TV stations and news and entertainment websites in West Michigan have been nominated for 44 Michigan Emmy Awards for 2011.

Full story: West Michigan TV stations, websites, tally 44 nominations for 2011 Michigan Emmy Awards (Wed, 5/16)

WSNX-FM (104.5) made two major announcements about this year's Party in the Park concert

Full story: 104.5 WSNX expands Party in the Park, teases lineup announcement (Wed, 5/16)

If you're a regular viewer of WWMT (Channel 3) news, you may be wondering what happened to Jennifer Dowling. If you watch WXMI (Channel 17), you already know.

Full story: Wondering why Jennifer Dowling has disappeared from WWMT Newschannel 3? Just switch channels (Wed, 5/16)

The Biff, 88.1 FM, will host the first ever nationwide celebration of high school radio stations on Wednesday. The brainchild of WBHF's award-winning station manager Pete Bowers, the event is modeled after National College Radio Day in October, and consists of 30 stations from 14 states around the country.

Full story: BIFF Hosts First National High School Radio Day (Tue, 5/15)

WZZM-TV Ch. 13 Grand Rapids:

Guy Gordon has spent nearly three decades anchoring newscasts in Detroit. He credits a lot of his success to what he learned at WZZM 13 in the 1980's. He worked at the station from 1981 to 1984 as the weekend anchor.

Full story: Guy Gordon credits WZZM for success (Mon, 5/14)

Grand Rapids Press:

Doing the news for WZZM-TV was good for former anchor Guy Gordon and for John Keating, formerly known as Steve Knight.

Full story: WZZM-TV 13 was a good start for two former newsmen still broadcasting today (Tue, 5/15)

The anchormen are back again. Still not Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell or even Christina Applegate. But WZZM-TV 13's 50th anniversary celebration continues this week with more familiar faces from the past.

Full story: WZZM-TV 13 anchors return for second week of blast from the past to celebrate 50th anniversary (Mon, 5/14)

WSB-TV Atlanta, GA:

A television anchor is coming forward with an emotional story of an attack in downtown Atlanta, hoping that she can find the man who came to her rescue more than two decades ago. Diana Lewis, an anchor at WXYZ-TV in Detroit, was interviewing for a job at CNN in October 1986 when she took a wrong turn.

Full story: TV anchor searching for "angel" 20 years after attack (Mon, 5/14)

WJBK-TV Fox 2 Detroit:

Former Fox 2 Photo-Journalist Earl L. "Bud" Johnson Dies at Age 83 (Tue, 5/15)

Many of you have e-mailed me questions about Local 4's annual NOAA Weather Radio campaign, so I'll answer those questions here: How long do I have to buy one of the radios at the special WDIV discounted price? Our campaign extends well into the summer, so you have plenty of time to buy your radio for $29.99, which is $10 off the normal retail price.

Full story: Paul Gross gives weather radio campaign update (Mon, 5/14)

The annual Mott Children's Hospital takeover of WTKA-AM (1050) will be next Friday, May 18. Michigan football guests will dominate the airwaves from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. The event kicks off the Brian Griese/Steve Hutchinson/Charles Woodson fundraising weekend, during which the stars of the 1997 national championship team put on an array of events to raise money for the hospital, including a gala dinner and a golf outing.

Full story: Lineup set for Michigan football charity radio 'takeover' (Thu, 5/10)

TVNewsCheck:

WZZM , the Gannett-owned ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich. (DMA 42), will replay its 6 a.m. newscast on its ch. 13.2, WZZM 13 On Target Weather Network, Mondays through Fridays beginning June 4 at 7 a.m.

Full story: WZZM to replay 6 A.M. news on subchannel (Thu, 5/10)

WDIV-TV Local 4 Detroit:

Alan Frank, president and chief executive officer of Post-Newsweek Stations, the television broadcasting division of The Washington Post Company, has announced that he will retire from that position at the end of 2012. "Alan Frank has been a key contributor to the company for more than 30 years and a brilliant head of Post-Newsweek Stations," said Donald E. Graham, chairman and chief executive officer of The Washington Post Company.

Full story: Alan Frank, President and CEO of Post-Newsweek Stations, to retire at end of 2012 (Wed, 5/9)

Crain's Detroit Business:

The headquarters of Post-Newsweek Stations Inc., which owns the local NBC affiliate WDIV-Channel 4, will officially move next year from Detroit to Chicago to accommodate the broadcaster's incoming president and CEO. The geographical shift is largely symbolic.

