Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to Georgia Focus. I'm John Clark on the Georgia
News Network. The Georgia Association of Broadcasters was founded in
July of nineteen thirty four. The GAB was founded as
a trade association to represent the interest of Georgia's over
the air radio and television stations. Today, their membership is
comprised of more than five hundred radio and TV stations
across Georgia. Randy Gravelly is now president of the george
Association of Broadcasters and he joined us today. Randy Gravelly,
(00:31):
here you are, John Clark.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
How are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
How you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I am doing great. It's great to be with you.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Has it been like drinking out of a fire hose?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Absolutely, it has. You know. I was telling someone just
last week that I felt like they would turn the
water pressure down a little bit. Yeah, but I think
it's they've turned it back up because we've got a
lot of great things going on, a lot of issues
that we're advocating for and just really trying to be
(01:02):
there for our radio and TV stations across the great
state of Georgia.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
What are some of the newer things that you planned.
Bob did a great job. Now we don't want to
do with the way with that absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Bob of course has been had been there for thirteen
years and the transition. We work very very closely together
and he's been an integral part of the success of
the GAB and supporting our members throughout the state. And
of course, while he is retired from the president of
the Georgia Association of Broadcasters, he is still going to
(01:35):
be in an advisory role helping us with our GAB Foundation.
So he's not going too far away and he's just
going to be in a different role. But he's done
a great job and I really look forward to working
and seeing what we can do working together with our
members and our partners for the GAB Foundation.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, Bob, Bob wouldn't have it any other way because
he has to be involved with.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
It absolutely well. He is truly a broadcaster at heart.
Of course.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Now, do you have anything planned, any new and different
ideas plan that you can share.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, Well, one of the things is just me getting
out there and talking to our members. Right, We've got
over four hundred radio and TV station members of the
Georgia Association of Broadcasters, and so I want to get
out there and talk to them right, find out what
they see is the challenges and how the GAB can
help them, what resources we can provide to them to
(02:32):
help them not only to survive in this ever changing
industry that we're in, but giving them the resources to
make them thrive. Right because you know, two percent of
Americans listen to local radio each and every week. So
the very station that that someone is listening to us
(02:54):
on is so important to those those ninety two percent
of Americans, and we want to make sure that free
local radio and TV is always there and available to
the listener and the viewer out there.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Now, you came from a local radio station. I did
G and N affiliate. That's right, I'm happy to say
talk about that. How that's transitioned from there to here?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Right. Well, I will tell you that my experiences of
running and owning a local radio station I think has
helped me to be better prepared to be the president
of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters because I do know
some of those uh, those challenges that that that that
we face and very proud to be a Georgian Used
(03:42):
Network affiliate of course, and the work that you and
and your your team does each and every day to
bring resources that small and medium market stations throughout our
state and rural and in North and South Georgia and
Middle Georgia. We wouldn't have the ability to provide our
(04:02):
listeners with statewide news and information, but because of our
partnership with the Georgian Us Network, we're able to do that. Right.
We're able to make sure that our listeners have the
local news and local sports, but also bring in the
Georgian News Network to make sure that they have that
that same information from a state wide level.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
And that's important those stations and not your gn N,
but GAB too, is important those stations to hear that
from you coming in as a new guide that hey,
we want to know you want to help them, still,
you want to you're there for them.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah. Absolutely. So we've the ga B partners with the
Terry School of Business at the University of Georgia and
we partner with them on their economic Summit that the
outlook where they go across the state and giving an
update on what the economy for twenty twenty five is
(04:58):
predicted to look like. So that gives us and me
and Mary and the staff of the GAB to be
able to go out there to all of our members
and talk to them right and and find out what
they what they need. So it's it's been really good
of going out through the state to see the our
different radio and TV stations that are really working each
(05:22):
and every day to serve their community. And of course
whether it's local news, local sports, local weather, are just
simply serving the community, the local broadcasters are there. And
you know, we we we saw that, especially in the
areas of South Georgia where it be Augusta that was
hit very hard, or Valdosta or all points in between,
(05:46):
how the local broadcasters, radio and TV were there during
Hurricane Helen making sure that our listeners and our viewers,
basically our neighbors right are, were prepared for the storm
that that hit. And it was it was devastating. You know,
(06:07):
as you ride through the Interstate sixteen, you still see
the devastation and all the trees that still laying there
that they're they're beginning to get in everything. But how
important radio and TV was for just getting the information
out there. And so I always say, is it's always
(06:27):
great that the local broadcast or the local radio and
TV stations are always there before during and after the storm,
our event, our catastrophe, right, And that's what we do.
