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Broadcasters' Public Service
Licensed to Serve - May 2013
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NAB's Licensed to Serve newsletter provides a sample of noteworthy stories that illustrate the many public service activities broadcasters organize on any given day across the country. From arranging record-breaking toy and food drives to providing free air time for political campaign coverage, broadcasters' continual commitment to their communities is showcased in Licensed to Serve.

Learn More
Click here to learn more about broadcasters' community service initiatives and nonprofit partnerships.

Send Us Your Stories
If your station has a great public service campaign that should be recognized, email Allison Kreutzjans, manager, Public Service Initiatives or call (202) 429-5448 with details.
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on Twitter: @BroadlyServing.

Nation Tunes in to Local Coverage of Boston Marathon Tragedy
On Monday, April 15, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring more than 200 people. Local television and radio broadcasters provided outstanding wall-to-wall coverage. Politico reported that President Obama got his news from local Boston stations Sunbeam's WHDH-TV and Hearst Television's WCVB-TV. Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said coverage on Boston's local stations was "largely professional, measured and superior to what the cable and [broadcast] networks had to offer... [T]he best coverage could be found on local TV in Boston, which was available online via Web streams." The Boston Herald praised broadcasters, noting that WHDH-TV's Adam Williams reported on the air while the two suspects and police exchanged 200 rounds of gunfire.
Broadcasters Support City in Mourning
Radio Is Boston Strong
Radio united Boston after the Boston Marathon bombing. Entercom's WEEI-FM distributed thousands of "Boston Strong" signs, which fans waved during a tribute at the Red Sox home game with the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. Boston radio stations also observed a moment of silence on April 22 at 2:50 pm, the exact time when the bombs went off a week before. "As first informers in times of crisis, broadcasters want to take this opportunity to salute the first responders and the many unsung heroes who do so much during emergency situations," said NAB President Gordon Smith.
Hearst Television Provides In-Depth Coverage and Support for Bostonians
Hearst Television's WCVB-TV Boston coverage reached two-thirds of Boston households during the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect. In a broadcast editorial, WCVB-TV President and General Manager Bill Fine praised first responders, honored the wounded and their families and encouraged donations to One Fund Boston. Following the tragedy WCVB-TV promoted "'Boylston is Back" on-air, online and in an e-blast to 80,000 subscribers. The campaign encouraged residents to spend at least $25 on Boylston Street on April 27, as the mandatory 'city shutdown' on April 19 cost an estimated $250 - $333 million.
Greater Media Boston Donates to Victims and Area Stores
Greater Media Boston suspended all on-air contesting for the week after the bombing, instead donating $8,000 of prize money to One Fund Boston. To support Mayor Menino's "Boylston Strong" effort, the stations offered free roundtrip upper deck trolley rides to Boylston Street on April 28th. Greater Media's Boston stations include WBQT-FM, WKLB-FM, WMJX-FM, WBOS-FM and WROR-FM.
Entercom's Boston Stations Donate to Bomb Victims Fund
Entercom, which owns WEEI-FM, WRKO-AM and WAAF-FM in Boston, donated $25,000 to One Fund Boston. WAAF-FM morning show host Greg Hill was holding a fundraiser for his foundation a few blocks from the finish line when the bombs exploded. His event raised $11,000, which he donated to the bombing victims. Here is a short interview with Hill featured in Radio Ink.
Kenny Chesney and WKLB-FM Spread the Love for Boston
Kenny Chesney worked with Greater Media's WKLB-FM Boston to provide prosthetics to amputees after the Boston Marathon bombings. He started the Spread the Love Fund with a sizable donation, including proceeds from downloaded single sales of "Spread The Love," so the Boston Medical Center can supply prosthetics, fittings, ongoing care and physical therapy. "It's hard to imagine a world where taking your children to school, going to the movies, or witnessing something as iconic as the Boston Marathon is a dangerous thing to do," Chesney said. "For me, I want to help give these people as much of their lives back as possible."
Local Radio Helps Those Affected by Fires