Full story: Post-Newsweek Stations, owner of WDIV-Channel 4, to move headquarters from Detroit to Chicago next year (Wed, 5/9)

Grand Rapids Press:

It's been 27 years since former WZZM 13 Chief Meteorologist Craig James set foot in the studios on 3 Mile Road NW. "It's been great fun seeing all the old people," he said.

Full story: Behind the scenes look as former anchormen return to WZZM 13, share memories (Wed, 5/9)

WZZM-TV's anchormen were having a good time. Former newsmen Barry Shanley, meteorologist Craig James and sportscaster Sam Hooks were on air Monday with anchorman Lee Van Ameyde to remember the 80's.

Full story: WZZM-TV former broadcasters reminisce about the 'golden era' of TV news in the 1980s (Wed, 5/9)

Fine Tuning

• After less than three months on the job, Rob Otto has been let go as Sports Director at Birach Broadcasting Sports WCAR AM 1090.

As a former high-school newspaper nerd, it warms my heart to see student journalists reaching new heights. This is one reason I'm spotlighting the broadcast journalism students at Fraser High School who recently earned two awards from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Full story: Fraser High broadcast students pull down awards (Tue, 5/8)

WJBK-TV, FOX 2 Detroit:

Dale Pegg has been capturing the news for WJBK since the 1970s. Working for the CBS affiliate all the way up to the present day FOX affiliate, Dale has seen it all. Now, after 42 years, he plans to retire.

Full story: FOX 2 Pays Tribute to Longtime Photographer Dale Pegg (Mon, 5/7)

Tigers radio analyst Jim Price will miss the team's nine-game road trip that starts Monday night, but the team insists he is feeling fine. Price, 70, has been battling health problems in recent months and missed a series in Kansas City last month.

Full story: Dan Petry to pinch-hit for Jim Price on Tigers' nine-game road trip (Mon, 5/7)

Fine Tuning

• Cumulus Pop WDVD-FM 96.3 Detroit will add the new syndicated program from Perez Hilton weekday evenings starting May 21st.

 

• Fox Sports Detroit's Mario Impemba providing DVD's of Detroit Tigers opening day to troops for 4th straight year: Operation Opening Day

 

• Former WKMH AM 1310 engineer Russell G. Betz died at the age of 89: Obituary, Lenconnect.com

Full story: FOX 17 names Rick Mecklenburg as chief meteorologist, succeeding Peter Chan (Fri, 5/4)

For the 9th consecutive year, Cumulus News/Talk WJR AM 760 Detroit host Paul W. Smith is hitting the road for his week-long annual Pure Michigan Tour beginning Friday, May 4th in Monroe at the Monroe County Community College La-Z-Boy Center Meyer Theatre.

Traveling all around the state in a custom tour bus provided by Dean Trailways of Michigan, Paul W. and Executive Producer Ann Thomas will be visiting Michigan's vacation destinations, talking with city officials and promoting the glory of spending our summer vacations right here in the Great Lakes state. Here's where Paul W. and Ann will be broadcasting live with Pure Michigan - Your Trip Begins at Michigan.org:

• Fri. May 4: Monroe/Lobby of the Monroe County Community College La-Z-Boy Center Meyer Theatre
• Mon. May 7: Holland/CityFlats Hotel in Downtown Holland
• Tues. May 8: Gaylord/Legends Restaurant at Treetops Resort
• Wed. May 9: Mackinac Island/Grand Hotel
• Thur. May 10: Bad Axe/Bad Axe Theatre
• Fri. May 11: Detroit/The Wintergarden Studio on the Detroit Riverfront

WXYZ-TV Ch. 7 Detroit:

He is one of Detroit's most well-known personalities but now he may be in some hot water for an on-air incident, and a letter obtained exclusively by Action News spells out the potential legal trouble for the morning show host.A letter, sent to Thomas Carballo, better known as "Mojo" from the Mojo in the Morning show on 95.5, informs him that former cast member, "Rob the Web Guy" plans to file a lawsuit against "Mojo" and Clear Channel which owns the radio station.

Full story: Popular radio host Mojo to face legal action from former cast member (Thu, 5/3)

Dave Kuiper, son of the late longtime WFUR-FM/AM 102.9/1570 owner William Kuiper, died on April 28th at the age of 58. Dave hosted mornings at WFUR for over 30 years.

