Georgia Association of Broadcasters

10/06/2022

We are looking for volunteers to present awards during our GABBY Awards banquet this year! 🏆Please note that you must already be attending the banquet to particiapte. Click here to sign up! 🔗 https://forms.gle/EuhcpWrjERVqknM9A

09/28/2022

Just 3 days left to save 25% on GABCON Registration ⏰Don't miss your chance to hear from industry experts like Monica Pearson, Paul Jacobs, and Pierre Bouvard! Register here: 🔗🎟 gabcon.gab.org

09/20/2022

Congratulations to our 2022 Ditty-McLemore Engineering Awards recipients! Join us at as we honor these engineers

Get 🎟 here: gabcon.gab.org

09/14/2022

Come out to to hear Scott Kimbler and Matt McCLure present the "Using Sound for Effective Story Telling." 🎙You don't want to miss this!! Register for 25% off here: 🔗 gabcon.gab.org

09/13/2022

Our friends at Clean Cities Georgia want you to know that that National drive electric week is coming up soon! 🚗 Click here for a list of full events 🔗 https://www.cleancitiesgeorgia.org/ Clean Cities-Georgia

09/08/2022

Derron Steenbergen, President of Swagger Institute give us a sneak peek of what you'll learn at 🤩 Register today for 25% off! 🔗 gabcon.gab.org

Swagger Institute

09/01/2022

Have you registered for yet? If not, tomorrow is the last day to receive 50% off! 🚨 Take advantage of this discount here: 🔗 gabcon.gab.org

08/30/2022

Only a few days left to save 50% on ! 💰 Register now to secure your spot at Georgia's largest gathering of broadcasters! 🔗 https://web.cvent.com/event/75d4a012-6c3b-4cde-b73a-3efe2bcea748/summary

07/29/2022

Georgia radio is mourning the loss of GAB Hall of Fame member Byron Dobbs. Known as the “Voice of Cherokee,” the Woodstock native and lifelong Cherokee County resident had a long and distinguished career of more than 65 years in radio broadcasting that began in 1957 at WCHK radio station in Canton soon after his graduation from Cherokee High School. WLJA 101.1 FM

Sosebee Funeral Home of Canton has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 29 4:00–8:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 30 from 2:00–7:00 p.m. The funeral will be held at Sosebee Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday, July 31 at 3:00 p.m.

Legendary North Georgia Broadcaster Dies

Canton, Georgia— July 28, 2022 —

Legendary North Georgia Broadcaster Dies

Canton, Georgia— July 28, 2022 —
Beloved local radio personality and Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame member Byron Lamar Dobbs of Canton died peacefully on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at the age of 86.

Known as the “Voice of Cherokee,” the Woodstock native and lifelong Cherokee County resident had a long and distinguished career of more than 65 years in radio broadcasting that began in 1957 at WCHK radio station in Canton soon after his graduation from Cherokee High School.

After spending 40 years at WCHK, 35 of those as station manager, Byron, as he was affectionately known throughout North Georgia, became a partner and owner in 1998 at WLJA radio station and Tri-State Communications in Jasper where he worked until 2021.

“Byron loved the radio business and he loved teaching other people about the industry. I will be forever grateful to him for being my mentor, my friend, and my business partner over the past 25 years. He, his voice, and his wisdom will be missed dearly,” Tri-State Communications President and CEO Randy Gravley said.

Byron is fondly remembered by the community as the voice on the radio that kept listeners informed of the latest news, election coverage, deaths, and other important events of the day. He was also beloved as the announcer for local high school sports.

“I clearly remember the first time I heard Byron Dobbs on the radio. It was 1964, I was 12 years old, and my family was new to Canton. I was camping out behind my house with a new friend who had brought a transistor radio. Byron’s strong and distinctive voice made an immediate impression on me, as it did on everyone who heard it. I enjoyed hearing it for 58 years,” Cherokee County Commission Chair Harry Johnston said.

Johnston also praised Dobb’s commitment to the community and love of Cherokee County.

“I was also honored to get to know Byron personally. He was an important community leader, through his radio work and his huge network of relationships. But his greatest legacy is that he was the finest example of a true gentleman I’ve ever known. I’ll never live up to his model, but I’ll always aspire to it,” Johnston said.

In 2017, Dobbs was awarded the prestigious First Citizen by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for his unselfish and devoted lifetime of service to Cherokee County and its residents. He also received the Lamar Haley Community Service Award from the Rotary Club of Canton that year.