So you know that one of the things that we
want to make sure is that our broadcasters have the
(06:49):
resources that they need, but that also the residents of
Georgia and across the country also always has the ability
to have access to free local radio and TV right free.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Free, free too, free, And you're right and those times
and it's not just times of emergencies, it's all the
time you should listen, but in times of emergencies, the
broadcasters of state step up and they step up every day,
but you don't realize it until a disaster hits, and
the disasters do hit and they really step up.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
No, absolutely, And again it's it's times like disaster or
catastrophes or things like that that you really do. It's
not that you forget that the radio and TV stations
do that each and every day, but that really just
is kind of that aha moment, right, and you you
you realize that you understand it and you see it firsthand,
(07:45):
and it's great. I mean, I could not have been
more proud of our radio and TV stations and the
work that they did during Hurricane Helene. And and and
and what they'll be doing probably when we have the
severe whether here in Georgia, whether it be tornadoes or
whether it be snow and sleet and ice. But they're
(08:08):
they're they're always there. And what's so good about it
is they're dependable. Right, you can always know that they're
going to be there.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
You have a new chairman of the of the board.
I'm on the board director, I'm a board member, and
but you have a chairman, Ben Hart. He's from w
j C l in TV in Savannah. He's coming on board.
He's gonna just started, well he started for Chamway first.
How do you think it's gonna work out with him?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
We're so excited to have chairman Heart runs incredible uh
TV stations down there in in Savannah. Uh, we're so
looking forward to him. He has been involved in the
GAB and other state associations previous before he came to Georgia,
and we're just so excited uh for his leadership, his excitement,
(08:57):
and and he's going to do a great job leading
George Association of Broadcasters board of directors. And Uh, he's
excited for his role. Uh and we look forward to
working with him.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Yeah, he's gonna do a good job of thinking. Not
to excuse anybody else, but he's gonna do a good job.
He's Bill Bill Maine. Last time, Yeah, I asked you,
I did a great job.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Yeah, I was gonna say, uh, I know that Ben
will do a great job. He's got some big shoes
to fill with with Bill Maine. I believe it's also
one of your affiliates as well. Right, But but Bill
is was an incredible chairman and an incredible broadcaster. I
tell people that he is probably one of the hardest
(09:37):
working UH people in the broadcasting industry, and it was
it was great to work with him and continuing to
work as he transitions into the immediate past chairs.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Role and you can get back to run his radio
stations now, right.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Well, I know you have issues that you're you're you're
looking at for the for the the year and that
you want to you want to tell our members of
Congress and our senators about and you want them to
know about it. One of them is the AM radio issue.
That is, they were looking to take AM out of cars,
and we've stopped that so far, but I think it's
something that probably still needs to be but for what
(10:16):
you said earlier emergencies, it still needs to be talked about.
Talk about that.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah, Well, as I mentioned earlier, ninety two percent of
every American listens to local radio each and every week,
and making sure that both AM and FM radio, not
only as in every vehicle that rolls the streets of
(10:42):
our cities in state, making sure that that is available
to them, that it's free. We did work very hard
last year to get bipartisan support of a bill which
was the sixteen sixty nine House Resolution, which was as
(11:06):
you mentioned, keep the AM in Every Vehicle Act again
from the Senate and to the House. We had extraordinary support.
The bill was voted out of the House Energy Committee,
which was a big thing. It did not make it
(11:26):
to the floor of the House for a vote in
twenty twenty four, and it's something that so now we're
going to make sure that we continue that fight, that
we work with our local elected officials in DC to
make sure that in twenty twenty five that we get
that bill to the floor and that it's voted on.
(11:50):
But I will tell you we are very very blessed
with a lot of supporters being elected officials in Washington
reps in Georgia. We've got a lot of work to do,
and we're going to do that. And it's people like
you and our board and our radio station managers and
(12:11):
owners that have called their local congressmen and the United
States Senator and said, hey, this is important to us, right.
But we've also been very very blessed that our listeners
here in Georgia of the local radio stations have also
called their congressmen and United States Senator and said, hey,
(12:33):
it's important to have AM in every vehicle. And we
can't think our listeners enough and so we want them
to continue when they see or or call their congressmen
to let them know that that's important to them and
they want to make sure that they have the ability
(12:54):
to have AM free local radio in the vehicles. Right.