- Obituary from MLive.com

U-M's Michigan Radio to sponsor "One Minute Michigan" story writing contest

The University of Michigan's Michigan Radio (WUOM-FM 91.7 Ann Arbor / WFUM-FM 91.1 Flint / WVGR-FM 104.1 Grand Rapids), in partnership with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, is presenting a "One Minute Michigan" story writing contest. People across Michigan are being invited to submit stories about their favorite Michigan memories or experiences. The contest is open to anyone with a personal Michigan-themed story to tell. Entrants are asked to submit a 120-word description of a uniquely Michigan experience - for example, a Michigan travel or adventure moment, a Michigan landmark, where they were when they ate your favorite Michigan food for the first time, and so on.

Three winning essays will be recorded and aired on Michigan Radio and posted on the Michigan Radio website, www.michiganradio.org. The three winners will also each receive a pair of tickets to "Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass" on June 23 at Ann Arbor's Power Center, and admission to the evening's private reception with Ira Glass. One of the three winning essays will be selected and read onstage by Ira Glass during the performance.

Stories must be a maximum of 120 words and must mention at least one Michigan location. All entries must be submitted by midnight on Thursday, May 31, 2012. People can submit a story at: http://michiganradio.org/one-minute-michigan-story-writing-contest.

"Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass" will take place at 8 p.m. on June 23 at the Power Center for the Performing Arts in Ann Arbor. The creator of the public radio show This American Life will talk about his program and how it's put together: what makes a compelling story, where they find the amazing stories for their show, how he and his staff are trying to push broadcast journalism to do things it doesn't usually do.

As part of the event, Glass will mix stories from the show--live onstage--and play funny and memorable This American Life moments and discuss their creation. Tickets for the show are available at www.annarborsummerfestival.org.

Jackson Citizen-Patriot:

The debut of "Buzz TV Jackson" has been pushed back two weeks. The new 30-minute, Jackson-produced variety show, which was to debut after "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Friday night will not air as planned.

Full story: "Buzz TV Jackson" premiere pushed back until May 18 (Wed, 5/2)

High school radio stations in the United States will come together for one day of celebration May 16 when the first-ever High School Radio Day is launched.

Since there are so few high schools with radio stations, organizers hope that High School Radio Day will raise a greater awareness of the ones that are still broadcasting after so many have been shut down due to school district budget cuts.

A website has been created to publicize the activities planned by participating stations on May 16: www.highschoolradioday.com. Schools can register their stations on that site with a link to their station website. The day will include an open video call where stations will be able to talk to one another and share technical expertise, fundraising events, programming and promotion ideas.

High School Radio Day comes on the heels of College Radio Day that occurred last October. Though College Radio Day did allow high school stations to register, organizers felt that high school stations should have their own day. High School Radio Day founder Pete Bowers (Station Manager, WBFH-FM, Bloomfield Hills, MI) decided to hold the day in May since the first U.S. high school radio station, WNAS, went on the air in May, 1949.

Bowers estimates that there are only about 200 high schools in the nation with either a terrestrial over-the-air non-commercial, educational radio station or an internet-only radio station. "And that number is dropping," said Bowers. "That's why we need to unite on High School Radio Day and make the public aware of what we do, how we do it, and the service we provide our communities," he said.

Two high school radio stations from Michigan have registered as a Participating Schools. WBFH-FM in Bloomfield Hills and WSDP-FM in Canton will be two of the schools in the nation promoting High School Radio Day.

Bowers knows that this inaugural High School Radio Day will be just the start of what he hopes will be an annual event. Participating high school stations are listed on www.highschoolradioday.com. Students and advisors at those stations will be reaching out to potential listeners in their broadcast area and online to give them a listen and be prepared to hear creative programming not heard on commercial stations.

AllAccess.com:

CBS RADIO Top 40/Mainstream WDZH (98.7 AMP RADIO)/DETROIT and its sister stations are teaming with the anti-bullying movement DEFEAT THE LABEL to join an international call to action against bullying that will take place across the world. The stations along with WYCD, WOMC, WXYT, WWJ-A and WXYT-A will join millions of students, teachers and parents across 170 countries on MAY 4th, 2012 at noon ET in unison against bullying.

