Baker Joins WCM Board of Directors

Wisconsin Community Media would like to welcome Bill Baker, a long-time member producer at the Sun Prairie Media Center and member of WCM's Communications and Research committee, to the WCM Board of Directors. Baker’s nomination to the board was approved at the Board’s February meeting on February 22.

The opening on the board was created when Jeff Robbins left the Sun Prairie Media Center and took on the Interim Executive Director position at WCM. Baker will serve until May 2024 and will be eligible for re-election at that time.

Anyone at a WCM Member Station may serve on the board including: staff members, board members, or dues-paying (to the media center) volunteers and producers.

Regarding his interest in serving on the WCM board, Baker said, "I believe in community media, and I see new opportunities. As a volunteer for eight years, I've expanded awareness, testified in my municipality for local media center viability, and met with State Reps/Senators to stress its importance and seek support. I also serve as President of the Friends Group for SPMC."

Baker is on a hiatus from producing his shows at the SPMC while he runs for a city council seat in Sun Prairie. He survived the February 20 primary election and will be on the ballot for the April 2 general election.

WCM board president Jake Timm and Robbins are in discussions about the search for a permanent WCM Executive Director. Watch this newsletter or the WCM website for further developments.

Nominate a "Friend of Access" by February 14

Many people throughout Wisconsin work or volunteer in community media. But only a chosen few can be honored with the prestigious Friend of Access award!

Wisconsin Community Media is looking for those people who have made a long-lasting positive impact on the success of community media.

With this award Wisconsin Community Media aims to recognize people in the community who understand, support, and champion community media. It could be someone who has made a significant impact on the success of one community media center or perhaps someone who has been involved in community media for many years and has demonstrated an overall commitment to its mission and survival.

For more information and to nominate someone please click here. The deadline for submission is February 14. The award will be presented at the Best of the Midwest Media Fest on May 16.

Entries for the 2024 Best of the Midwest Media Fest are in!

The calls for entries are over! All of the videos, podcasts, radio and TV programs that will be competing for glory at the 2024 Best of the Midwest Media Fest have been submitted.

Fast facts about this year’s fest:

• There were 178 programs entered.

• The category that received the most entries was “PSA-Professional.”

• The media center that submitted the most shows was Sun Prairie.

• There were 34 centers across seven states who entered the Media Fest.

• The amount of content in hours and minutes entered into the Fest was 89.5 hours or 5,374 minutes. (Get judging, judges!)

All judges should have received the judging guidelines, the judging quiz, and their judging assignments..

If you have signed up to judge and have any questions about the process, please email Andrew Black.

A sincere thank you to all of our volunteer judges. We could not have a Media Fest without you!

Of course the winners will be revealed on May 16 in Eau Claire! Best of luck to all those who entered!