Simply the Best. - Illinois Broadcasters Assoc.

August/ September 2016 $6.95
Simply
the Best.
Inside:
-IBA2016 Coverage
-IBA Board “camps out” in DC
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ILLINOIS BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
DENNIS LYLE, IBA PRESIDENT / CEO
May IBA Have Access to Your
Stations’ Social Media Efforts?
Like many of your advertisers, our valuable NCSA/
PEP sponsors are more than ever asking us for a
social media component to accompany their overthe-air (and often streamed) campaigns aired by our
member stations. As you well know, IBA’s NCSA/PEP
program is our association’s #1 revenue stream,
made possible only by the generous contribution of
airtime our members extend to us for such
campaigns. We now hope that generosity will
expand to include complimentary limited access to
many of those same stations’ Facebook and Twitter
efforts as we work with Denver-based social media
company GrowthWeaver with a concept that will
soon allow us to combine the on-air NCSA/PEP
campaign presence on your airwaves with additional
limited complimentary access to your Facebook/
Twitter pages. By allowing us to access your
Facebook/Twitter accounts, we will ultimately be
able to extend the reach of our sponsor’s NCSA/PEP
campaigns, increasing the value to our sponsors,
and ultimately creating more revenue to the IBA
thanks to our ability to now offer an attractive
option for public outreach to those city, state, and
federal agencies and non-profit organizations with
limited budgets who are now being told their
outreach efforts must also include a social media
component. GrowthWeaver tells us the process for
our member stations will really be quite simple.
Basically, once an NCSA/PEP sponsor requests a
social media component from us, we pass that
message along to your digital/social media
designate with a simple request and a one-button
click to share the sponsor’s message. The sharing
process takes less than ten seconds. We’re told
stations in other states already participating with
their state’s broadcasters’ association have found
these messages have a high engagement rate among
their fans. So, now that our board of directors has
approved us making this ask of you, our member
stations, we hope all, or many, will agree to
extending us complimentary limited access to your
Facebook/Twitter pages. Once you give us the “green
light,” we’ll next simply need the name of the
contact person at your station(s) responsible for
helping us expedite these transactions as they come
available. Member station GM’s should look for a
letter to arrive that makes a formal ask of your
station(s.) A simple “yes,” in addition to providing us
the name of your contact person to handle this
social media component, will send us on our way to
adding this exciting new component to IBA’s NCSA/
PEP efforts. Thank you, in advance, for your
consideration. DL
About the Cover:
Simply the Best! IBA honored three broadcast professionals that have “Ben” there, Done that, and Getting it Done
on June 14, 2016 as part of the Chairman’s Dinner and IBA2016. Ben Kiningham, longtime state reporter, received
the W. Russell Wither, Jr., “IBA Broadcast Pioneer” Award, for covering Illinois politics and politicians for over four
decades. Retired RAB radio professional Dick “Rackets” Rakovan, who has “done that” in the radio industry from his
early positions in stations sales and management to being Sr. Vice President with RAB, was honored with IBA’s
Lifetime Achievement Award. Beth Neuhoff, President/CEO of Neuhoff Media was named the IBA Vincent T.
Wasilewski “Broadcaster of the Year” and displays each and every day the importance of local broadcasting in her
radio markets with her team of Neuhoff professionals. 2 Transmitter August/September 2016
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
IBA 2016-2017 OFFICERS:
Chairman of the Board- Doug Levy,
Univision Communications-Chicago
Chairman-elect- Frank Whittaker, NBC5
Chicago
Executive Vice-Chair- Carlos Fernandez,
WGEM-AM/FM/TV Quincy
Vice-Chair TV- John Idler, ABC7 Chicago
Vice-Chair Radio- Melody Spann,
Cooper-WVON Radio Chicago
Treasurer-Drew Horowitz- Hubbard Radio
Immediate Past Chairman- Coby Cooper,
WCIA-TV Champaign-Urbana
DIRECTORS
Leticia Aguilera- WLEY-FM,Chicago
Steve Farber- Weigel, Chicago
Mike Haile- WDWS/
WHMS-Radio-Champaign-Urbana
Kevin Harlan- WMBD-TV, Peoria
Kelly Lattimer- WTVO-TV, Rockford
Roger Lundeen- Galesburg Radio
Greg Miller- Chicago Bears
Randall Miller- Miller Media, Taylorville
Marshall Porter- WHBF-TV, Rock Island
Gregory Powers- Lake Land College
Jerry Schnacke- iHeart Media-Chicago
Dennis Welsh- FOX-TV, Chicago
Steve Wheeler- WSIL-TV, Carterville
Marty Wilke- CBS2, Chicago
Dana Withers- Dana Comm/Withers,
Benton
DIRECTORS EMERITI
Emily Barr- Director Emeritus
Marv Dyson- Director Emeritus
IBA
Dennis Lyle- President & CEO
dlyleiba@gmail.com
Debra Gray- Marketing Director
dgray@ilba.org
IBA Hosts 12th Annual
Legislative Reception
-Thanks supporters of HR 0889
Carlos Fernandez-WGEM, Greg Miller-Chicago Bears, Marilyn Kushak-Midwest Family,
Dennis Lyle-IBA, State Representative Cynthia Soto D-4, Marv Dyson-URBan
Broadcasting, and Roger Lundeen-Galesburg Radio.
