AWRT-MN Headlines

Twin Cities Market News

Tasha Coats Named Top 25 Women to Watch In Sales and Marketing

Congratulations to AWRT Board Member, Tasha Coats, for being named one of the top 25 Women to Watch in Sales and Marketing. Tasha, a 28 year Twin Cities Veteran of media buying services, received the National honor on October 26th and was selected out of 80 nominees through a nationwide vote of all AWRT members. Tasha began her career in advertising as a broadcast supervisor for Chuck Ruhr Advertising in 1982, was later hired by BBDO in 1992 as the VP Local Broadcast Director and started her own media company in April of 2006. She is currently the President of Coats Media Services in Minneapolis and actively serves on the Board of the Minnesota Chapter of AWRT as President Elect. Tasha has been a longtime proud member of AWRT and is passionately involved with the organization. The Minnesota Chapter is very proud of her National honor.

Local Market Manager Receives Award

Mick Anselmo, Senior VP Market Manager CBS Radio, recently was awarded the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award at the opening ceremony of CRS40. The intent of this award, given at the discretion of the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors is to recognize an individual in the Country Radio industry who has displayed a magnanimous spirit of caring and generosity in service to their community. This is not an annual award, but given when the board feels an individual, through outstanding service, warrants the recognition. It is presented in honor of CRB Board member Tom Rivers, who died March 19th 2004 at age 38 of bronchial asthma. Rivers, known for his work at WQYK, Tampa/St. Petersburg and WUSN, Chicago, was highly regarded for his exemplary public service.

FM107.1 WINS GRACIE AWARD® THREE YEARS IN A ROW

SAINT PAUL, MN – The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) has awarded FM107.1 WFMP the Gracie Award for Outstanding Public Service Announcement Campaign for our Breast Cancer Awareness Month initiative.

This is FM107.l’s third Gracie Award focusing on breast cancer. This initiative was championed by Kevyn Burger, Colleen Lindstrom and Alexis Thompson three years ago, when the radio station won its first Gracie for conducting monthly on-air breast self exams. Shortly thereafter, Kevyn was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Burger has been in remission ever since but the entire radio station has rallied around her and all women affected by breast cancer by creating a month-long breast cancer awareness initiative each October, which includes interviews with high-profile breast cancer survivors, on-air public service announcements by all of our personalities, a pink website with breast cancer resources, monthly self-breast exams on all of our weekday programs throughout the month and a fundraiser called “Ta Ta Tuesdays” to raise money for The Hope Chest.

“We have an amazing group of employees who are passionate about this cause”, commented FM107.1 Vice President/General Manager Dan Seeman. “To be recognized with this national award for three straight years is a credit to our entire staff and all of our listeners.”

The Gracies® recognize exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women in all facets of electronic media, as well as individuals who have made contributions to the industry. The awards program also encourages the realistic and multifaceted portrayal of women in entertainment, commercials, news, features and other programs.

The Gracie Awards take place in New York City on June 3rd and 4th, 2009. Other 2009 Gracie Awards winners will include: Barbara Walters, Suze Orman, Dr. Phil, Katie Couric, Kathy Griffin and Laura Linney

FM107.1 WFMP is owned and operated by Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. HBI owns and operates radio stations and TV stations across the United States.

AWRT-MN Wins 2 BELL Awards

AWRT-MN was awarded two BELL (Bringing Excellence to the Local Level) Awards from the National Board of Directors of AWRT.

Awards were presented to AWRT-MN in the categories of Outstanding Programming Excellence (small market) for the April 2008 Media Manager's Luncheon, and Outstanding Innovative Communications for the re-launched website www.AWRT-MN.org.

The BELL Awards were established to recognize and award chapter excellence and recognize local chapters for outstanding contributions to AWRT in the areas of fundraising, membership, programming, diversity and individual achievement.

The BELL Awards were presented during the 2009 AWRT Women’s Media Forum which was held Friday, March 6, 2009 through Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Washington, DC.

"As I Am" wins prestigious Gracie Award

Congratulations to the "As I Am: Asians in America" team for winning the 2008 "Outstanding Special Program" Gracie award from the American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT). The Gracies commend realistic, multi-faceted portrayals of women in the media. Producer Angela Kim's award-winning segment was part of a pilot on Weekend America.

WCCO Radio News wins prize for Bridge Collapse Coverage

Congratulations to WCCO Radio News! The recent Midwest Journalism Conference garnered some great moments and awards including First Place in Spot News from the NBNA. Six states competed including Public Radio in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and WCCO Radio took home the grand prize for our bridge collapse coverage.

In addition, awards were also delivered for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Series (newsroom), High School Hero Award (Morning News with Dave Lee) and First Place Best Radio Web Site in the State. The RTNDA Murrow Awards are still being judged. We hope to hear back in 1-2 weeks.

A Great Moment of Note:

- Aaron Ketersky of ABC News, during his keynote speech to the MN AP banquet said, 'I was here to cover the bridge collapse, and of course, I listened to WCCO Radio as soon as I arrived in town...."

KSTP-FM receives the 2008 Service to Children Radio Award

The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) is hosting its 10th Annual Celebration of Service to America Awards on Monday, June 9, 2008 in Washington, D.C. to honor the outstanding efforts of local televison and radio broadcasters. Join founding sponsors Bonneville International Corporation and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) as well as other corporate sponsors, philanthropists, members of the press and government officials as they honor the exceptional public service contributions of radio and television broadcasters and local community service partners all across America.

