A Salute to Emerging Independents

"It’s always thrilling to discover new talent on one’s doorstep. With this issue we celebrate the presence of young aspiring professionals in our midst and encourage you to take note of the potential they represent. Their optimism, creativity and bravery enliven our community as they give us real hope for the future of audio-based media."
-Dolores Brandon, Executive Director, AIR

AIR Member Spotlight:

Jesse Thorn's Sound of Young America

Why become the first public radio program west of the Mississippi to podcast? "Well," says Thorn, "it was more like: why not?" In the year and a half since its modest podcast launch, The Sound of Young America has logged over half a million program downloads and been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Time and Salon. The show's hipper take on interviews has found resonance with listeners—though acceptance from pubradio's powers-that-be has been somewhat slower in coming. The over-the-air distribution network of the show now counts five stations, and Thorn hopes that will continue to grow, perhaps one day allowing The Sound to become a genuine professional operation. "My long-term goal," says Thorn, "is to somehow translate my listenership into dollars (American), which I will then exchange for goods and services."

To listen to the podcast of The Sound of Young America or to help make Jesse's goal a reality, go to www.maximumfun.org.

AIR Goodies

Updated Producer Resource Guide -

The Audio Producer's Magic Eight Ball

Perhaps you, gracious AIRblast reader, occasionally have audio-related questions for which you seek answers. Housed in AIR's Radio College, Tony Dec's recently updated Resource Guide for Audio Journalists & Producers holds the answers to those questions—ALL of them.

AIR Board Elections September 28th to October 2nd

It's almost time to elect! Come Thursday, September 28th, AIR members will have five days to electronically cast their votes for the two open AIR Board positions. All AIR members should have received our mailing of their individualized electronic voting machines (with miniature levers included). Candidate discussion forums will be up until September 27th at AIR Interact. Although we won't be providing technical support for our state-of-the-art voting apparatus, perhaps the candidates can answer whatever questions you may have.

Now is the Time to Join! AIR Member Drive

Do you like presents? You can save your colleagues or yourself some cash by joining AIR before the January 2007 dues increase takes place. Even if you don't win the iPod Shuffle, perhaps a grateful friend will give you something equally nice with the money you helped them save.  

About the Editor:

Samantha Schongalla

Now that we've made it to the 4th AIRblast issue and have a most appropriate topic, I thought I'd let you know a little about the mind behind AIR's monthly e-bulletin.

It may surprise many of you to know that your editor is currently a senior in college—a young’un in the radio world, eager and full of bright dreams. I came to AIR last spring as an intern and now carry on my editorship from the small town of Oberlin, Ohio.

Now that I'm back at school, I've resumed my post as the Talk and Public Affairs Director at the local community radio station, WOBC, and have ambitiously begun the production of a podcast about the art of listening to the subtitles of great audio productions. Much of the rest of my time is spent as an attacking forward on the Oberlin Women's soccer team.

Dolores Brandon, Barry Rueger and Matthew Payne do not play soccer, but they are key players on the AIRblast team.

I've gotten comments and feedback from a couple of you out there, but I would love to hear more. Each new e-mail is a pleasant surprise. airblast@airmedia.org