“Byron Dobbs was more than a voice on a radio dial. He was a friend to many, even the people he never met who dubbed him their trusted newsman and would recognize his voice to this day. He was a historian who reported on stories over 65 years in radio that brought smiles to listeners’ faces while others evoked tears,” Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce President Pam Carnes said. “It goes without saying that Cherokee County is quite different than when Byron’s career began, yet our community will never again be the same as the man behind the microphone has signed off for the last time.”

Byron was inducted into the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 and was its first member from the contributor category for his work broadcasting local high school sports on the radio.

On the state level, he received numerous awards and recognitions including Georgia Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcaster of the Year, and a member of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Long-time friend and Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston remembered Dobbs fondly. “I have had the great pleasure of knowing and having the friendship of Byron Dobbs for some 60 years. Byron spread cheer wherever he went. He enjoyed his friends, he loved being a radio guy and he loved the Cherokee County community like no one else. There will never be another like him, but I count it as a blessing that he was part of my life and that of so many others.” Ralston said.

In his illustrious career, Byron achieved many accomplishments, including being a main contributor and subject of the book, “The Glory Days of WCHK”, and a partner in Tri-State Communications Inc., Exponent Broadcasting, and Dobbs and Cline Consulting. He interviewed elected officials including President Jimmy Carter and celebrities such as NASCAR driver Bill Elliott, performers Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty and Minnie Pearl and was the first to chart country artist Travis Tritt.

Active in the community, Byron was a member of the Board of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, member of the Cherokee County Historical Society, Sequoyah Regional Library Board, Emeritus Director of the Cherokee Sports Hall of Fame, honorary member of Ellijay Rotary Club, A-Day for Reinhardt University Committee, Cherokee Clean & Beautiful Commission, and organizer of the Easter Community Sunrise Service at Cherokee Memorial Park. Dobbs also served in the Georgia National Guard.

Dobbs was honored with the Daughters of the American Revolution Excellence in Community Service Award, with a Cherokee County proclamation for Byron Dobbs Day, Byron Dobbs Day in the City of Canton, Georgia House of Representatives Resolution for Distinguished Career, Georgia Senate Bill commending his Community Leadership, and the Georgia State School Board’s Beacon Award.

Dobbs is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Sosebee Funeral Home of Canton is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Details will be announced when they become available.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Cherokee County Historical Society at historycherokee.org/donate or mailed to History Cherokee, P.O. Box 1287, Canton, GA 30169.

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For more information, press only:
Jodi Drinkard
404-731-6397
[email protected]

07/11/2022

JUST ANNOUNCED: 🎉Finalists for the 2022 GABBY Awards and Registration for GABCON! 🏆View this years finalists and get 50% off registration here: https://web.cvent.com/event/75d4a012-6c3b-4cde-b73a-3efe2bcea748/websitePage:41508dd3-8ba8-4880-8215-191dfc0fd48e

06/28/2022

We're excited to announce the Broadcasters Foundation's first annual Radio Giving Day – a day to come together as one community with one common goal and support radio professionals in need of financial assistance due to a critical illness, accident, or disaster.

Learn more at the link below!

https://bfoa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/bfoa/donation.jsp?campaign=82&

05/26/2022

GABCON Session Proposals are due TUESDAY! 🎤 Whether you are a veteran broadcaster, or someone new to the industry, we encourage all individuals interested to submit a proposal and share their knowledge with their peers. 🔗 https://form.jotform.com/90016200295142

04/27/2022

The first of our four Political Digital Dollars 101 Sessions is TOMORROW! 🎉There's still time to register for these sessions! 🔗 https://www.gab.org/political-digital-dollars-101/

Meet Our Speakers!

Dr. Amanda Bright: Amanda Bright teaches classes in multiplatform journalism and projects, as well as graphics. She also serves as the managing editor for the Grady Newsource digital presence.

Martha Zoller: Martha Zoller is pundit, analyst and former political candidate, and conservative academic who now has a her own political talk show on WDUN AM/FM.

04/22/2022

The GAB Presents: Political Digital Dollars 101! 💰

Everything you need to know digital advertising during this political season! Sign up for our FREE training session in a city near you HERE: 🔗 https://forms.gle/nKrdSpyyJ9S25HeZ8

04/13/2022

Today is the LAST DAY to submit your GABBY Awards! ⏰ Get yours in before 11:59 p.m. EST tonight! 🔗 https://gabcon.us.launchpad6.com/2022

04/11/2022

🚨Entries for the 2022 GABBY Awards have been extended until Wednesday, April 13th at 11:59 p.m. Submit your entries here: 🔗 https://gabcon.us.launchpad6.com/2022

04/04/2022

Only ONE WEEK left to submit your GABBY entries!! 😳 Don't miss out, submit yours here: 🔗
https://gabcon.us.launchpad6.com/202

03/31/2022

This could be YOU! 🏆 The deadline to submit entries for the 2022 GABBY Awards is April 1st! ⏰ Show us your best work here: https://gabcon.us.launchpad6.com/2022

03/21/2022

2022 Fellowship Profile: Bob Houghton - Grady College

Congratulations to our very own, Bob Houghton for being named one of the 2022 Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia Fellows! 🥳

Congratulations to Bob Houghton, a 2022 Grady College Fellowship inductee, who president of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.

