AIRMEDIA.ORG has undergone some major improvements. It's now searchable, easier to navigate, and handsomely designed.

From Sid Selvidge, AIR Board President:

“The newly redesigned AIR website is the smoothest-sailing site I have encountered in a long time. One of the things I like most about it is that it is heavy on usable content and low on dazzling graphics. You can sail through the categories and sub-categories very quickly to find exactly what you want. Members will especially enjoy the new Member Directory. Hats off to Project Director, Barry Rueger; Hyperakt for the graphic design and iANTZ IT Solutions for the content management system.”

AIR Membership Drive. it's begun.
Want to spread the word about AIR's resources and help the independent community grow? The new airmedia.org is being launched in conjunction with a three-month Membership Drive. Starting tomorrow, August 1, get an individual or station to sign up for AIR Membership and earn points toward an iPod Shuffle courtesy of Audible.com! You can also gain points by referring folks to subscribe to AIRBlast, and more. For more on the Membership Drive, click HERE. For further details, contact Matthew Payne via e-mail:memberdrive@airmedia.org

AIR Member Spotlight on Gregg McVicar

Robertson, Neil Young and Bob Marley—a rare surprise even in Public Radio. Gregg's explanation: “Everybody loves these artists, Native or not, so it’s a great way to transcend — appealing to more stations and listeners while being very inclusive of some more obscure artists who contribute a lot of flavor and cultural interest to the mix.”

To ride the UnderCurrents wave, click here.

AIR Goodies

Paul Ingles' Indy Resource Series

Indy Producer Paul Ingles has been doing a solid job as NPR's
Liaison to the Independent Community. He's posted half a
dozen features for Independents online, most recently an interview with Greg Peppers, the executive producer of NPR's Newscast Division. Says Paul:“My hope is that these postings will remind independent producers of the many outlets for their work and the particular requirements of those outlets.”

Paul continues to field inquiries of all kinds from
independent producers looking for some mentoring or guidance through the public radio landscape. He estimates that he's talked to or e-mailed with nearly 60 producers in his first five months on the job. You can reach Paul at paul@paulingles.com or 505-255-1219. (E-mail is preferred.)
http://www.paulingles.com/producers.shtml

Upcoming Workshops

A Full Day Workshop for Radio Broadcasters, presented by Dick Brooks and sponsored by the NFCB. Minneapolis, MN September 8, 9 and 10.

NFCB is pleased to offer three day-long workshop presented by the highly esteemed Dick Brooks. The workshops provide
instruction, practice and critique on the critical details of
story development, interviewing to get the best material,
and scriptwriting and performance designed for maximum listener interest and story impact. To register or find out more, click here. 

Apply for the 3rd Annual Arts Journalism Institute in Classical Music and Opera
Application Deadline: September 8

This intensive, eleven-day workshop brings writers and editors from across the United States to New York City for a total immersion in classical music and opera. Participants will attend at least eight performances, participate in writing workshops, take short classes in music history and meet with leaders in the field, from administrators of New York's primary musical institutions to critics and writers at major U.S. publications.
Held October 15-25 at the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York City. Click here to apply.
 

You can send us comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the AIRblast at airblast@airmedia.org For past issues, click here.