At a time when there was little to
celebrate in Springfield, IBA hosted their
annual Legislative Reception at the
Sangamo Club in Springfield, celebrating
and sharing their thanks for the 74
signatures on the House Resolution
0889 that states “a firm opposition to
any additional taxes on advertising or
advertising-related services.”
Fast forward to July when a “stop gap
budget” was passed to keep essential
services operational, and the IBA has
learned that the Ad Tax issue is not
dead. IBA and it’s members will
continue to work to secure support of HR
0889 and advises members to watch for
additional updates on the No Ad Tax
issue early this fall.
General Email/Job Postings
iba@ilba.org
Transmitter is published online bimonthly
by the Illinois Broadcasters Association,
solely for the information of its
membership and other interested parties.
Although every efforts is made to verify
the accuracy of information contained in
the publication, no guarantee of such
accuracy can be made, and the IBA, and
its officers and staff are not responsible
for any errors or omissions of
typographical or factual nature of
contained herein.
IBA
200 Missouri Avenue
Carterville, IL 62918
www.ilba.org
618-985-5555 Carterville
217-793-2636 Springfield
Fax: 618-985-6070
Find us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com
ILBroadcasters
Follow us on Twitter: @ILBroadcasting
Carlos Fernandez-WGEM and State
Representative Randy Frese R-94.
Steve Wheeler-WSIL, Marv Dyson-URBan
Broadcasting, Dennis Lyle-IBA and State
Senator Gary Forby D-59.
Mike McClain-IBA Lobbyist, Sarah
Hautala-WJIL/WJVO, and Bud WaltersCromwell Radio.
Illinois Broadcasters Association 3
FEATURE
"On the Hill"
IBA took their issues (and their camping gear)
to Washington, DC for the 5th Annual Summer
Lobbying trip “On the Hill” in July. Members
and their staffers were invited to attend IBA’s
reception held in the Cannon House Office
Building where IBA had pitched a tent, started
a (mock) campfire, and roasted hotdogs and
marshmallows. Nearly 100 staffers joined their
Congressman for the reception fun in advance
of the meetings held with most of the
Congressional offices the following day.
NAB provided IBA delegates with the most
current information on key issues that were to
be discussed with Members of Congress.
Issues included: Retrans Consent, Cable Fee
Increases, Advertising Deductibility,
Performance Tax and Relocation Fund Issue.
Following are photos taken from the “Camp
Out” reception and visits “On the Hill.”
(l-r) Dennis Lyle-IBA, US Representative Robin Kelly,
Drew Horowitz-Hubbard Radio, Marv Dyson-URBan
Broadcasting, Carlos Fernandez-WGEM.
(l-r) US Representative Mike Bost, Dennis Lyle-IBA,
Shawn Donilon-NAB.
4 Transmitter August/September 2016
(l-r) Dennis Lyle-IBA, Doug Levy-Univision, US
Representative Mike Quigley, and John IdlerABC 7.
(l-r) Doug Levy-Univision, Marv Dyson-URBan
Broadcasting, Melody Spann-Cooper-Midway
Broadcasting/WVON, US Representative Danny Davis.
(l-r) Coby Cooper-WCIA/WCIX, Carlos Fernandez-WGEM,
US Representative Darrin LaHood, Steve Wheeler-WSIL,
and Roger Lund
FEATURE
(l-r) Carlos Fernandez-WGEM, Roger Lundeen-Galesburg
Radio, Marshall Porter-WHBF, US Representative Cheri
Bustos, Coby Cooper-WCIA/WCIX, Steve Wheeler-WSIL.
(l-r) US Representative Louis Gutierrez (center), Dennis
Lyle-IBA (left) and on the right Doug Levy-Univision,
Marv Dyson-URBan Broadcasting, John Idler-ABC 7, and
Steve Wheeler-WSIL.
(l-r) Dennis Lyle-IBA, Doug Levy-Univision, John Idler-ABC 7, US Representative Bobby Rush,
Marv Dyson-URBan Broadcasting, Drew Horowitz-Hubbard Radio, and Melody Spann-Cooper/
Midway Broadcasting/WVON.
(l-r) Roger Lundeen-Galesburg Radio, Carlos Fernandez-WGEM, Coby Cooper-WCIA/WCIX, US Representative
Rodney Davis, Dennis Lyle-IBA and Steve Wheeler-WSIL.