And while this is only the a M that we're
talking about, uh, we know that if the automobile manufacturers
pull the a M out that possibly f M could
(13:14):
could could be next, right, and we want to make
sure that a we don't lose a M, right, and
we definitely don't want to lose f M. We don't
want to lose anything. We think the consumer should be
able to have the ability to listen to free local
radio over the air. So so when when they're when
(13:35):
they're out there talking to our seeing their their local
elected congressman. Uh, please tell them that they that you
want them to make sure that they protect AM in
every vehicle.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah, for whate For the reason that we just talked
about earlier emergencies, this is I have have to have
emergencies and you can't get that local flavor on serious
sorry anything like that and not to know what are
they do but or your podcast you have to go local.
And that's that's the reason.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Well, and that is one of the things that really
local radio and TV is so special. Right. We are
a part of the community, right, we're making sure that
we're delivering the local news, local weather, eas alerts and
things like that, keeping people safe, right, And we need
(14:31):
to make sure that radio A, m f M, TV
that they are available to all of our listeners and
consumers out there.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
And it's so important because it is a public safety issues. Right.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
And Two, you know I listened so many times now
I listen to radio and I hear him say, well
I heard it this morning on a station. Well, we
didn't didn't have the mayor today because he's having to
do some mayor work, so he's not in here today,
but he's used he's gonna be back next week, and
so it's always there. You can hear the mayor talk.
Are the chief of police on the radio all the time?
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely, And I think that that is
the special thing about broadcasting, right, is that we go
and we cover those city council meetings, right, we go
and we cover the county commission raiss.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
You can't get the local content, the local news, the
local information that's happening right there in your neighborhood, right,
finding out about you know, the Little League baseball team
that you know is going to Nationals. Right. There's there's
just so many things that local TV and radio does
(15:38):
that our other competitors can't, don't or won't do, right,
And that's what sets local radio and TV aside from
our competitors.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Is there anything else that the GAB is working on
now that the public can help out with.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Well, one of the things that that we're working on,
as I mentioned, the Education FOUNDATIONE right, that is so
important for us. We give out scholarships to rising juniors
and seniors there in a Georgia college or university that
is looking to go into the broadcasting industry, and so
(16:17):
we give those scholarships out so that hopefully we can
make it just a little bit easier, right for them
to get through and to get their degree, and hopefully
we'll come back and start working at a local radio
or TV station in our state. Right. Yes, and because
we want to make sure that the homegrown, local talent
(16:41):
is working here in our station. So we have a foundation, right,
it's a tax deductible organization, and so we're always looking
for donations for that to support being able to make
sure that we have those scholarships available to people that
(17:02):
are looking into coming into the broadcasting industry.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
If somebody wanted to support that, what should they do?
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Go to jab dot org, go tour the JB Foundation tab.
You can make a donation there, super simple, easy, We'll
get you the documentation for your taxes. And so we
really try to try and make it really pretty simple
and easy.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
You know, I loved hearing young people and you sit
at lunch with them or wherever you walk here at
I heeart. I see all the time and they say
they want to go on local radio, and thank you
thank you, thank you. I want you in my business too.
I want you to stay in this business. And I'm
glad to hear that.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
No, absolutely, and that's one of the things that is
a priority for us is going out there and working
with the different different colleges and universities in our state
that has communication and journalism degrees right programs, going out
there and talking to those students and connecting them with
(18:05):
radio and TV stations around our states so that they
can do internships or part time employment that kind of
gets them in the pipeline that then they become full
time employees at that station or some of our other
stations here in Georgia.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Yeah, you have coming up in University of Georgia, you
have career day coming up there too.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
We do, Yeah, we do, and it you know, we've
got a great relationship with the Grady College. Dean Davis
is an incredible supporter of he and his his team
there of the GAB and we work with them. We
have a career fair that that we do every year
where are not only the GAB, but our different radio
(18:46):
and TV stations will come to their career day and
talk to all of the all of the kids that
are wanting to come into our business and and again
our our local radio and TV stations are able to
connect with those those students and and get them in
there and on the air, and UH it's it's just
(19:07):
a great, great partnership with with Dean Davis and his
team and the GB. Another thing that we also do
is the Radio Talent Institute that we partner with the
Radio Advertising Bureau and we've been on a couple of
calls getting that set with UH with the RB. Mike
(19:29):
Colvey is the president of the r B who is
also a former broadcaster, and he loves and he sees
the importance of the Radio Talent Institute. And that's basically
where we have folks like you and and other broadcast
leaders of our state come into this one week UH
mini session. It's almost like a many NBA right for
(19:49):
people who are wanting to get into the broadcasting industry,
and and they're able to hear from UH the leaders
of the industry of saying, you know, this is how
I got into the business, right, and here's here's the
things of like if you're looking to go into sales
or management or on air, they're able to give their
life learned experiences, right for those that are that are
(20:13):
they're wanting to come in. So again, just incredible opportunities
for us to work with our students who are wanting
to come into the industry.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
So students come to come to the come to the fair,
that's right. You got to go, and broadcasters you come to.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
We want you there, that's right because here's the thing
they want. You know, the folks that are going through
school and everything, they want to hear from the general
managers or the owners, or the sales managers or the
own air personalities, right because they learned from that, right.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Right. One more thing you have coming up. You don't
have the awards, well coming up soon the wards ceremony
for the Gabby Wards, but you're also you have you
don't have it said we're going to be yet, but
you had the convention coming up. It'll come up at
some point and you'll want broadcasters to be are aware
of that and know about it and go to it.
