Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates Gov. Scott Walker and State Superintendent Tony Evers debated Friday night in Madison at a one-hour televised event sponsored by the WBA Foundation with funding provided by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. It was aired live or delayed by more than 80 television and radio stations throughout the state. The debate was also shown live on national network C-SPAN and it was streamed on at least 17 different websites.

The debate was produced at WMTV-TV and moderated by Jill Geisler, longtime Wisconsin news professional, WBA Hall of Fame member, author, and Bill Plante Chair in Leadership and Media Integrity at Loyola University,  … Read More

The second of two WBA Foundation debates will take place Friday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m. and air live or delayed on more than 80 radio and TV stations in Wisconsin.

View the most current carriage list here (Updated Oct. 16)

Financial support for the debate is provided by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The debate will be produced at WMTV-TV and moderated by Jill Geisler, longtime Wisconsin news professional, WBA Hall of Fame member, author and Bill Plante Chair in Leadership and Media Integrity at Loyola University, Chicago.  … Read More

A pioneer in local television news and WBA Hall of Famer has died.

​Joseph T. Loughlin, 87, died Nov 9, 2017. He was living in Huntley, Illinois.

Loughlin began his 45 year broadcast career as a news reporter, producer, and anchor at television stations in Alabama and Florida. In 1963, he produced and anchored the nation’s first nightly 1-hour newscast at Tampa’s WTVT-TV.

From 1963 to 1966 he organized the first local news department of WCBS-TV, New York. He was General Manager of WVTV, Milwaukee, 1969-81, establishing it as a top independent television station.  … Read More

U.S. Senate candidates Sen. Tammy Baldwin and State Senator Leah Vukmir debated Saturday night in Wausau at a one-hour televised event sponsored by the WBA Foundation with funding provided by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. It was aired live or delayed by more than 80 television and radio stations throughout the state. The debate was also shown live on national network C-SPAN and Wisconsin public affairs cable network WisconsinEye and it was streamed on at least 17 different websites.

The debate was produced at WSAW-TV and moderated by Jill Geisler, longtime Wisconsin news professional, WBA Hall of Fame member,  … Read More

An effort to draw attention to the work of journalism in local communities is bringing people together to watch films in the Eau Claire area.

Monday’s showing of “Spotlight” is part of Wisconsin Humanities Council project called “Beyond The Headlines.” The WBA Foundation is sponsoring the film showings.

“Spotlight” is the Oscar-winning story of how reporters from the Boston Globe investigated and broke the story of widespread sexual abuse by priests and the church’s cover-up. Following the movie, there was a discussion of the role of journalists in our society and what impact reporting like this has on the community.  … Read More

Do you know a student who could use assistance with educational expenses? The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation is extending it’s scholarship competition by one week.

The WBA Foundation offers two $2,000 scholarships and two $1,000 scholarships. Students who meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for these scholarships.

The application is available on the WBA website.

Students who have completed at least one-half of their degree or graduation requirements in a media or media-related course of study are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must have either graduated from a Wisconsin high school or be attending a Higher Educational Institution in Wisconsin that has been designated as eligible by the WBA Foundation Board.  … Read More

The first of two WBA Foundation political debates is coming up this week and stations across the state are making plans to carry the debate.
 
An updated list of stations carrying the debates can be viewed here:
Oct. 13 U.S. Senate Debate [PDF]
Oct. 19 Gubernatorial Debate [PDF]
 
Stations interested in carrying the debate should contact Kyle Geissler at kgeissler@wi-broadcasters.org to get delivery information and to be added to the carriage list.
 
The debates are sponsored by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
 
Read more about the debates here.  … Read More