Illinois Broadcasters Association 5
6 Transmitter August/September 2016
ON THE COVER
Beth Neuhoff is IBA
“Broadcaster of the Year”
Her company mantra is “Media Made Locally”
and with her Neuhoff family in the audience,
Beth Russell Neuhoff became only the second
woman to be honored as an IBA “Broadcaster of
the Year.”
proud of her stations’ efforts each and every day
to better the lives in their communities. She
accepted her award on behalf of the entire
hardworking team at Neuhoff family that makes
“Media Made Locally” more than just a slogan.
Neuhoff, President and CEO of Neuhoff
Communications, shared her story of taking the
reigns of Neuhoff Media after the death of her
husband Geoff, IBA 2012 Broadcaster of the
Year. She told the audience that, “in serving
others, we serve ourselves,” and that she is most
Neuhoff is president and CEO of Neuhoff
Communications, a privately held broadcast and
digital media company with a focus on
Midwestern markets including those in Illinois,
Bloomington-Normal, Danville, Decatur, and
Springfield.
Beth Nehoff, IBA 2016 Vincent T. Wasilewski
“Broadcaster of the Year”
Dennis Lyle-IBA, Beth Neuhoff, Larry Nelson-2015 Broadcaster of
the Year, Coby Cooper-IBA 2015-2016 Chairman of the Board.
Introducing Skye Claire
“Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean that I have to sing about
my diary. I want to be brave with my music…….and I’m not afraid
to be a little outside of the box,” -Skye Claire
She wouldn’t miss the opportunity to entertain the audience on
the night her mentor, Beth Neuhoff, was honored as IBA’s
Vincent T. Wasilewski “Broadcaster of the Year,” and she took the
opportunity to open IBA2016 with her country performance as
part of the Chairman’s Dinner and Awards.
BMI Singer/Songwriter Skye Claire
performs at Broadcaster of the Year
Award presentation.
In April of 2012, Skye packed her truck and made the drive from
New York without knowing a soul in Music City. Just over a year
later, Skye has already played over 250 shows in Nashville and
recorded her first album “For Better or For Worse”.
Illinois Broadcasters Association 7
IBA2016 REVIEW
IN PHOTOS
IBA Stations of the Year
IBA Chicago Market TV Station of the
Year is WBBM-TV. President and
General Manager Marty Wilke and
Dennis Lyle, IBA.
IBA Chicago Radio Station of the Year
is WGN-AM. Judy Pielach, WGN-AM,
News Anchor.
IBA Medium Market Radio Station of the Year is WDNL, Danville.
The Women of Neuhoff took home
many Silver Dome Awards!
8 Transmitter August/September 2016
IBA Medium Market TV Station of the
Year is WTVO. VP/GM Kelly Lattimer
and News Director Scott Picken,
WTVO, Rockford.
IBA Small Market Radio Station of the Year is WDZQ, Decatur.
Silver Dome Co-Host Jennifer
Roscoe, WCIA-TV accepts her award
for Best Medium Market TV Anchor
from her Silver Dome Co-Host Brian
Barnhart, WDWS/WHMS, and the
Voice of the Fighting Illini.
Steve Falat, Market Manager, River
Radio, Carterville accepting Best
Medium Market Sportscaster for
Derek Fogel.
IBA2016 REVIEW
IN PHOTOS
and Silver Dome Winners
continued on page 11
Scott Busboom and Chris Bullock,
WZUS, Decatur, Best Medium
Market Community Service for Spirit
of Life Giving Toy Drive.
Mike Bradd and Jack Ashmore,
WEIU, Best Small Market Radio
Play-by-Play.
Kris Wexell, WYOT, Rochelle, Small
Market Radio Personality of the Year.
Derrick Brown, Director of Urban
Programming, iHeart, Chicago
accepts for WGCI, Best Chicago
Market Radio Community Service.
WREX, Rockford, wins big at Silver Dome Awards!
WGN-AM Silver Dome winners Jason
Skaggs, Judy Pielach, and Vic
Vaughn.
The folks from WSPY, Plano,
celebrate a Silver Dome win!
Diana Bushnell, WJIL/WJVO,
accepts the Silver Dome Award
for Best Small Market Radio
for Best Light Feature.
Illinois Broadcasters Association 9
HALL OF FAME
IBA Hall of Fame Adds Two Legends
IBA Hall of Famer Doug Banks
Friends and colleagues of the late, great
Doug Banks honored the beloved radio and
television personality at a memorial service
held in June.
Wendy Banks
and Marv
Dyson-IBA
Director
Emeritus.
“iHeartMedia Chicago Remembers Doug
Banks” was the perfect opportunity to
posthumously induct Banks into the Illinois
Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame.
IBA Director Emeritus presented the honor
to Wendy Banks, wife of Banks.