03/09/2022

We had a great week in Washington at the National Association of Broadcasters State Leadership Conference meeting with our Georgia legislators discussing important issues impacting our Georgia Broadcasters. 📝

02/21/2022

GABBY Awards

We are now accepting entires for our 2022 GABBY Awards! 🏆
Submit your very best work to be recognized by the GAB by Monday, April 11th, 2022 at 11:59 PM! 🔗 https://gabcon.us.launchpad6.com/2022

The GABBY Awards recognize the best in Georgia radio and television broadcast from the past year.

02/01/2022

Photos from Georgia Association of Broadcasters's post

01/20/2022

Rising Above- A Virtual Sales & Management Summit will be a day & a half live virtual training event that will teach, coach, inspire and motivate your team to rise above the challenges of today’s sales environment.

To register, visit risingabovesummit.com 💻

01/18/2022

Registration closes tomorrow! Sign up here: https://web.cvent.com/event/146be37a-04df-4ec5-ab57-d0fff9bc056f/summary

Registration for our 2022 Winter Institute is now open! Click this link for a full list of events and registration information. 🏆http://winter.gab.org/

01/13/2022

Calling all Georgia Radio Stations! The National Association of Broadcasters is accepting entires for the 2022 NAB Crystal Radio Awards until January 31st. Represent your state and submit your entries here: 🏆https://www.nab.org/events/awards/overview.asp?id=1927

01/05/2022

Registration for our 2022 Winter Institute is now open! Click this link for a full list of events and registration information. 🏆http://winter.gab.org/

12/15/2021

The GAB is pleased to announce our 2022 Hall of Fame Class! (Swipe right ➡️) Registration information is coming soon! Use this link to read more about the GAB Hall of Fame! https://www.gab.org/hall-of-fame/

Ed Harbison- WQXI-AM/FM, WAGH-FM

Doug Weathers- WTOC

Scott Miller- WCUG 88.5 FM Cougar Radio

Joe Willie Sousa- Golden Isles Broadcasting

12/09/2021

Legendary news anchor Monica Kaufman Pearson joins CBS46 & Peachtree TV

Congratulations to our dear friend Monica Kaufman Pearson on her new programs with CBS46!

Legendary Atlanta news anchor and journalist Monica Kaufman Pearson is joining CBS46 and PeachtreeTV to host two new shows. One of the programs will be an interview-themed series launching in

11/30/2021

Today is ! The GAB was a founding partner of GAgives back in 2012! 💰 Now in 2021 we are asking all broadcasters to continue the tradition of participating! Donate here: 🔗 https://www.gagives.org/giving-events/gagt21

11/29/2021

Tomorrow is ! Consider giving the gift of hope by donating to the Broadcasters Foundation of America to support a broadcaster in need! 🎙

This holiday season, give the gift of hope. Shop with Broadcasters Foundation of America on at smile.amazon.com/ch/13-1975618 and support our mission on at www.broadcastersfoundation.org/donate. Your gift will help us reach every broadcaster in need.

11/11/2021

Congratulations to WSB Radio on your National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for Legendary Station of the year! 🏆

11/09/2021

View our photos from here! 📸
https://gabcon.gab.org/gabcon-2021-photo-gallery/

10/29/2021

With heavy hearts, we pass along the news that Jovita Moore has passed away following her battle with brain cancer.

We ask that you keep her family, friends, and all the people that had the pleasure of working with and knowing her in your thoughts and prayers today.

Her news team remembers her here > 2wsb.tv/3pNt3dG

10/23/2021

It’s going to be a good day!

10/23/2021

GABCON 2021 Starts TODAY! 🏆 If you can't make it out in person to the GABBY Awards, you can stream it LIVE here: https://gabcon.gab.org/2021-gabby-awards/

10/15/2021

LAST CHANCE!📣 Register here: https://gabcon.gab.org/

10/11/2021

The Georgia Association of Broadcasters is looking for volunteers to help present awards during the 2021 GABBY Awards on Saturday, October 23rd. This is a VOLUNTEER, UNPAID opportunity and you MUST already have purchased a ticket to attend the GABBY Awards.

Volunteer Here: https://forms.gle/2xRgGgQ7J3ejJTzX9