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Who and what's new from AIR

          As we extend our jolliest wishes to all readers for a bright and productive 2007, we call your attention to an inspiring list of upcoming award deadlines selected from the AIR Awards Directory. We salute AIR's 2006 award winners and introduce an interesting group of new AIR members (with audio to match). Then, AIR Board member Matthew Payne weighs in with an update on AIR's recent member drive, delivering the final tally and the names of the big winners. All this, plus our "Best of the AIRDaily " pick.

AIR Member Spotlight:
John Biewen, Jennifer Deer, and Tennessee Watson

From The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University


          The three featured members below all teach at Duke's Center for Documentary Studies, but have managed to develop a broad range of pursuits both in and outside of the university. We think this is pretty cool, given that our AIRblast spotlights are intended not only to keep you updated about what other indie producers are up to, but also to draw attention to the diversity and range of talent within the AIR membership.

CDSJohn Biewen is Audio Program Director at the Center for Documentary Studies. A longtime reporter and producer for American RadioWorks, NPR and Minnesota Public Radio, Biewen is leading CDS into radio documentary-making with the creation of CDS Sounds. CDS Sounds will make documentaries for national audiences, often (but not always) on today's South. Biewen teaches audio documentary courses to Duke undergraduates and to regular grownups in CDS' summer audio institutes.
Jennifer Deer is currently a graduate student at Duke University. She teaches at the Center for Documentary Studies and does web-based audio work for clients such as Duke University News and The Nasher Museum. Her work for radio has aired on NPR's Day to Day and on Weekend America. In 2001 she helped to create ArtVoice, a weekly arts magazine on WABE in Atlanta, which she also hosted. Jennifer is the co-curator of the audio documentary podcast Big Shed.
Tennessee Watson coordinates the Youth Noise Network (YNN), the center's teen radio project. When not conspiring with the YNN producers, Tennessee is producer Karen Michel's assistant and partner in crime. Karen is the Lehman Brady Fellow at the Center for Documentary Studies. This spring Tennessee is co-instructing a course entitled "Social Activism and Its Motivations: Who Cares and Why?" Even with her hands in a bit of everything, Tennessee's New Year's resolution is to produce more of her own work.

Upcoming Award Deadlines

From the AIR Awards Directory

Take a look at our updated list of this year's AIR award winners and the award opportunities below. We hope you'll be inspired to apply.

The Peadbody Awards

January 17

To recognize distinguished achievement and meritorious service by radio and television networks, stations, producing organizations, cable television organizations and individuals.

The Dart Award for Excellence in Reporting on Victims of Violence

January 26

To recognize reporting that best portrays victims and their experiences with accuracy, insight, and sensitivity while illustrating the effects of violence on victims' lives and the process of recovery from emotional trauma.

The Heywood Broun Award

January 26

To encourage and recognize individual journalistic achievement by members of the working media, particularly if it helps right a wrong or correct an injustice.

The Sidney Hillman Journalism Awards

January 31

To honor journalism that contributes to social justice and progressive public policy.

The Maggie Awards

January 31

To recognize exceptional achievement by the media and arts and entertainment industries in support of reproductive rights and health care issues, including contraception, sexuality education, teen pregnancy, abortion, and international family planning.

The Scripps Howard Foundation's National Journalism Awards

January 31

To recognize excellence in 17 categories, including radio and television journalism.

The Overseas Press Club Awards

January 31

To recognize excellence in international reporting in Newspapers, Wire Services, Magazines, Radio, Television, Cartoons, Books, Photography and Online.

The American Legion's Fourth Estate Award

January 31

Presented to an individual, publication or broadcast organization for outstanding achievement in the field of journalism.

Religion Newswriters Association Awards for Religion Reporting Excellence

Feb 1

To recognize excellence in religion reporting in radio for the general audience news media.

The Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award in Journalism

Feb 6

To recognize the best in professional journalism in 49 categories, covering print, radio, television, newsletters, photography, online and research.

We'd love to get your feedback. You can send comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the AIRblast to airblast@airmedia.org
 
 

          From The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University:

AIR Member Spotlight Audio

John Biewen: The Last Days of Kitty Shenay (18 minutes) - Follows one hospice patient through her last two months of life. It was carved out of the American RadioWorks documentary The Hospice Experiment and aired on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday in July 2004. Tennessee Watson, assistant producer.
Jennifer Deer and John Biewen: No Santa (18:36) - John Biewen dropped by with some great recordings of bedtime with his kids. Jennifer, with her usual deft ear, produced the piece for her audio documentary podcast Big Shed.
Tennessee Watson: The Youth Noise Network's productions on PRX The Youth Noise Network is an after-school program for middle and high school students in Durham, North Carolina. It is a forum in which youth speak their minds through audio documentary pieces that they produce and broadcast on Duke University's station.

AIRblast Audio Archive

 

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What is this I'm reading?
I'm glad you asked. This is AIRblast, the new monthly e-bulletin from the Association of Independents in Radio. It's a service we've added to provide both members and non-members with a quick and easy way to stay informed about AIR-related news and events. To check out past issues, click here.



AIR Goodies

And The Winner is ...

The Member Drive Grand Prize goes to Philip Graitcer! Runners-Up are Noah Miller and Sally Herships. All three will receive one year of free membership to AIR and PRX. Phil also walks away with the coveted iPod Shuffle and a one-month Audible membership, courtesy of audible.com.

Thanks to all for making the Member Drive such a huge success! We now have the following new members:
Michael Bernstein, Michael Ellis, Marianne Gardner, Mary Hartnett, Candace Ludlow, Rachel Quimby, Andrew Reissiger, Heather Taylor and OutLoud Radio.

Best of the AIR Daily*

Thomas Marzahl: "Since Sean is too modest to flag his own stories on this list, I thought I would draw your attention to one of the funniest commentaries/stories I've heard in a long time on public radio: Mr. Cole's story on Ms. Dewey (or rather, MsDewey.com) that aired Wednesday evening on Marketplace." You can find it here.
Sean Cole: "Thanks for posting this, Thomas. And for what you said about it. 'Rumor has it, he had the idea from a posting right here on the AIR list...' S'true. And I've been meaning to write and say thank you to the list, specifically to Gregg McVicar, who first posted the Ms. Dewey link. This list is the greatest. No news there."
Tanya Ott: " Sean--I was meaning to write too to tell you--great piece!!! Had me and my kids laughing (and that says alot b/c they were ticked b/c I wouldn't play their Cheetah Girls CD)."
*The AIR Daily is AIR's members-only listserv. It's the heartbeat of AIR, where over 400 members meet daily to rave and rescue, share tips and techniques, announce job opportunities and much, much more!!

Coming January 22, 2007: Winter AIRspace
"Searching for Intelligent Life on New Platforms " Guest Editor: Heidi Schultz
AIRspace is AIR's quarterly journal available at airmedia.org.

Funding for AIR comes from our members and the generous support of The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.