VoicePrint, Canada's 24/7 audio newsstand, continued its award-winning tradition when four of its regular 2007 programs won gold medals and two others Honourable Mentions at this year's tightly contested competition of the International Association of Audio Information Services (IAAIS), which took place at Raleigh, North Carolina.
VoicePrint was honoured with top prizes for the following:
VoicePoint's two Honourable Mentions, which are awarded to programs that come just one scoring point shy of the top prize, are both in the "Thematic" category:
"We're just delighted with the recognition of our work in Breaking The Information Barrier so Canada's 5 million vision- and print-restricted citizens can keep up to date on current news and information through our audio versions of newspaper and magazine articles read by our more than 800 volunteers," says Arlene Patterson, Director, VoicePrint Operations.
Adds Georgina Blanas, NBRS Director, Marketing and Fund Development: "It's always delightful when VoicePrint brings home the gold."
VoicePrint is just one of many "reading services" set up across North America and throughout the world to make printed media accessible and to give their audiences the published news and information they need to help them make the basic decisions of everyday life - and to help them fulfill their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
Every year, IAAIS members come together to meet, exchange ideas and to honour the best programming of the year. The IAAIS is an association of independently operated, volunteer-driven services that use audio technology to turn print into speech, bringing the words alive. Its 100+ member services work worldwide "to deliver the joy and benefit of reading, increasing a listener's capacity to lead a full and productive life."
Since 2002, VoicePrint has won 15 IAAIS programming awards.
"IAAIS member services take their awards program seriously," says Heather Lusignan, IAAIS President. "Three different people judge each entry with the final score being the average of the three." IAAIS submissions are judged on: packaging (format/continuity, smooth introduction and conclusion); presentation (program concept, voice quality, professionalism and pace), and technical (recording quality, fidelity and levels).
Congratulations to all involved, including our media sponsors, who allow us to read their good works so that we may fulfil our mission: to Make Media Accessible.
MORE ON VOICEPRINT'S WINNERS
GOLD
In Newspapers: the program Fredericton Local News, which broadcasts audio versions of local news and information from the Fredericton Daily Gleaner to people who live in the Fredericton, New Brunswick, area.
Producer(s): Russell Gragg
Talent/Reader(s): Derek Lee and Liz Crocker
Audio Engineer(s): Derek Lee
Also in Newspapers: the program Oakville Local News, featuring news from the Oakville Beaver, read and produced by volunteer reader Vanessa Taylor and part of VoicePrint's ongoing drive to deliver community information in an accessible audio format to all Canadians.
Program: Oakville Local News
Producer(s): Kelly MacDonald
Talent/Reader(s): Vanessa Taylor
Audio Engineer(s): Vanessa Taylor
In Information: the program Grocery Specials for GTA, which presents in a most dynamic manner the most basic of information: food specials. Most of us take for granted the availability of newspaper flyers advertising grocery specials. But many are unable to benefit from such invaluable advertising vehicles because they are blind or vision-impaired or print restricted for any number of physiological, psychological or neurological reasons.
Producer(s): Kelly MacDonald
Talent/Reader(s): Jeremy Elliott
Audio Engineer(s): Jeremy Elliott
In Magazines: the program This Week In Maclean's, which is comprised of articles from the weekly edition of Canada's top news magazine. Read by Galit Solomon, a Toronto reporter for CTV News, the articles provide our audience with a fresh, in-depth perspective on events happening in the community, across the country and around the world.
Producer(s): Joe Lamanna
Talent/Reader(s): Galit Solomon
Audio Engineer(s): Joe Lamanna
HONOURABLE MENTIONS (both in Thematic category)
60 Seconds With A VP Listener, a unique outreach communications vehicle. When VoicePrint has had contests, the winning contestants are called and asked why they listen to VoicePrint. In many cases, the listener gives a very meaningful response, indicating the importance of making the printed word accessible. This program has a general audience interest, and is also designed to help expand the public's awareness of VoicePrint.
Producer(s): Joe Lamanna
Talent/Reader(s): John Gray, Joe McInnis, Rod Hersey, Jennifer McLaren, Linda Tennant, Ron Filial, Ardeth Hill, Robert Just, Linda Arsenault
Audio Engineer(s): Phil Agnello and Chris Warner
White Cane Week Promos and CNIB Technical Aids Exhibit Promos. As a non-profit organization, VoicePrint attempts to establish links with like-minded organizations. In the case of White Cane Week in February 2007, VoicePrint allied with the Canadian Council of the Blind to promote the week's themes of accessibility and achievement for people who are blind and vision-impaired. We also wanted to add some fun to White Cane Week coverage by producing "ear-catching" promos simulating monster truck rallies and professional wrestling. In the case of the CNIB Technical Aids Exhibit, which highlights the latest advances in accessible technology for people who are blind or vision impaired, we provided promos (some with an irreverent twist) to promote the conference. VoicePrint had also teamed up with the CNIB to cross-promote this event.
Producer(s): Joe Lamanna
Talent/Reader(s): Anastasia Maclean, Don Logan, Jeff Orchard, Frances Cowley, Peter Shurman, Martin Downey, Joe Lamanna
Audio Engineer(s): Chris Warner, Matt Speirs and Joe Lamanna
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