Boston: Elana Sofko of Sirius Radio and new media thinker and author Rich Seidner of Streamingmedia.com will be featured keynote speakers when the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) convenes its annual meeting - "The Future of Radio: Independence and New Media" - on Saturday, October 21 at 9amPT/12pmET. This marks the first time in public radio that an annual meeting is being assembled on-line. The effort is spearheaded by AIR Executive Director, Dolores Brandon, and AIR's technical consultant, Dr. Rogene Eichler West, with the assistance of members of the AIR Board and membership. Many of the streamed and text-based features of the meeting, including updates and schedules, can be accessed prior to the 21st at the gathering site -- http://www.airmedia.org/meeting/2000/. Attendance is free, and open to all members of the radio community.
Elana Sofko joined Sirius in 1998, and is responsible for establishing and managing relationships with content providers, including PRI, NPR, BBC and other world class content partners, for Sirius' talk channels. Sirius Satellite Radio (and rival XM) is developing new channels of direct satellite audio programming and expects to launch the service early in 2001, first through car receivers. Sofko will speak on her vision of the role that radio producers will play in the changing technological environment.
Streamingmedia.com, recently purchased by Penton Media, publishes an industry-leading information-based website and magazine, bringing the latest news to the streaming media community, and is also sole owner/producer of the world's largest Streaming Media Conferences and Exhibitions. Keynote speaker Rich Seidner, Vice President, Data & Analysis, is a figure known in new media circles for his independent views. He co-authored the book "Playing for Profit: How Digital Entertainment is Making Big Business Out of Child's Play," and has appeared on a number of PBS specials. He will present his ideas on reinventing radio in the digital age.
In addition to keynote speeches, which will be available in both audio and text files, the work of several dozen AIR members, including The Kitchen Sisters, Joe Richman, Jon Beaupre, and Barrett Golding, will be featured in a "Streaming Showcase" established expressly for the gathering. "Perspective on New Media", another of the day's activities, presents a panel discussion and a series of commissioned essays outlining a variety of new visions of the future for radio. There will be also be moderated discussions on a number of topics, chat rooms, and a meeting of the AIR/PAG Fair Practice committee.
AIR was incorporated 1988 and has a growing membership of 300 radio producers, program developers, marketers, attorneys, station managers, network staff and executives, and reporters. Committed to independence and creativity in radio, AIR members have produced the most winning programming in public radio and on the Internet, including Barrett Golding's "Hearing Voices", David Freudberg's acclaimed series "Humankind", and Bari Scott/SoundVision Productions recent duPont-Columbia award winner, "The DNA Files". AIR engages its members daily via www.airmedia.org and an on-line discussion group. Membership information is available on the website.