KSTP-FM Minneapolis, Minn., a Hubbard Radio station, will receive the 2008 Service to Children Radio Award. The annual KS95 for Kids Radiothon, which raised more than $912,000 in 2007, is more than an annual event. It is a year-round partnership between KSTP, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and Children’s Cancer Research Fund that impacts children and families dealing with cancer and other health challenges. Since 1999, the annual 60-hour broadcast has raised more than $9.5 million.

This caps an award winning past 12 months for the station. We have also been honored with an NAB Crystal award for community service, an NAB Large market station of the year Marconi for excellence in broadcasting, and a Quality of Life award for a medium sized company by the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. The station is so proud of every employee at KS95 and to be part of such a great team that works very hard everyday to be the best radio station possible for its community, listeners, and advertisers!

Congratulations!

B96 Chosen to Represent Minnesota Radio’s Local Community Service Commitment

B96, KTTB FM, has been chosen by the Minnesota Broadcaster’s Association and the National Association of Broadcasters to represent Minnesota radio’s local community service commitment.

A brochure created by the NAB will be distributed to members of Congress in Washington, DC this spring. One broadcaster is featured from each State. The two promotions selected to represent KTTB were B96’s holiday “Stuck on a Truck” and “Breaking and Entering”. A short synopsis of each will appear in the brochure.

While it is an honor to receive national recognition as an individual station, the reality is that the B96 staff has always felt a personal responsibility to serve their community as individuals and as a team. It is a spirit that was encouraged by our former owners at Radio One, and now by our current owners, the Pohlad Companies, whose own outreach offers additional opportunities for our local involvement. “Serving the public interest” in not just an FCC license requirement with us. It is an obligation that we as a staff take very seriously. Congratulations and thanks to all of the staff.

KS95 Wins Quality of Life Award

Congratulations to KS95/Hubbard Broadcasting for receiving the Quality of Life Award from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce for Medium Business.

This is the 17th year of these awards and it is given to those businesses who exemplify outstanding leadership in both the community and the workplace. The station will receive this award April 29th at a gala at the Marriott City Center.

WFMP-FM Wins Another Local Market Gracie Award® from AWRT

February 21, 2008 (McLean, VA) – American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) is pleased to announce the 2008 local market, public and student winners of the annual Gracie Awards. The winners will be recognized at a Luncheon, hosted by Nancy Giles of CBS News, on Thursday, May 29, 2008, at the New York landmark Tavern on the Green.

The Gracies recognize exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women in all facets of electronic media, as well as individuals who have made contributions to the industry. The awards program also encourages the realistic and multifaceted portrayal of women in entertainment, commercials, news, features and other programs.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Outstanding Public Service Announcement – Campaign
FM 107.1 WFMP
Market: Local 1-25
St. Paul, MN

For a complete list of winners, click here.

Mary Niemeyer is a 2008 Radio Wayne Award Finalists

Mary Niemery, Senior VP/Market Manager/General Manager CBS Radio - Minneapolis was named as a finalist for Radio Ink's 2008 Radio Wayne Awards Market Manager of the Year.

The Radio Wayne Awards honor top sales and management people in radio. The finalists were chosen by a panel of respected industry judges. The Radio Wayne Awards were inspired and named after Radio Wayne Cornils, a radio broadcaster who served many years as an executive vice-president of the RAB.

AWRT-MN (TCMN) Newsletter wins a BELL Award

We are thrilled to announce that the AWRT-MN (TCMN) Newsletter has won the BELL (Bringing Excellence at the Local Level) Award in the category of Outstanding Newsletter! It was selected by the National Board of Directors of AWRT.

Please join us in congratulating Ayesha Dawley. Her dedication and hard work has made our newsletter the best in the country. It's a real honor to be nationally recognized. GREAT WORK!

From the Radio Ink :

Dishing Out Results
By Carol Grothem, VP/Broadcast Manager Campbell Mithun

Despite the negativity surrounding the industry today – falling revenues, Arbitron’s PPM delay, competition from other media sources, downsizing – I still believe in radio. I see the potential opportunities to help our clients reach a larger audience through new integrated technologies. Radio has shown an ability to adapt. My continued belief in the medium stems from tangible successes our clients have seen through our partnership with radio. The radio team at Campbell Mithun prides itself on a creative and intelligent approach to radio negotiating. Through the successful execution of innovative strategies, our radio spending in 2007 increased over 40 percent compared to 2006 (and 2006 was a good year).

DISH Network provides a valuable success story. With the goal of increasing DISH subscribership, we worked closely with the radio groups to implement a combination of strategies that promoted DISH DVR, HD, and sports channel offerings. Our multipronged approach included the use of local and network personality endorsements; on-air and on-site promotions; strategic dayparting; utilizing all lengths of creative messaging; radio streaming; and digital advertising. Through the judicious use of these various tools – tools exclusive to the radio medium – DISH Network was able to increase subscribership and brand awareness in a very competitive category. We are already negotiating 2008 radio buys with the hope of integrating more exciting innovations.

One of the challenges is getting radio to think beyond the short term. The industry must ask us what our clients’ needs are, instead of focusing on their own sales goals. Their objective should be to find out what our clients want, and then work to find a solution. The question is, “does their presentation help solve our clients needs, or does it just help them reach their monthly sales goals?” The best salespeople listen to us and what our clients’ goals are, and approach the potential sale with the idea of helping our clients reach those goals. By doing this, they form a longer term relationship with us. We want radio to become an integral part of our client’s marketing plans. We want them to use the many creative tools they have available. We want them to show us the passion they have for the business. Unfortunately, there are some salespeople that just ask for the buy without selling their product. We need that to change. Because of the cluttered landscape, it is imperative that radio care as much about our clients as they care about their bottom line. When that happens, we will all benefit.

Let’s all get to work!

American Women In Radio & Television Minnesota Chapter