Member Benefits
The Kentucky Broadcasters’ Association (KBA) Scholarship Fund
This high school senior scholarship is a post-secondary partial scholarship program for children of employees of Kentucky radio and television stations. In 2020 the KBA will award fourteen (14) scholarships of fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) each to qualified sons and daughters of employees of Kentucky broadcast stations.
The scholarships will be used to assist the student in the payment of tuition, fees, books, and room and board. A scholarship committee will review each application and will award the scholarships based on the following criteria:
- One of the student’s parents must be either: (a) a full-time employee of a station on the date of the application deadline, or; (b) a part-time employee of a station on the date of the application deadline and has been employed as a part-time employee at the Kentucky station for a period of one year prior to the application deadline.
- The student must attend full-time a college, university, vocational school, institute of technology, or academy that awards academic degrees or professional certifications.
- There is no minimum GPA requirement to apply. However, preference will be shown to students who demonstrate good scholastic ability.
- Extracurricular activities (clubs, athletics, church, community service, part-time employment, etc.) will be considered in evaluating each applicant.
- Preference will be given to students with financial need.
- Scholarships may be awarded for undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs.
- Scholarships are made on an annual basis and are non-renewable.
The deadline for applications is May 1, 2021
KBA Harry Barfield Scholarship
Four scholarships of $2,500 apiece are available to students who are currently majoring in broadcasting or communications at a college or university in Kentucky. The scholarships are awarded through a competitive application process which includes academic achievement, the recommendation of a faculty member, and extracurricular activities. Since the scholarship awards are renewable for a second year provided recipients continue to meet specified criteria, priority consideration will be given to students who are rising juniors.
The program, now approaching its 30th consecutive year, is named in honor of Harry Barfield, the late chairman of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association and manager of WLEX-TV in Lexington.
The deadline for applications is May 1, 2021
RADIO DIVISION
Station of the Year
This award recognizes a radio station for overall service to its listenership and communities
Criteria: Public service and community involvement, entertainment values, thoroughness, production, promotions, listener interaction, digital, social and overall delivery.
Best Morning Show
This award recognizes the best radio morning show airing between 5a-10a
Criteria: Entertainment value, creativity, production value, presentation and impact.
Best Talk Show
This award recognizes the best locally originated, regular scheduled radio talk show
Criteria: Entertainment value, creativity, production value, presentation and impact.
Best News Coverage
This award recognizes the best single radio coverage of a local news event
Criteria: Presentation, production values, interest of story covered and overall impact of the news coverage.
Best Sports Play By Play
This award recognizes the best locally originated sports play by play
Criteria: Presentation of facts, creativity and delivery.
Best Locally Produced Commercial
This award recognizes the best single commercial produced by a member station on behalf of an advertiser.
Criteria: Creativity, message delivery and production value.
Best Digital Product
This award recognizes the best locally generated radio website or social media site
Criteria: Treatments of content including text, audio, video, social media and user-generated content, how well the site communicate information, overall appearance, ease of use, use of visuals and the depth and quality of information available.
Rookie of the Year
This award recognizes an individual who has made great strides in his/her first two years of employment in the radio industry
Criteria: Employee must be serving in his/her first 24 months of broadcast employment at the time the award is presented. Dedication, morale, innovation, determination, passion, leadership, going above and beyond expectations, and other exemplary skills will be considered.
TELEVISION DIVISION
Station of the Year
This award recognizes a television station for overall service to its viewership and communities
Criteria: Public service and community involvement, entertainment values, thoroughness, production, promotions, viewer interaction, digital, social and overall delivery.
Best Morning Newscast
This award recognizes the best regularly scheduled newscast originally aired between 4a-12p
Criteria: Presentation of facts, thoroughness, production values, interest of stories presented and overall impact of the newscast
Best Evening Newscast
This award recognizes the best regularly scheduled newscasts originally aired between 4p-11p
Criteria: Aspects of the newscast (i.e. News, Weather and Sports), presentation of facts, thoroughness, production values, interest of stories presented and overall impact of the newscast and delivery.
Best Sportscast
This award recognizes the best locally originated and regularly scheduled sportscast
Criteria: Clear presentation of facts, thoroughness, delivery/communication skills and interest of stories presented.