Full story: CBS Radio/Detroit, 98.7 AMP Stand Up Against Bullying (Tue, 5/1)

Detroit News:

Pepper liked to nest beneath the silverware drawer. That would have been a good story to tell -- how she'd fly right over the forks and spoons, land on the back of the open bin and ease herself down. Or the neon sign story. That's a good one, too, says Dr. Don Carpenter, and he probably would have told it if only he'd been able to choke the words out.

Full story: One spicy parrot: Bird owner stirs hearts with tales of Pepper (Tue, 5/1)

After a brief hiatus from the radio, Michael Patrick Shiels is set to return to the morning talk circuit Wednesday, May 2. Shiels left his previous show in February. He said the new show will be bigger, better and reach more listeners.

Full story: Radio host Michael Patrick Shiels returns to Michigan airwaves Wednesday (Mon, 4/30)

Lansing State Journal:

Michael Patrick Shiels will soon be back on radio and TV. He'll return quietly -- not his natural state. "This is a soft opening," Shiels said. "There will be a big one later." His "Michigan's Big Show" was set to start today. In a late switch Friday, it was pushed back, due to what Shiels called paperwork problems concerning city code in building his downtown studio.

Full story: Michael Patrick Shiels coming back 'Big' (Mon, 4/30)

Detroit News:

Dick Purtan was a big influence, of course, and J.P. McCarthy was huge. But you don't want to overlook the career contributions of Michael Corleone and Dick Cheney. Michael Shiels started in radio as Purtan's intern. He left it, or so he thought, as McCarthy's producer.

Full story: Ex-Purtan intern gives career a makeover and returns to airwaves in Detroit (Mon, 4/30)

Fine Tuning

• Radio One News/Talk WCHB AM 1200 has added dayparted Smooth Jazz programming overnights and weekends. The station is also heard on WDMK-FM 105.9 HD2 and an FM translator on 99.9.

Remember the '80s? Or the '90s? WZZM-TV 13 does. The ABC-TV affiliate is inviting former broadcasters Barry Shanley, Craig James and Sam Hooks back to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the station.

Full story: WZZM-TV celebrates 50th anniversary with on-air return of former broadcast personalities in May (Fri, 4/27)

WOOD-TV 24 Hour News 8 is getting a jump on the day by moving its morning news show "Daybreak" a half hour ahead to begin its broadcast day at 4:30 a.m. weekdays.

Full story: WOOD-TV next week will move morning news 'Daybreak' to begin airing at 4:30 a.m. weekdays (Fri, 4/27)

Cumulus Pop WDVD-FM 96.3 Detroit has partnered with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to help raise funds in support of children with special medical needs. All proceeds from the event go towards the purchase of life-saving equipment for children, as well as specialized pediatric programs and research at Beaumont Children's Hospital in Royal Oak.

96.3 WDVD's Blaine & Allison kicked off a live broadcast at 6 a.m. from Beaumont Royal Oak - the station will continue to broadcast live through 7 p.m.

Last year, 96.3 WDVD's "Cares for Kids" Radiothon helped raise over $100,000 for the cause and the station is inviting listeners to make a difference by spreading the word and helping raise money for children in need. 100% of the donations will stay in the community to help children in need.

To make a donation, call at (866) 963-GIVE (4483), stop by the radiothon to give in person, or visit the station's web site at 963wdvd.com.

Detroit's WDIV-TV Ch. 4 to presents Michigan School Expo April 28 - 29

From pre-school to post-grad, local education providers will join together at the 2012 Michigan School Expo on Saturday, April 28, and Sunday April 29 from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. throughout Oakland Mall in Troy. The event is presented by Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV-TV, Local 4.

The Michigan School Expo will include representatives from local, national and online universities, community colleges, technical/trade schools, and private and public pre-elementary and secondary schools. Last year, over 40 thousand people were in attendance at Oakland Mall during the first-ever Michigan School Expo.

Confirmed educational providers at the 2012 Michigan School Expo include Hazel Park Schools "Promise Zone" - offering college tuition to high school graduates, the Hinoki International School - a unique bi-lingual public charter school, the University of Toledo, Specs Howard School of Media Arts, Oakland Schools Technical Campuses and many more. Special exhibits include the AAA of Michigan Teen Driving Safety program featuring interactive driving simulators, "Financial Jeopardy" from the Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union where representatives from 3 local schools will vie for $500 in prize money for their institution, and an opportunity to show your forecasting skills at the WDIV Local4Casters Weather Wall.

