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LeGeyt Lays Out General Priorities

Among them is restoring the impact of the NAB Show

Member stations of the National Association of Broadcasters got a chance to hear from its new president/CEO on Thursday, Jan. 20, when Curtis LeGeyt spoke in a virtual “town hall.”

He identified three areas he’ll focus on, according to a meeting summary: winning policy fights to help broadcast businesses thrive; engaging in “business-oriented initiatives prioritized by the organization’s membership;” and “restoring NAB Show’s preeminent stature as a destination for the entire broadcast community.”

LeGeyt praised broadcasters for their work during the pandemic and promised to champion tools and resources they need to serve communities.

[Read More Articles about the NAB]

He spoke about his work on the Hill during his decade at NAB and the importance of stations being engaged with legislators and regulators. “You have the compelling story to tell about your stations work in their communities. And it is incumbent on all of us to ensure policymakers recognize the importance of our investigative reporting, emergency alerts and philanthropic efforts that local stations provide to their constituents,” he said.

Executive Vice President of Government Affairs Shawn Donilon talked about NAB’s legislative priorities including support for a law that would help broadcasters and other media in negotiating with “Big Tech” companies about how their content is shared. He also mentioned the Local Radio Freedom Act opposing a performance royalty on broadcast radio stations.

Donilon also gave an update on the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which would provide news media with a tax credit for hiring and retaining local journalists, and on legislation to reestablish a diversity tax certificate program.

Presentations were also made by Rick Kaplan, NAB’s chief legal officer and EVP of legal and regulatory affairs, and Michelle Duke, chief diversity officer and president of the NAB Leadership Foundation. Duke highlighted a planned Broadcast and Community Organization Summit intended to strengthen relationships between broadcasters and community organizations that target diverse and underrepresented populations, as well as help broadcasters with diversity recruitment.

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