Best Weathercast
This award recognizes the best locally originated and regularly scheduled weather broadcast
Criteria: Clear presentation of facts, thoroughness, delivery/communication skills and interest of stories presented.
Best Locally Produced Commercial
This award recognizes the best single commercial produced by a member station on behalf of an advertiser.
Criteria: Creativity, message delivery and production value.
Best Digital Product
This award recognizes the best locally generated television website or social media site
Criteria: Treatments of content including text, audio, video, social media and user generated content, how well the site communicate information, overall appearance, ease of use, use of visuals and the depth and quality of information available.
Rookie of the Year
This award recognizes an individual who has made great strides in his/her first two years of employment in the television industry
Criteria: Employee must be serving in his/her first 24 months of broadcast employment at the time the award is presented. Dedication, morale, innovation, determination, leadership, going above and beyond expectations, and other exemplary skills will be considered.
TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
Engineer of the Year
This award recognizes individuals who have displayed excellence and innovation in broadcast engineering for a Kentucky radio or television station
Criteria: Development of new technology, leadership in education, and contributions to broadcast engineering technical standards.
LEGACY DIVISION
Al Temple Award
Past Recipients
Presented to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Kentucky Broadcasters Association over an extended period of time. Their volunteer service is an invaluable part of this organization’s success and ability to serve its members.
Kentucky Mic Hall of Fame
Past Recipients
Presented to those individuals who have made outstanding personal contributions to the broadcasting profession in Kentucky. Since this award is considered to be the highest award given by the KBA to recognize accomplishments in Kentucky broadcasting, recipients are hereby inducted into the KBA Hall of Fame.
J.T. Whitlock Life Service Award
Past Recipients
Presented to members who have earned perpetual membership and recognition as a result of quality and longevity of their service to their stations, communities and to Kentucky broadcasting. Participation in conventions shall be at no cost to recipients of this award and their spouse.
Ralph Gabbard Distinguished Kentuckian
Past Recipients
Presented in recognition of the achievements and accomplishments of former Kentuckians who have earned fame or acclaim in their respected field or endeavor.
KBA Chairman’s Award
Presented to KBA’s outgoing Chair of the Board in recognition of his/her service and contributions to the Association and its membership.
Each year the KBA organizes a delegation of Kentucky broadcasters who travel to Washington DC for face-to-face meetings with members of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation and discuss congressional and FCC issues affecting broadcasters.
KBART PAC
100% of your yearly KBA dues (unless otherwise specified on your dues invoice) are contributions to the lobbying efforts by KBA saving your stations money, time and paperwork. We continue to watch and work with Kentucky legislators to protect the interests of radio and television stations in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Broadcasters Association will reimburse broadcast stations licensed to a community in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and KBA members for NAB Show, Small Market Television Exchange, Country Radio Seminar and RAB Radio Show up to the annually approved amounts. Reimbursement amounts are approved by the Board of Directors at the Fall Board Meeting for the following year. (Please note: Associate members of the KBA are not eligible for reimbursements.)
Approved Reimbursements for 2020:
- Country Radio Seminar – Registration Fee up to $499
- NAB Show, Las Vegas – Up to $1,000 per attendee
- RAB/NAB Radio Show, Nashville, TV – Up to $1,000 per attendee
- SMTE or NATPE (choose 1 annually) – Up to $1,000 per attendee
- Society of Broadcast Engineers – Dues Only
Reimbursement Requirements:
- Eligible reimbursement recipients are required to maintain full-time employment status at an active KBA member station.
- All reimbursements must be received within 60 days following the conference.
- Each reimbursement must include the reimbursement form and applicable receipts (up to the approved amount.)
Reimbursable expenses include:
- Registration Fees
- Transportation
- Lodging
- Meals
Each reimbursement must include a copy of the attendee’s name badge from the conference.
KBA Offers TONS of benefits to KBA members, including many opportunities for your sales team. Some of the benefits offered include:
LBS Sales Resources
KBA offers access to the LBS Weekly Sales Videos and monthly webinars free to all members.
RAB Sales and Management Webinars
KBA offers access to monthly webinars for sales teams and managers.
Annual KBA Sales Roadshow
Each year the KBA will visit a town near you bringing one of the top sales trainers to your door to train and freshen your staff with the latest sales techniques.
Is your sales team taking advantage of these benefits? Contact the KBA for more information on how to sign up for these wonderful opportunities!