So I talk about that as much as you can.
I know you can't tell us all right now, but
(21:12):
you can you can tell us some stuff.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Well, well, you know a little bit about the Gabby Awards.
You are a Gabby Award winner many many times, and
I know that it's always great to be able to
be recognized for your work and your contributions to the
broadcasting industry. And yes, we do have our annual gab
Con celebration and then on Saturday night of gab Con,
(21:37):
we have the Gabby Celebration where we award the best
of best in both radio and TV in Georgia broadcasting.
And it is something that is always a very special night,
a special event because our radio and TV station members
they work each and every day to serve their community
(21:59):
right and they do it because they love serving their
citizens and their fellow man, and this is a way
for them to be able to enter their works or
their stations work, and being able to be recognized and
honored for that with a Gabby Award or a Merit
award is just so special. And I'm telling you, these
(22:21):
people they take it very serious. So we're looking forward
to that. More to come on the announcement of where
gab Con twenty twenty five is going to be. But yet,
all of our stations that are listening, please make sure
that you look at all of the work that you've
done over the past year and submit those entries for
(22:46):
a Gabby Award because I'm telling you, you do great
work and it needs to be recognized.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
That's right, And it's fun to have that thing. Ten
years from now, it'll be fun to have it up there.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Well, I mentioned earlier about going around the state visiting
are different radio and TV members, and it's great going
in there and talking to the employees, the people who
are making that radio station come on the air and
being able. They're the reason why you're being able to
listen to the news and the local content or that
(23:19):
TV station. But it's always so special walking in the
lobby or of the station and seeing their Gabby Awards
displayed because it's something that they're so proud of and
they absolutely should be, but it's great to see that
and it just kind of warms your heart and it
makes you want to make the Gabby Awards even bigger
(23:42):
and greater.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Right right, That's what I think, The same thing I
said every time I go on the radio station Gabby Wards.
I love seeing that. I love seeing that. Well, finally,
where should people go to find out about the JB
and when it time comes to gab Con and the
Gabby Awards. Where's nig go.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Absolutely well. One of the things that we're trying to
also do is make sure that communicating the services that
the GAB delivers right to our to our stations, and
so we do a weekly newsletter and things like that.
You can go to GAB dot org. That's gab dot
org and you can sign up for the newsletter. It
(24:16):
also gives you a lot of information on our website
of the services that we offer, whether it be sales seminars,
whether it be the information on the GABBY Awards entry
or or what have you. It's all of the information
is there at gav dot org, or you can give
us a call contact us through the website.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Rand It's been a pleasure having you in today and
I wish you all success and I'll do everything I
can to help you, and I know everybody will too,
So congratulations and welcome aboard.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Thank you so much, John, and I appreciate not just
what you do of cert your service on the board,
but also what you and your team at the Georgia
News Network as well as your affiliates out there all
throughout this great state. As you mentioned, our stations have
always been a Georgian used network affiliate. I know many
(25:07):
of my brothers and sisters out there that are also
a Georgian US Network affiliate, so I want to thank you,
and iHeart and the Georgian Us Network, thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Thank you, will us. It's accredited to our affiliates, so
we thank them so much. So thank you so much
for coming in today.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Thank you. John.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
That's Randy Gravity, president of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.
Find out more about them at GAB dot org. For
questions of comments about today's program, you can email me,
John Clark at Georgianewsnetwork dot com. Thanks for listening. I'll
talk to you next week right here in your local
radio station on Georgia Focus.
