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Broadcasters Raise Millions for Childhood Health
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WTMX-FM Radiothon Nets $1.3 Million  Hubbard Radio Group's WTMX-FM Chicago raised $1.3 million on September 19 during the "Eric & Kathy Radiothon" to support the Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. During the event, on-air personalities Eric and Kathy shared touching stories about the children, parents, doctors, nurses and hospital staff. The event has raised a total of $26 million in 14 years. Click here to view videos and photos from this year's radiothon. |
Delmarva Stations Raise $300,000  Delmarva Broadcasting's "2015 Help Our Kids Radiothon" on September 9-10 raised $301,000 for the A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Delaware. Participating stations included WDEL-FM Canton, N.J., WSTW-FM Wilmington, Del. and WXCY-FM Havre de Grace, Md. and four stations in Lewis, Del.: WXDE-FM, WAFL-FM, WNCL-FM and WYUS-AM. Click here to watch a recap video of the event posted by WDEL-FM. |
CBS Philadelphia Radiothons Bring in Nearly $1 Million for Local Children
 CBS Radio stations in Philadelphia hosted successful fundraisers in September. WOGL-FM raised more than $680,000 in its 14th annual "WOGL Loves Our Kids" radiothon on September 10-11 for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Click here to watch a recap video.
WIP-FM's "Eagles Radiothon," held September 8-9, raised $200,000 for the Eagles Youth Partnership (EYP). The EYP's health and education programs serve more than 50,000 children annually. Auction items included exclusive experiences with several Philadelphia Eagles players, a Super Bowl travel package and the chance to have WIP broadcast remotely from the winner's workplace.
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| WFIE-TV Raises $293,000 for MDA  Raycom Media's NBC affiliate WFIE-TV Evansville, Ind., raised $293,000 in its "14 Hours for MDA" fundraiser, held September 1 to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This was the 45th consecutive year that on-air personality Mike Blake hosted the telethon. According to the MDA, WFIE hosts the country's largest event to support the organization's work to fight muscular dystrophy.
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KHAK-FM Radiothon Raises $130,000 for CMN  Townsquare Media's KHAK-FM Cedar Rapids, Iowa, raised $130,000 for the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) and University of Iowa Children's Hospital during its 19th annual radiothon, held September 3-4. KHAK told listeners that "these are families from your town — your neighborhood… Every dollar stays here to help us help these families and these kids by building them a new children's hospital." |
 Radio Station Helps Cancer Patient's Wish Come True
Centennial Broadcasting's WFVA-AM and WBQB-FM Fredericksburg, Va., aired a September 1 interview with Andi McConnell of the Fairy Godmother Project and Ceili, an 18-year-old who had decided to stop her cancer treatments. Ceili wanted to see the Rocky Mountains with her family, but cannot fly commercially due to her weakened immune system. Word of Ceili's wish spread after the interview, which WFVA also shared via a podcast. Sister station WBQB-FM's Facebook post resulted in more than 2,000 shares. Within two days, a pilot volunteered to fly her family. Donations covered the $15,000 fuel cost, plus lodging and food for the trip.
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WGRF-FM Raises $140,000 for Make-A-Wish  Cumulus Media's WGRF-FM Buffalo raised $140,000 in its Make-A-Wish Foundation radiothon, held September 17-18. This video, posted by Tegna Media's NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV Buffalo, shows an excited three-year-old playing on his new "pirate ship." The "pirate ship" is a jungle gym he received through the program. |
WIKY-FM Brings in $90,000 for Sick Kids  Midwest Communication's WIKY-FM Evansville, Ind., raised more than $90,000 in a radiothon held September 3-4 for Riley Children's Foundation. Riley Children's works with organizations across Indiana to aid kids with serious health issues and helps families with their medical bills. |
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Radio and Televison Public Servants and Their Families
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| KPLC-TV Raises $51,000 for Trooper's Family  Raycom Media's NBC affiliate KPLC-TV Lake Charles, La., hosted a "Blue Friday" campaign on August 28. The initiative raised $51,000 to support the family of fallen Louisiana State Senior Trooper Steven Vincent. KPLC also promoted other fundraisers, which brought in a total of $100,000 for his wife and son. KPLC aired this video in honor of Trooper Vincent.
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WAVE-TV Telethon Aids 'Supporting Heroes'  Raycom Media's NBC affiliate WAVE-TV Louisville, Ky., raised $15,000 for the non-profit organization Supporting Heroes on September 11. Supporting Heroes provides families of public safety personnel killed in the line of duty with $3,000 to cover financial needs until state or federal benefits arrive. |
WCSX Detroit Holds Auction for Fallen Trooper
 Greater Media's WCSX-FM Detroit hosted an online charity auction from September 2-4 to benefit the family of Michigan State Trooper Chad Wolf, who died while on duty on August 28. Proceeds went to a GoFundMe account for Wolf's family, which totaled nearly $175,000. Auction items included guitars autographed by Detroit rock legend Bob Seger, Eddie Money and Creedence Clearwater Revisited, plus signed Detroit Pistons merchandise. WCSX posted this video tribute to Wolf, who left behind a wife and four children.
