:

• Facial Expressions Are a Picture of Your Mind - Your face takes precedence over full-body language online for the simple reason that it's mostly what meeting participants see. There is simply too much of your body that's excluded in a video call for it to be your primary tool of nonverbal expression. Because your face now fills the screen, it has taken over the starring role.
• Hands and Arms You've Got There. — Use 'Em! - Provided you're far enough from the screen (around 18-24"), we'll be able to see your gestures and respond to them. Just keep your hand and arm movements within an imaginary square drawn around your upper torso. That way, your "visual energy" will be centered and focused rather than dissipated.
• Lean In . . . But Also Lean Out - So-called body language "experts" will tell you about the importance of good posture in video conferences, and fair enough. But don't eliminate movement. The human eye responds favorably to change, not sameness. If you're the one who moves naturally in virtual meetings while others sit statue-like, you'll gain ground in terms of engagement and memorability (and, I'd think, reputation).

For me, it starts with eliminating distractions, turning off all notifications and screens other than the one you're presenting on, and being fully present.  Even the slightest distraction will make you appear disinterested or potentially even angry. Consider recording your next few meetings and reviewing your body language and nonverbal communication. You'll see how others see you, and you can adjust as needed.

Jeff Schmidt is the SVP of Professional Development at the Radio Advertising Bureau. You can also connect with him by email JSchmidt@rab.com or on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Your active KBA membership entitles you to complimentary access to RAB's online certifications.

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

KBA Board of Directors Meeting - Bowling Green, KY

*All times shown are Eastern

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