Welcome to Georgia Focus. I'm John Clark on the Georgia
News Network. The Georgia Association of Broadcasters was founded in
July of nineteen thirty four. The GAB was founded as
a trade association to represent the interest of Georgia's over
the air radio and television stations. Today, their membership is
comprised of more than five hundred radio and TV stations
across Georgia. Randy Gravelly is now president of the george
Association of Broadcasters and he joined us today. Randy Gravelly,
(00:31):
here you are, John Clark.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
How are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
How you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I am doing great. It's great to be with you.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Has it been like drinking out of a fire hose?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Absolutely, it has. You know. I was telling someone just
last week that I felt like they would turn the
water pressure down a little bit. Yeah, but I think
it's they've turned it back up because we've got a
lot of great things going on, a lot of issues
that we're advocating for and just really trying to be
(01:02):
there for our radio and TV stations across the great
state of Georgia.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
What are some of the newer things that you planned.
Bob did a great job. Now we don't want to
do with the way with that absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Bob of course has been had been there for thirteen
years and the transition. We work very very closely together
and he's been an integral part of the success of
the GAB and supporting our members throughout the state. And
of course, while he is retired from the president of
the Georgia Association of Broadcasters, he is still going to
(01:35):
be in an advisory role helping us with our GAB Foundation.
So he's not going too far away and he's just
going to be in a different role. But he's done
a great job and I really look forward to working
and seeing what we can do working together with our
members and our partners for the GAB Foundation.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, Bob, Bob wouldn't have it any other way because
he has to be involved with.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
It absolutely well. He is truly a broadcaster at heart.
Of course.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Now, do you have anything planned, any new and different
ideas plan that you can share.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, Well, one of the things is just me getting
out there and talking to our members. Right, We've got
over four hundred radio and TV station members of the
Georgia Association of Broadcasters, and so I want to get
out there and talk to them right, find out what
they see is the challenges and how the GAB can
help them, what resources we can provide to them to
(02:32):
help them not only to survive in this ever changing
industry that we're in, but giving them the resources to
make them thrive. Right because you know, two percent of
Americans listen to local radio each and every week. So
the very station that that someone is listening to us
(02:54):
on is so important to those those ninety two percent
of Americans, and we want to make sure that free
local radio and TV is always there and available to
the listener and the viewer out there.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Now, you came from a local radio station. I did
G and N affiliate. That's right, I'm happy to say
talk about that. How that's transitioned from there to here?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Right. Well, I will tell you that my experiences of
running and owning a local radio station I think has
helped me to be better prepared to be the president
of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters because I do know
some of those uh, those challenges that that that that
we face and very proud to be a Georgian Used
(03:42):
Network affiliate of course, and the work that you and
and your your team does each and every day to
bring resources that small and medium market stations throughout our
state and rural and in North and South Georgia and
Middle Georgia. We wouldn't have the ability to provide our
(04:02):
listeners with statewide news and information, but because of our
partnership with the Georgian Us Network, we're able to do that. Right.
We're able to make sure that our listeners have the
local news and local sports, but also bring in the
Georgian News Network to make sure that they have that
that same information from a state wide level.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
And that's important those stations and not your gn N,
but GAB too, is important those stations to hear that
from you coming in as a new guide that hey,
we want to know you want to help them, still,
you want to you're there for them.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah. Absolutely. So we've the ga B partners with the
Terry School of Business at the University of Georgia and
we partner with them on their economic Summit that the
outlook where they go across the state and giving an
update on what the economy for twenty twenty five is
(04:58):
predicted to look like. So that gives us and me
and Mary and the staff of the GAB to be
able to go out there to all of our members
and talk to them right and and find out what
they what they need. So it's it's been really good
of going out through the state to see the our
different radio and TV stations that are really working each
(05:22):
and every day to serve their community. And of course
whether it's local news, local sports, local weather, are just
simply serving the community, the local broadcasters are there. And
you know, we we we saw that, especially in the
areas of South Georgia where it be Augusta that was
hit very hard, or Valdosta or all points in between,
(05:46):
how the local broadcasters, radio and TV were there during
Hurricane Helen making sure that our listeners and our viewers,
basically our neighbors right are, were prepared for the storm
that that hit. And it was it was devastating. You know,
(06:07):
as you ride through the Interstate sixteen, you still see
the devastation and all the trees that still laying there
that they're they're beginning to get in everything. But how
important radio and TV was for just getting the information
out there. And so I always say, is it's always
(06:27):
great that the local broadcast or the local radio and
TV stations are always there before during and after the storm,
our event, our catastrophe, right, And that's what we do.