The Michigan School Expo kicks off Saturday with a special performance by Oak Park High School Marching Band. Visit the Local 4 booth at the Michigan School Expo to meet several of WDIV news personalities including Rhonda Walker, Guy Gordon and Ashlee Baracy of Local 4 News Morning.

For more info on the Michigan School Expo, including a continually updated list of participating schools, visit www.ClickOnDetroit.com/School-Expo.

AllAccess.com:

CUMULUS Talk WJIM-A/LANSING, MI and the MICHIGAN TALK NETWORK have settled on the official replacement for MICHAEL PATRICK SHIELS on the statewide-syndicated "MICHIGAN'S MORNING SHOW," with former NBC affiliate WILX-TV news anchor STEVE GRUBER and CBS affiliate WLNS-TV host JO ANNE PAUL as hosts, according to the LANSING STATE JOURNAL.

Full story: 'Michigan's Morning Show' Has New Hosts (Thu, 4/26)

Information added/updated periodically throughout the day; Refresh the page for the latest version.

Original television programming based in the Jackson area is on the rise. Two new Jackson-produced programs - JTV's "SoundWave" and "Buzz TV Jackson" on WLAJ - will debut in the coming days, both of which will highlight the entertainment scene around south-central Michigan. This comes on the heels of another new JTV show "Jackson Pickers," based on "American Pickers," which debuted on April 13.

Full story: New Jackson-based TV shows "SoundWave" and "Buzz TV Jackson" to debut soon (Tue, 4/24)

Fine Tuning

• Annie 'Spears' Nawrocki has exited Pop WBTI-FM 96.9 Lexington/Pt. Huron to take over middays at NextMedia Pop WGER-FM 106.3 Saginaw.

Information added/updated periodically throughout the day; Refresh the page for the latest version.

Radio ratings service Arbitron has backed out of two Michigan markets, dropping Ann Arbor (ranked as the 155th largest market in the country) and Saginaw/Bay City/Midland (139th largest) from the list of areas where it provides service.

Both Ann Arbor and the Tri-Cities were diary-based markets and had been receiving Fall and Spring reports from Arbitron. They were dropped due to lack of client support - meaning not enough radio stations in those markets were subscribing to Arbitron's services.

Arbitron also recently made another change to all of the markets it serves - ratings information for non-subscribing stations will no longer be part of any publicly released ratings reports, making it tough for the general public to know exactly where stations rank in markets where there are non-subscribing stations.

Traverse City's Good News Media wins FM Auction 93 bid

The recently concluded FCC Auction 93 offered up 93 new FM frequencies for bid across the country. In Michigan, Traverse City based Good News Media was the high bidder at $109,000 for a new Class C3 station at 95.9 to be licensed to Grand Traverse County's Fife Lake.

Good News Media is the owner of religious formatted stations WJLN-FM/AM 89.9 / 1400 Traverse City and WLJW AM 1370 Cadillac. WLJN-FM was also recently granted a construction permit to increase power from 39,000 to 100,000 watts.

TVNewsCheck:

Sinclair Communications-owned CBS affiliate WWMT Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich., (DMA 42), today launched a 4:30 a.m. newscast. The expanded early morning newscast will air every weekday.

Full story: WWMT launches 4:30 am newscast (Mon, 4/23)

AllAccess.com:

TOWNSQUARE Active Rocker WGRD/GRAND RAPIDS, MI and FREE BEER & HOT WINGS announce WINGSTOCK 2012. The show is JUNE 16th at FIFTH THIRD BALLPARK with headliners OUR LADY PEACE, also local boys POP EVIL with DOKKEN, WAYLAND and more acts to be announced.

Full story: WGRD Announces Wingstock 2012 (Mon, 4/23)

Macomb Daily:

Using 100 percent donated parts and the sweat of volunteers, Keith Strong and his crew at Ice Nine Group in Clinton Township can now get to the task at hand: building a reproduction of a 1969 Ford Mustang as part of WCSX radio's Stone Soup Project to raise funds for children's charities.

Full story: Ice Nine Group, WCSX to build new '69 Boss Mustang (Sat, 4/21)

Fine Tuning

• Steve Stewart has exited as the longtime Operations Manager at Cumulus News/Talk WJR AM 760 Detroit. Ron Harrell takes over the role - he also oversees Cumulus' other two stations in Detroit, WDVD-FM 96.3 and WDRQ-FM 93.1. Stewart's career at WJR spanned 22 years.