Banks died April 11 of complications from
diabetes at 57. His funeral was in Dallas,
where he lived with his family. The
nationally syndicated radio show Banks
hosted was the top-rated afternoon program
in Chicago on iHeartMedia urban adultcontemporary WVAZ FM . He previously
hosted mornings and afternoons on WGCI
FM and was a contributor to programming
on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7.
IBA Hall of Famer Dick Van Dyke
(l-r) Derrick Brown-iHeart Media, Marv Dyson- Retired
former President/General Manager of WGCI-FM/WVAZ-FM
Radio, Chicag, Founding Partner of URban radio
Broadcasting, LLC., and IBA Emeritus, Wendy Banks, and
Ramonski Luv-V103 Weekend DJ.
He's still dancing, still singing, and still
entertaining. Dick Van Dyke arrived in Central
Illinois to visit his home town of Danville,
riding the in the famous Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang car.
memories created there. Van Dyke is working
with his foundation to raise money to restore
the home, along with raising money for
students in fine arts departments. The Dick
Van Dyke Foundation hopes to raise $250,000
to renovate the home and hopes to eventually
turn the home into a museum.
The 90 year old actor says when he heard his
childhood home was condemned, he knew he
had to do something about it because all of the
While in Illinois, Van Dyke became the 57th
IBA Hall of Famer at the June 24th reception
held at the David S. Palmer Arena in Danville.
Dennis Lyle, IBA, Dick Van Dyke and Carlos
Fernandez, IBA Executive Vice Chair.
10 Transmitter August/September 2016
Dick Van Dyke is IBA’s newest Hall of Famer.
ON THE COVER
Simply the Best
— A Night of Awards
Lindsay Wood Davis, Dick Rakovan, Coby Cooper and
Dennis Lyle.
Holland Cooke, Dennis Green-Westwood One, Warren ShulzRetired EAS Coordinator, and Dick Rakovan, Lifetime
Achievement Honoree.
Congratulations
Dick “Rackets”
Rakovan
2016 IBA Lifetime Achievement
Award
From your friends at
Mark & Holly Levy
Bob Lawrence
Tim Foley
Ben
Kiningham,
longtime
reporter on
Illinois
Government,
recognized as
IBA’s 2016 W.
Russell
Withers, Jr.,
“Broadcast
Pioneer”.
Dick “Rackets”
Rakovan,
Retired Sr.
Vice President
with RAB, is
the 2016
recipient of
IBA’s Lifetime
Achievement
Award.
Ben Kiningham
along with
Tom Serafin
demonstrate
what covering
the news
looked like a
few decades
ago.
Illinois Broadcasters Association 11
Illinois Broadcasters Association
200 Missouri Avenue
Carterville, IL 62918
Meet Your IBA 2016-2017 Board of Directors
Elected on June 15, 2016 during the General Manager Breakfast as part of IBA2016, meet your board members
who will guide the organization this next year.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Chairman of the Board-Doug Levy, Univision
Communications-Chicago
Chairman-elect- Frank Whittaker, NBC5 Chicago
Executive Vice-Chair-Carlos Fernandez, WGEM-AM/FM/
TV Quincy
Vice-Chair TV-John Idler, ABC7 Chicago
Vice-Chair Radio-Melody Spann Cooper-WVON Radio
Chicago
Treasurer-Drew Horowitz-Hubbard Radio
Immediate Past Chairman-Coby Cooper, WCIA-TV
Champaign-Urbana
DIRECTORS
Leticia Aguilera-WLEY-FM,Chicago
Greg Easterly-Tribune Broadcasting
Steve Farber-Weigel Broadcasting
Mike Haile-WDWS/WHMS-Radio-, Champaign-Urbana
Kevin Harlan-WMBD-TV, Peoria
Kelly Lattimer-WTVO-TV, Rockford
Roger Lundeen-Galesburg Radio
Greg Miller-Chicago Bears (Associate Seat)
Randall Miller-Miller Media, Taylorville
Marshall Porter-WHBF-TV, Rock Island
Gregory Powers-Lake Land College (Academic Seat)
Jerry Schnacke-iHeart Media-Chicago (RBC Seat)
Dennis Welsh-FOX-TV, Chicago
Steve Wheeler-WSIL-TV, Carterville
Marty Wilke-CBS2, Chicago
Dana Withers-Dana Comm./Withers, Benton
DIRECTORS EMERITI
Emily Barr-Director Emeritus
Marv Dyson-Director Emeritus
IBA
Dennis Lyle-President & CEO
NAB REPRESENTATIVES:
Emily Barr-Graham Media
Beth Neuhoff-Neuhoff Media
LEGAL COUNSEL
Don Craven-Craven Law Office, Springfield
Scott Flick-Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP,
Washington, DC
Richard Zaragoza-Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman,
LLP, Washington DC