OT: Talking Book Awards Move On Line

[Janina Sajka]

The following may be of interest.

----- Forwarded message from Jay Leventhal <jaylev at afb.net> -----

Contact:
>Carrie L. Fernandez
>Senior Communications Manager
>American Foundation for the Blind
>11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
>New York, NY 10001
>Phone: (212) 502-7674
>Email: <mailto:cfernandez at afb.net>cfernandez at afb.net
>www.afb.org
>
>
>For more than 17 years, the Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Awards 
>have honored excellence in the narration of Talking Books and celebrated 
>the importance of reading to so many lives. This year, AFB is implementing 
>changes to the Scourby Awards structure and process. Traditionally held on 
>a Monday night in June at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the 2004 
>Scourby Awards will take place on Thursday, October 14, and will be a 
>web-based event.
>
>
>
>The Scourby Awards is such a beloved event, and we believe that moving the 
>ceremony online will reach a wider audience by enabling more people to 
>vote and participate. Our goals for this event, as always, are to ensure a 
>high standard in the quality of nominations, give greater attention to the 
>significant annual accomplishments made by Talking Books narrators, 
>enhance the involvement of agencies producing Talking Books and Talking 
>Books subscribers, and heighten the general public's awareness of the 
>importance of Talking Books for people who are blind or visually impaired.
>
>
>
>From August 16 to September 15, individuals may vote for their favorite 
>nominee in each of the Award categories. This year's special recognition 
>category is Multilingual Nonfiction, defined as a nonfiction work 
>primarily in English, but with a significant number of foreign-language 
>words, names, and/or phrases.
>
>
>
>A Blue-Ribbon panel consisting of individuals with vast expertise in 
>narration and audio books, such as previous Scourby Award recipients from 
>the various Talking Books studios, previous Scourby Award presenters, and 
>industry representatives is being developed to ensure that the nominees 
>are of the highest quality.
>
>
>
>We will keep you updated as the planning and nomination process moves 
>forward, but if you have any questions in the meantime please let me know.

-- 
	
				Janina Sajka, Director
				Technology Research and Development
				Governmental Relations Group
				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

		Chair, Accessibility Workgroup
	Free Standards Group (FSG)

Email: janina at afb.net		Phone: (202) 408-8175