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Local Broadcasters Collect Tons of Food, School Supplies
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WMMX-FM Nets $74,000 for Ronald McDonald 
iHeartMedia's WMMX-FM Dayton, Ohio, raised $74,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Dayton, easily surpassing the $50,000 that the radiothon raised last year. The Ronald McDonald House plans to renovate its 14 rooms for the first time in 16 years, which will cost approximately $300,000. The Ronald McDonald House provides a home for families of critically ill and injured, hospitalized babies and children. Click here for coverage of the event on Media General's WDTN-FM Dayton. |
WQNY-FM Raises $32,000 and Counting  Saga Communication's WQNY-FM Ithaca, N.Y., personality Chris Allinger‘s "Walkin' The Country" campaign collected $32,000 for childhood hunger. In September, he walked to every town in Tompkins County, collecting money for Food Bank of the Southern Tier's "BackPack Program," which feeds children at risk of hunger. The total is expected to rise as money from collection boxes and online donations are added. View photos and video from his journey.
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Cumulus Fresno Food Drive Collects $73,000 
Cumulus Media's KMJ-AM/FM Fresno, Calif., hosted a food drive on August 25 - September 1 that raised more than $73,000 for a local food bank. The station also collected 1,055 lbs. of canned food, 2,810 lbs. of potatoes and 1,000 lbs. of frozen turkeys. Listen to an audio clip from the station broadcast.
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WMTV 'Goes Orange' to Fight Hunger
 Gray Television's NBC affiliate WMTV Madison, Wisc., hosted a "Go Orange" campaign on September 3. The initiative brought in 72,000 meals for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin. WMTV asked viewers to take a selfie while wearing orange and post it to Facebook with the #Orange4SHFB hashtag. Sponsors donated 40 meals for each picture posted.
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WAVY-TV Collects Tons of School Supplies
 Media General's NBC affiliate WAVY-TV and Entercom's WWDE-FM Portsmouth, Va., collected more than 40,000 school supplies during WAVY's "10 On Your Side Operation School Supplies," held throughout August. During the campaign, viewers and listeners could visit a local Farm Fresh store and purchase bags filled with school supplies for five dollars. The bags were then donated to children who attend 13 different local school districts. |
Broadcasters Air Political Debates, Critical Local News
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Kentucky Stations Air Debates
 Gray Television's CBS affiliate WKYT-TV Lexington hosted a debate on September 15 between the state's three gubernatorial candidates: Jack Conway, Matt Bevin and Drew Curtis. Topics included same-sex marriage licenses and Medicaid funding. In another hour-long debate, held September 23, WKYT and Hearst Television's CBS affiliate WLKY-TV Louisville hosted candidates for lieutenant governor, Jenean Hampton and Sannie Overly. WLKY has earned Walter Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Television Political Journalism for eight consecutive years for its coverage of local politics.
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La. Gubernatorial Candidates Debate on Air 
Nexstar Broadcasting is hosting a one-hour debate on October 7, featuring the candidates for Louisiana governor: John Bel Edwards, Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne. The debate will air online and on Nexstar's NBC affiliate KTAL-TV Shreveport, NBC affiliate KLAF-LD Lafayette and Fox affiliate WNTZ-TV Alexandria, plus White Knight Holding's NBC affiliate WVLA-TV Baton Rouge, Tribune Broadcasting's CW affiliate WNOL-TV New Orleans and National Communications' Fox affiliate KVHP-TV. |
WAPT Plans Extensive Political Coverage
Hearst Television's ABC affiliate WAPT-TV Jackson, Miss., is providing extensive political coverage through its Commitment 2015. In the weeks leading up to the August primaries, more than 40 candidates provided their vision for public office through the station's "In Their Own Words" segment on the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. |
Radio Syndicators Carry GOP Debates  Salem Radio Network (SRN) provided exclusive radio coverage of the September 16 GOP presidential debate. SRN's 31 stations carried the debate, plus the pre- and post-event coverage. Westwood One will provide exclusive radio coverage of the third GOP presidential debate, to be held October 28. Westwood One News is also the exclusive radio broadcaster for the first Democratic Party presidential debate, to be held October 13. |
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Television Stations Across the Country Expand Local News 
The following stations are among those that have recently expanded local news coverage:
- Fox owned-and-operated KTVU-TV Oakland, Calif., added a 9 a.m. newscast on September 14. KTVU also airs local news at 7 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 5 p..m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. In the past year, KTVU added 13 hours of local news and sports, for a total of 62 hours per week.
- Telemundo owned-and-operated KNSO-TV Fresno, Cailf., debuted its first local newscast on September 1. The one-hour Spanish-language program airs weekdays from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- E.W. Scripps' ABC affiliate KGTV San Diego launched a 4 p.m. local newscast on September 14. KGTV broadcasts local news from 4:30 - 7 a.m. and from 4 - 7 p.m.
- Raycom Media's NBC affiliate WECT-TV Wilmington, N.C., debuted "First at Four" on September 14. WECT also airs local news from 5 - 7 a.m., at noon, from 5 - 7 p.m. and at 11 p.m. "We realize viewers are not always able to catch the news in traditional times," said News Director Scott Saxton.
- Block Communications' Fox affiliate WDRB-TV Louisville, Ky., expanded its weekday midday news from half an hour to a full hour on September 21.
- Tegna Media's CBS affiliate KHOU-TV Houston extended its 4 p.m. news from half an hour to a full hour on September 14.
- Sinclair Broadcasting's CBS affiliate WKRC-TV Cincinnati expanded "Good Morning Cincinnati" on September 21. It now airs from 7 - 9 a.m.
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Television Supports Diaster Relief
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 KCRA-TV Sacramento Telethon Nets $1.4 Million for Wildfire Relief
Hearst Television's NBC affiliate KCRA-TV Sacramento, Calif., raised $1.4 million to support the Red Cross' wildfire relief efforts during a telethon held September 15. KCRA posted this video, showing a four-year-old donating his birthday money to the firefighters. "I have enough toys," he said.
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