SC Broadcasters Encouraged to Implement

Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

As the country deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Board of Directors of the SC Broadcasters Association formally pledge to support our neighbors and friends in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.  The Board members agree to accept the special initiative to contribute disaster relief efforts in one or more of the following ways for a period of at least 30 days.

• Encouraging the public to make financial donations to relief agencies
• Airing Disaster Relief PSA's available from NAB (Radio PSA's for the American Red Cross can be downloaded from http://www.nab.org/ and TV PSA's can be ordered by contacting Sarah Roberts at sroberts@nab.org.  The dubs will be sent overnight.)
• Producing local disaster relief PSA's
• Promoting hot lines and websites for charitable organizations and government agencies
• Featuring Emergency Management officials on talk shows, interview segments, etc.
• Producing news stories with information regarding emergency preparedness and disaster relief resources
• Organizing volunteer efforts with local relief agencies
• Establishing phone banks to answer questions regarding disaster relief and to raise donations
• Encouraging the public to donate blood at their local Red Cross chapter
• Contacting the Red Cross and Salvation Army reps in your local area to coordinate other special efforts in response to your specific community needs

South Carolinians received strong support during natural disasters like Hurricane Hugo.  The unprecedented devastation from Hurricane Katrina creates a deep sense of obligation to provide our resources to help these disaster relief efforts.  We strongly encourage all South Carolina TV and radio broadcasters to join this initiative in keeping with the strong commitment to community service that is hallmark of our industry and our association.

If your station has launched such an effort and partnered with various agencies to send money, water, food, medicine and other supplies to the devastated Gulf Coast, please document your station's activities and report them to SCBA so we can continue to highlight your commitment to community service. Send stories, news releases and digital photographs to Karen Nettles. The list below summarizes relief efforts executed by SC broadcasters in recent weeks.

Citadel Broadcasting (Charleston) and WCSC-TV (Charleston) implemented the "Power of 5" campaign that encourages listeners and viewers to take five-dollar bills to the local Regions Bank (Headquarters are in Louisiana).  So far, the campaign has raised $107,000.  The Citadel group is also collecting truckloads of supplies to be sent to Louisiana.

Myrtle Beach Media (ALL local radio and TV stations and The Sun News) came together for "The Total Media Hurricane Relief Rally."  All stations broadcast live from Broadway at the Beach so listeners and viewers could drop off donations.  The event raised over $270,000 for the American Red Cross.

Next Media (Myrtle Beach) raised $6,000 at an all-day remote at Cosco by cooking hot dogs and selling them for donations in addition to their efforts at "The Total Media Hurricane Relief Rally."

Our Three Sons Broadcasting (Rock Hill) kicked off the "Hometown Cares:  Hurricane Katrina Relief" campaign by donating $1000 to the effort at the initial press conference announcing the initiative.  They challenged other businesses and media in the York County community to do the same or better.  The stations also interviewed representatives from the local chapters of the American Red Cross, United Way and the Salvation Army.  Live phone interviews were conducted with two York County government officials on the ground in Mississippi assisting with relief efforts and PSAs for public and private organizations holding legitimate events to raise funds for relief are being broadcast.  During the first week of the "Hometown Cares" campaign, the initiative raised $126,485.  The effort is now being coordinated by the local United Way and the organization reports a new total each Thursday.  On-air staff served as celebrity waiters for a luncheon at a popular local restaurant where a portion of the proceeds went to the American Red Cross.  The station featured community events on the air that were raising funds for Katrina relief and their public affairs show, "Straight Talk," featured stories on local folks that participated in relief and rescue efforts in New Orleans. 

WGOG-FM (Walhalla) and WSNW-AM (Seneca) held a Radio-Thon and raised over $10,000 for the Oconee County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

WIS-TV (Columbia) and WQVA-AM (Irmo) teamed up for a phone bank drive that raised over $300,000 for the American Red Cross.  WQVA is donating a portion of the proceeds from an upcoming concert to the American Red Cross and they are interviewing Spanish soldiers working in New Orleans to update the Hispanic community on relief efforts.

WJBF-TV (Augusta) has partnered in various relief efforts that has raised $598,414.  The station also partnered with the US Marines to have approximately 5 tons of non-perishable foods, water, beverages and personal hygiene items collected and distributed to the Eagle Point community outside of Biloxi, MS.  A second delivery with at least the same amount of items or more is scheduled for September 15.

WKDK-AM (Newberry) teamed up with the Newberry Opera House, local musicians, local churches and local merchants for a benefit concert.  WKDK also ran a pledge drive prior to the concert and all funds were delivered to the concert and given to the American Red Cross.  The station is running daily updates on local disaster relief efforts such as bottled water collections and supply drives. 

WLTX-TV (Columbia) held a phone bank for the Salvation Army and raised $175,000 for Katrina relief. 

WPCC-AM (Clinton) joined forces with various community organizations to promote fundraisers and events that raised money for Hurricane Katrina victims.  "Coins for Katrina" was a fundraising effort between the two local high schools that raised $5,000.  An effort by the middle school raised another $2,000.  The station participated in BroadcastUnity Day and devoted airtime to PSAs for the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and other agencies with messages pertaining to storm victims or fundraising efforts.

WSPA-TV (Spartanburg) held a telethon that raised more than $530,000 in pledges for the American Red Cross.  The station has also teamed up with Goodwill Industries to raise even more funds and supplies for Hurricane Katrina victims.  Clothing and household goods donated to Goodwill will be converted to cash and donated to the American Red Cross relief effort in the name of Goodwill and WSPA News Channel 7.

WYFF-TV (Greenville) held a phone bank on September 1 and raised $640,000 for the American Red Cross.