So you know that one of the things that we
want to make sure is that our broadcasters have the
(06:49):
resources that they need, but that also the residents of
Georgia and across the country also always has the ability
to have access to free local radio and TV right free.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Free, free too, free, And you're right and those times
and it's not just times of emergencies, it's all the
time you should listen, but in times of emergencies, the
broadcasters of state step up and they step up every day,
but you don't realize it until a disaster hits, and
the disasters do hit and they really step up.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
No, absolutely, And again it's it's times like disaster or
catastrophes or things like that that you really do. It's
not that you forget that the radio and TV stations
do that each and every day, but that really just
is kind of that aha moment, right, and you you
you realize that you understand it and you see it firsthand,
(07:45):
and it's great. I mean, I could not have been
more proud of our radio and TV stations and the
work that they did during Hurricane Helene. And and and
and what they'll be doing probably when we have the
severe whether here in Georgia, whether it be tornadoes or
whether it be snow and sleet and ice. But they're
(08:08):
they're they're always there. And what's so good about it
is they're dependable. Right, you can always know that they're
going to be there.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
You have a new chairman of the of the board.
I'm on the board director, I'm a board member, and
but you have a chairman, Ben Hart. He's from w
j C l in TV in Savannah. He's coming on board.
He's gonna just started, well he started for Chamway first.
How do you think it's gonna work out with him?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
We're so excited to have chairman Heart runs incredible uh
TV stations down there in in Savannah. Uh, we're so
looking forward to him. He has been involved in the
GAB and other state associations previous before he came to Georgia,
and we're just so excited uh for his leadership, his excitement,
(08:57):
and and he's going to do a great job leading
George Association of Broadcasters board of directors. And Uh, he's
excited for his role. Uh and we look forward to
working with him.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Yeah, he's gonna do a good job of thinking. Not
to excuse anybody else, but he's gonna do a good job.
He's Bill Bill Maine. Last time, Yeah, I asked you,
I did a great job.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Yeah, I was gonna say, uh, I know that Ben
will do a great job. He's got some big shoes
to fill with with Bill Maine. I believe it's also
one of your affiliates as well. Right, But but Bill
is was an incredible chairman and an incredible broadcaster. I
tell people that he is probably one of the hardest
(09:37):
working UH people in the broadcasting industry, and it was
it was great to work with him and continuing to
work as he transitions into the immediate past chairs.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Role and you can get back to run his radio
stations now, right.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Well, I know you have issues that you're you're you're
looking at for the for the the year and that
you want to you want to tell our members of
Congress and our senators about and you want them to
know about it. One of them is the AM radio issue.
That is, they were looking to take AM out of cars,
and we've stopped that so far, but I think it's
something that probably still needs to be but for what
(10:16):
you said earlier emergencies, it still needs to be talked about.
Talk about that.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah, Well, as I mentioned earlier, ninety two percent of
every American listens to local radio each and every week,
and making sure that both AM and FM radio, not
only as in every vehicle that rolls the streets of
(10:42):
our cities in state, making sure that that is available
to them, that it's free. We did work very hard
last year to get bipartisan support of a bill which
was the sixteen sixty nine House Resolution, which was as
(11:06):
you mentioned, keep the AM in Every Vehicle Act again
from the Senate and to the House. We had extraordinary support.
The bill was voted out of the House Energy Committee,
which was a big thing. It did not make it
(11:26):
to the floor of the House for a vote in
twenty twenty four, and it's something that so now we're
going to make sure that we continue that fight, that
we work with our local elected officials in DC to
make sure that in twenty twenty five that we get
that bill to the floor and that it's voted on.
(11:50):
But I will tell you we are very very blessed
with a lot of supporters being elected officials in Washington
reps in Georgia. We've got a lot of work to do,
and we're going to do that. And it's people like
you and our board and our radio station managers and
(12:11):
owners that have called their local congressmen and the United
States Senator and said, hey, this is important to us, right.
But we've also been very very blessed that our listeners
here in Georgia of the local radio stations have also
called their congressmen and United States Senator and said, hey,
(12:33):
it's important to have AM in every vehicle. And we
can't think our listeners enough and so we want them
to continue when they see or or call their congressmen
to let them know that that's important to them and
they want to make sure that they have the ability
(12:54):
to have AM free local radio in the vehicles. Right.