Media General Stations Fundraise for Myrtle Beach Fire Victims
Media General's WBTW-FM Myrtle Beach, SC and the American Red Cross raised $27,000 after a fire in Carolina Forest burned more than 100 condominiums, displacing 200 people. "The financial donations they're giving to the Red Cross are wonderful to be able to give to our fire families. It will help them get back on their feet again, which is really important," said American Red Cross volunteer Judy Delsignore.
Texas Stations Support Firefighters Hurt in Fertilizer Blast
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment's WACO-FM Waco, TX organized an online auction of artist memorabilia to benefit the West, TX fire department, whose members were among the first responders to the explosion at the fertilizer plant that killed 12 and injured 200. CBS Radio's Houston stations, including KILT-FM, held a relief effort at a grocery store that aimed to fill an 18-wheeler with bottled water, blankets, toiletries and non-perishable food.
TV and Radio Stations Promote Health Initiatives
"Team Bean" with KROQ-FM Runs to Support Organ Donations
CBS Radio's KROQ-FM Los Angeles' Host Gene "Bean" Baxter, station engineer Scott Mason and KROQ listeners participated in the "Donate Life Run/Walk" on April 27th as "Team Bean." Bean donated his kidney to Scott last November after the organ failed. Bean set a team goal to raise $350,000 for the OneLegacy Foundation, which ensures more people receive successful transplants in less time and honors the organ and tissue donors.
CBS' "Women of Eyewitness News" in Philly Run for a Cure
CBS Television KYW-TV and WPSG-TV Philadelphia "Women of Eyewitness News" promotes breast cancer awareness year-round. The team will broadcast live on Mother's Day as Meteorologist Katie Fehlinger runs in the 2013 Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure. "Let me get up at the crack of dawn. Let me run for you. Let me channel your support toward one amazing purpose - saving lives," Fehlinger said.
Cape Cod Broadcasting Helps Dispose Of Drugs
Cape Cod Broadcasting educated listeners on the environmental ramifications of medicine disposal and teen prescription abuse. Stations promoted the DEA's Drug Take Back on April 27, during which people could dispose of expired and unused medications. Last September, the free, anonymous service netted 244 tons of drugs at 5,200 sites nationwide. "Our goal is to increase awareness here on the Cape, reduce youth substance abuse, and protect our environment," said Cape Cod Broadcasting's Kim Lucas.
Broadcasters Provide Food and Clothing
Cumulus Helps Make Prom a Night to Remember
Cumulus Media's WZNS-FM Fort Walton Beach, Fla., donated prom dresses to 111 teenagers at 17 local high schools whose families could not afford to buy prom dresses. Many of the 450 dresses available to the girls, worth more than $22,000, were new and still had the original tags. WZNS-FM partners with a local mall, which provides store space and dressing rooms. A local dry cleaner, which donates its services. For the past nine years, the campaign has served young people from families affected by the Recession, displacement by Hurricane Katrina and depleted savings from medical bills.
E.W. Scripps Stations Stuff the Bus
The E.W. Scripps Company's KERO-TV and KZKC-TV Bakersfield, CA collected 41,550 pounds of food during the Stuff the Bus Food Drive, setting an event record. The event garnered 37,778 pounds last year and about 35,000 pounds in 2011. All donations benefit the Community Action Partnership of Kern Food Bank. Local radio stations aired PSAs and broadcast live from the event.
CBS Minneapolis Sends Winter Packing
CBS Radio's WCCO-AM Minneapolis remembered the brutal winter of 2012-2013, even as temperatures passed 60 degrees. Capitalizing on listeners' desire to say "goodbye" to winter, WCCO-AM set up 25 clothing drop-off locations around the city. The station donated the winter clothing collected to The Good Neighbor's Coats For Kids drive, to benefit needy kids next winter.
Congratulations to Meridian Stations
Meridian Stations Win Award for Service
Meridian's WGBC-TV and WMDN-TV Meridian, MS received a Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Award for "Outstanding Community Outreach by a Media Organization." Meridian donated more than $1 million worth of PSA production and air time to the United Way of East Mississippi, The Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Lauderdale County Habitat for Humanity, Hope Village's Run for Hope and The American Heart Association. The stations head The Golden Apple Awards to recognize outstanding teachers based on nominations from students, parents and faculty.