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ANNUAL EEO REPORT
DUE IN PUBLIC FILE NEXT TUESDAY
| | The annual EEO public inspection file report for station employment units that have five or more full- time employees and are comprised of radio and/or television stations licensed to communities in Kentucky, must by April 1, 2025, upload to their Public Inspection File and post on their station website a report regarding station compliance with the FCC's EEO Rule during the period April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. A more detailed review of station EEO obligations and the steps for implementing an effective EEO program can be found HERE. | | |
KBA SCHOLARSHIPS
LAST CHANCE TO APPLY - DEADLINE IS 4/1
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Time is rapidly running out to apply for both the KBA High School Senior Scholarship Fund and the Harry Barfield Scholarship.
KBA High School Senior Scholarship Fund
The KBA High School Senior Scholarship is awarded to children of individuals who are currently employed at an active KBA member radio or television station. This is a one-time scholarship to be strictly used toward the recipients postsecondary education plans. The KBA shall annually award up to fourteen (14) scholarships valued at $2,100 each.
KBA Harry Barfield Scholarship
Four scholarships of $3,500 each are available to students who are currently majoring in broadcasting or communications at a college or university in Kentucky. The scholarships are awarded through a competitive application process which includes academic achievement, recommendation of a faculty member, extracurricular activities and a 500 word essay. Since the scholarship awards are renewable for a second year provided recipients continue to meet specified criteria, priority consideration will be given to students who are rising juniors.
Application deadline is April 1, 2025. Click HERE to learn more and apply.
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THE TIME IS NOW!
STATE ASSOCIATIONS SEND UNIFIED MESSAGE
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The Kentucky Broadcasters Association joined other state broadcast associations to urge Congress to support local radio and allow stations to continue serving their communities with emergency alerts, trusted news and local sports.
The 50 state broadcast associations, including the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, filed two separate resolutions earlier this week. The first resolution asks congress to support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to ensure continued consumer access to broadcast AM radio in all vehicles.
The second resolution asks Congress to support the Local Radio Freedom Act and not impose any new performance fee, tax, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station or on any business.
The move was welcomed by the National Association of Broadcasters. “On the heels of an incredibly successful State Leadership Conference, where over 560 local TV and radio broadcasters traveled to Washington to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, congressional support for local radio is strong,” NAB President Curtis LeGeyt said. “State broadcaster associations play a pivotal role in our advocacy efforts, and I am proud to see the collective unity behind these resolutions.”
Read the AM Radio resolution HERE.
Read the LRFA resolution HERE.
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NEW LEADERSHIP
GRAY NAMES NEW GM AT WKYT & WYMT
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Gray Media has named Jaime Sayre Kawaja as general manager and director of sales for Lexington, Kentucky CBS affiliate WKYT and WYMT.
She takes over for Jeff Anderson, who recently announced his decision to pursue new opportunities outside of local television.
Kawaja has spent her entire career at Gray Media and brings 28 years of experience in sales and marketing to her new position. She began her career as an intern at WKYT and soon joined the station full-time as an account executive. Over the years, she held numerous positions at WKYT including regional, digital and local sales manager. She served as the station’s general sales manager between 2018 and 2022, when she relocated to West Palm Beach to serve as the GM and director of sales of WFLX, Gray’s Fox affiliate.
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CONGRATULATIONS
BRINKLEY TAKES THE REINS IN PENSACOLA
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David Brinkley, 2019 KBA Chairman, has been named as the new executive director of WUWF, the listener-supported public radio station licensed to the Board of Trustees of the University of West Florida.
“WUWF has a demonstrated record of excellence and relevance in northwest Florida, and it is an honor to join such a well-established and talented team,” Brinkley said. “My focus areas will include continued growth, community service, emergency weather notification services, and an enhanced level of student engagement. The University of West Florida has demonstrated success with student career readiness, and we want to enhance those opportunities throughout our operations.”
As the executive director, Brinkley will be responsible for the overall operation of WUWF, which entails supervision of staff, interactions with all University departments, fundraising and legislative relations.
Brinkley joins WUWF from the Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he served as the executive director of public media and general manager of the WKU Public Radio network of stations for more than 10 years. He has more than 20 years of experience in broadcast television, having previously been the television station manager for WKU-PBS. In addition to his work in public radio and broadcasting, Brinkley taught several broadcasting classes for the WKU School of Journalism and Broadcasting (now called the WKU School of Media & Communication) over the years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
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THIS WEEKS MEMBER PIC
HAPPY (TOGETHER) HOUR
| | Radio and television broadcasters joined together for KBA's first Off-Air Happy Hour last week in Bowling Green. Those who attended enjoyed a laid back atmosphere, great food, some new KBA swag and mostly each other's company. We will be announcing details for the next Off-Air Happy Hour soon. | | We want to promote YOU! Send us your staff additions, promotions and special events. Email Chris at chris@kba.org | | |
CAN YOU MOVE A LITTLE FASTER?
During a recent trip to one of those home decoration-type stores, my wife identified a product on the top shelf that she wanted. After searching for five minutes, we finally found an employee that we could ask for help. She was restocking shelves and we approached and asked her if she could help. With a heavy sigh, she looked at us like we were an inconvenience and an interruption in her day and asked: "What do you need?" My wife explained the product she was interested in, and where it was in the store. The employee said, "okay, I'll be right there."
Ten minutes later she came shuffling down the aisle with the rolling ladder. She maintained that "why are you asking me to help you" look on her face, and frankly a snail would have moved faster through the store.
Do your customers feel like an inconvenience? If they do, you're in trouble. Clients and prospects must feel valued, appreciated and welcomed when they do business with you. In our Sales Essentials class (stay tuned for the first class of 2025), we share the three nonverbals that you should always be exuding in every client interaction. We call them nonverbals because it's not what you say, it's how you carry yourself, it's the things you don't say. Body language, smile or no smile… you get the idea. The three nonverbals are:
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Joy – This is different from superficial happiness; it's a deep sense of purpose.
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Confidence – Not arrogance, but a quiet confidence that you know what you're doing and you're good at it.
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Passion – Simply put, you love what you're doing, and it shows. It shows in how fast you walk to greet the customer; it shows in the smile on your face, etc.
The young lady we encountered at the store showed none of those. She walked very slowly, and she had a scowl on her face and treated us like we were an inconvenience. Needless to say it will not be our first choice of stores when we are shopping again.
If someone were to ask your best clients about you, would they use terms like joy, confidence, and passion? The thing about the three nonverbals is they are choices you make every day. You have the power to positively influence and inspire your clients and prospects with your nonverbal communications. A smile, a sense of urgency, confidence and passion, or a poor attitude. The choice is yours.
| | 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. | | |
MAY 15, 2025
9:00am - Board of Directors Meeting - Louisville
MAY 19-24, 2025
KBA Talent Institute at the University of Kentucky
AUGUST 21, 2025
9:00am - Board of Directors Meeting - Lexington
NOVEMBER 20, 2025
9:00am - Board of Directors Meeting - Bowling Green
SEPTEMBER 14-15, 2025
Annual Conference & Awards - Owensboro
*All times shown are Eastern
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