Buffalo Broadcast Pioneers

IN 2021, BUFFALO BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION (BBA) CONTINUED BUILDING UPON SUCCESSES OF PAST YEARSLIKE MANY OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, YEAR 2021 WAS A TIME TO REBUILD AFTER THE CANCELLATION OF MANY FUND AND FRIEND-RAISING EVENTS IN 2020. THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO CALL UPON SOME OF ITS MEMBERS TO CREATE PAY-TO-VIEW ZOOM PROGRAMS. ON TWO OTHER PROGRAMS, JOURNALISTS LES TRENT AND WOLF BLITZER MET ON LINE WITH VIEWERS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND HOW THEY HAD TO INVENT NEW WAYS TO WORK DUE TO COVID, SHORT STAFFING, SOCIAL DISTANCING , AND OTHER BEHIND THE SCENES ISSUES. DURING YEAR 2021, BUFFALO BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE HARNISCH FOUNDATION TO HELP FURTHER OUR ORGANIZATION'S COOPERATIVE EFFORTS WITH BUFFALO STATE UNIVERSITY. THE GRANT WILL HELP COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT STUDENTS BUILD REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES IN PRODUCTION AND CONTENT. A GRANT WAS ALSO RECEIVED FROM THE WESTERN NEW YORK LIBRARY RESOURCES COUNCIL WHICH ENABLES US TO CONTINUE IDENTIFYING AND DIGITIZING IMPORTANT NEWS STORIES AND EVENTS THAT WERE SHOT ON 16MM FILM. ONCE DIGITIZED, THE STORIES ARE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE NEW YORK STATE DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE AND PRESERVATION SERVICES WEBSITE AND OTHER LIBRARY SERVICES. BUFFALO BROADCASTERS WAS ABLE TO HOLD ITS HALL OF FAME PROGRAM IN NOVEMBER. WE INSTALLED HONOREES WHO WE COULD NOT INDUCT IN 2020 AS WELL AS THE INDUCTEES FOR 2021. WE ALSO AWARDED TWO $1,000 RUSSERT SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WENT TO STUDENTS INTERESTED IN JOURNALISM CAREERS SINCE WE WERE UNABLE TO HOLD A HALL OF FAME IN YEAR 2020.