And while this is only the a M that we're
talking about, uh, we know that if the automobile manufacturers
pull the a M out that possibly f M could
(13:14):
could could be next, right, and we want to make
sure that a we don't lose a M, right, and
we definitely don't want to lose f M. We don't
want to lose anything. We think the consumer should be
able to have the ability to listen to free local
radio over the air. So so when when they're when
(13:35):
they're out there talking to our seeing their their local
elected congressman. Uh, please tell them that they that you
want them to make sure that they protect AM in
every vehicle.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah, for whate For the reason that we just talked
about earlier emergencies, this is I have have to have
emergencies and you can't get that local flavor on serious
sorry anything like that and not to know what are
they do but or your podcast you have to go local.
And that's that's the reason.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Well, and that is one of the things that really
local radio and TV is so special. Right. We are
a part of the community, right, we're making sure that
we're delivering the local news, local weather, eas alerts and
things like that, keeping people safe, right, And we need
(14:31):
to make sure that radio A, m f M, TV
that they are available to all of our listeners and
consumers out there.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
And it's so important because it is a public safety issues. Right.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
And Two, you know I listened so many times now
I listen to radio and I hear him say, well
I heard it this morning on a station. Well, we
didn't didn't have the mayor today because he's having to
do some mayor work, so he's not in here today,
but he's used he's gonna be back next week, and
so it's always there. You can hear the mayor talk.
Are the chief of police on the radio all the time?
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely, And I think that that is
the special thing about broadcasting, right, is that we go
and we cover those city council meetings, right, we go
and we cover the county commission raiss.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
You can't get the local content, the local news, the
local information that's happening right there in your neighborhood, right,
finding out about you know, the Little League baseball team
that you know is going to Nationals. Right. There's there's
just so many things that local TV and radio does
(15:38):
that our other competitors can't, don't or won't do, right,
And that's what sets local radio and TV aside from
our competitors.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Is there anything else that the GAB is working on
now that the public can help out with.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Well, one of the things that that we're working on,
as I mentioned, the Education FOUNDATIONE right, that is so
important for us. We give out scholarships to rising juniors
and seniors there in a Georgia college or university that
is looking to go into the broadcasting industry, and so
(16:17):
we give those scholarships out so that hopefully we can
make it just a little bit easier, right for them
to get through and to get their degree, and hopefully
we'll come back and start working at a local radio
or TV station in our state. Right. Yes, and because
we want to make sure that the homegrown, local talent
(16:41):
is working here in our station. So we have a foundation, right,
it's a tax deductible organization, and so we're always looking
for donations for that to support being able to make
sure that we have those scholarships available to people that
(17:02):
are looking into coming into the broadcasting industry.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
If somebody wanted to support that, what should they do?
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Go to jab dot org, go tour the JB Foundation tab.
You can make a donation there, super simple, easy, We'll
get you the documentation for your taxes. And so we
really try to try and make it really pretty simple
and easy.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
You know, I loved hearing young people and you sit
at lunch with them or wherever you walk here at
I heeart. I see all the time and they say
they want to go on local radio, and thank you
thank you, thank you. I want you in my business too.
I want you to stay in this business. And I'm
glad to hear that.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
No, absolutely, and that's one of the things that is
a priority for us is going out there and working
with the different different colleges and universities in our state
that has communication and journalism degrees right programs, going out
there and talking to those students and connecting them with
(18:05):
radio and TV stations around our states so that they
can do internships or part time employment that kind of
gets them in the pipeline that then they become full
time employees at that station or some of our other
stations here in Georgia.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Yeah, you have coming up in University of Georgia, you
have career day coming up there too.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
We do, Yeah, we do, and it you know, we've
got a great relationship with the Grady College. Dean Davis
is an incredible supporter of he and his his team
there of the GAB and we work with them. We
have a career fair that that we do every year
where are not only the GAB, but our different radio
(18:46):
and TV stations will come to their career day and
talk to all of the all of the kids that
are wanting to come into our business and and again
our our local radio and TV stations are able to
connect with those those students and and get them in
there and on the air, and UH it's it's just
(19:07):
a great, great partnership with with Dean Davis and his
team and the GB. Another thing that we also do
is the Radio Talent Institute that we partner with the
Radio Advertising Bureau and we've been on a couple of
calls getting that set with UH with the RB. Mike
(19:29):
Colvey is the president of the r B who is
also a former broadcaster, and he loves and he sees
the importance of the Radio Talent Institute. And that's basically
where we have folks like you and and other broadcast
leaders of our state come into this one week UH
mini session. It's almost like a many NBA right for
(19:49):
people who are wanting to get into the broadcasting industry,
and and they're able to hear from UH the leaders
of the industry of saying, you know, this is how
I got into the business, right, and here's here's the
things of like if you're looking to go into sales
or management or on air, they're able to give their
life learned experiences, right for those that are that are
(20:13):
they're wanting to come in. So again, just incredible opportunities
for us to work with our students who are wanting
to come into the industry.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
So students come to come to the come to the fair,
that's right. You got to go, and broadcasters you come to.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
We want you there, that's right because here's the thing
they want. You know, the folks that are going through
school and everything, they want to hear from the general
managers or the owners, or the sales managers or the
own air personalities, right because they learned from that, right.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Right. One more thing you have coming up. You don't
have the awards, well coming up soon the wards ceremony
for the Gabby Wards, but you're also you have you
don't have it said we're going to be yet, but
you had the convention coming up. It'll come up at
some point and you'll want broadcasters to be are aware
of that and know about it and go to it.
So I talk about that as much as you can.
I know you can't tell us all right now, but
(21:12):
you can you can tell us some stuff.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Well, well, you know a little bit about the Gabby Awards.
You are a Gabby Award winner many many times, and
I know that it's always great to be able to
be recognized for your work and your contributions to the
broadcasting industry. And yes, we do have our annual gab
Con celebration and then on Saturday night of gab Con,
(21:37):
we have the Gabby Celebration where we award the best
of best in both radio and TV in Georgia broadcasting.
And it is something that is always a very special night,
a special event because our radio and TV station members
they work each and every day to serve their community
(21:59):
right and they do it because they love serving their
citizens and their fellow man, and this is a way
for them to be able to enter their works or
their stations work, and being able to be recognized and
honored for that with a Gabby Award or a Merit
award is just so special. And I'm telling you, these
(22:21):
people they take it very serious. So we're looking forward
to that. More to come on the announcement of where
gab Con twenty twenty five is going to be. But yet,
all of our stations that are listening, please make sure
that you look at all of the work that you've
done over the past year and submit those entries for
(22:46):
a Gabby Award because I'm telling you, you do great
work and it needs to be recognized.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
That's right, And it's fun to have that thing. Ten
years from now, it'll be fun to have it up there.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Well, I mentioned earlier about going around the state visiting
are different radio and TV members, and it's great going
in there and talking to the employees, the people who
are making that radio station come on the air and
being able. They're the reason why you're being able to
listen to the news and the local content or that
(23:19):
TV station. But it's always so special walking in the
lobby or of the station and seeing their Gabby Awards
displayed because it's something that they're so proud of and
they absolutely should be, but it's great to see that
and it just kind of warms your heart and it
makes you want to make the Gabby Awards even bigger
(23:42):
and greater.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Right right, That's what I think, The same thing I
said every time I go on the radio station Gabby Wards.
I love seeing that. I love seeing that. Well, finally,
where should people go to find out about the JB
and when it time comes to gab Con and the
Gabby Awards. Where's nig go.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Absolutely well. One of the things that we're trying to
also do is make sure that communicating the services that
the GAB delivers right to our to our stations, and
so we do a weekly newsletter and things like that.
You can go to GAB dot org. That's gab dot
org and you can sign up for the newsletter. It
(24:16):
also gives you a lot of information on our website
of the services that we offer, whether it be sales seminars,
whether it be the information on the GABBY Awards entry
or or what have you. It's all of the information
is there at gav dot org, or you can give
us a call contact us through the website.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Rand It's been a pleasure having you in today and
I wish you all success and I'll do everything I
can to help you, and I know everybody will too,
So congratulations and welcome aboard.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Thank you so much, John, and I appreciate not just
what you do of cert your service on the board,
but also what you and your team at the Georgia
News Network as well as your affiliates out there all
throughout this great state. As you mentioned, our stations have
always been a Georgian used network affiliate. I know many
(25:07):
of my brothers and sisters out there that are also
a Georgian US Network affiliate, so I want to thank you,
and iHeart and the Georgian Us Network, thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Thank you, will us. It's accredited to our affiliates, so
we thank them so much. So thank you so much
for coming in today.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Thank you. John.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
That's Randy Gravity, president of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.
Find out more about them at GAB dot org. For
questions of comments about today's program, you can email me,
John Clark at Georgianewsnetwork dot com. Thanks for listening. I'll
talk to you next week right here in your local
radio station on Georgia Focus.
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