The year ahead will have its ups and downs, just like 2007. Ella, sweet harbinger, is my gift to you, with wishes for a prosperous, healthy New Year. Praise the good.

I’ve got a new assignment. On Sept 1, I’ll add AIR, Association of Independents in Radio, to my roster….I’ve been named Executive Director. AIR is the largest professional membership organization in pubradio — 600 strong — representing a broad cross-section of the “makers,” from station-based reporters to the networks — NPR, PRI, and APM/MPR — to independent production shops to the freelancer-independents who gave birth to the organization nearly 20 years ago in NYC. A recent survey shows that AIR members are a multiplicitas group — teachers, writers, reporter-journalists, curators, poets, archivists — working almost equally in the commercial and non-commercial sectors. AIR members produce or contribute to more than 400 radio programs and podcasts, receiving financial support from 183 corporations or foundations. It is, indeed, a formidable group distinguished by its passion for and mastery of the media and craft of sound. I’m honored to take this position, and excited at what lies ahead.

I’m presenting on Wednesday at the reunion of the The International Youth Forum, invited by a former client-colleague, Ginger DaSilva from Radio Netherlands. This group, founded in 1947, was a ground-breaking initiative of the New York Herald Tribune… Ginger is an esteemed alum. Fueled by post-WWII idealism, the newspaper and the Forum’s first director, journalist & war correspondent Helen Waller, took a UN-style approach to organizing young people from across the world. The idea was that, if seeds of understanding were planted in the youth, it would cultivate in them their “common humanity” and lead to a more peaceful and tolerant world. Participating countries selected chose one of their best and brightest to serve as their delegate who traveled to an annual gatherings (transportation free-of-charge, courtesy of Pan Am). In it’s heyday, round about 1959, it was quite prominent, with delegates participating in live, nationally televised debabes on world issues called “The World We Want.” By the ‘70s, after churning out 900 young delegates, the organization died a ‘natural death.’ Since the ‘90’s the alumni get together from time to time, and this year, delegates from 30 countries will hunker down in Boston to exchange ideas and have some fun. The cast of characters at last night’s meet-greet-cocktail party was fascinating… a former UK Permanent Representative to NATO, the former head of Chinese culture for Iran (she was appointed by the Shah, and survived the transition), and a tea grower from India.

I love live radio best, and I’ve spent 19 years in a “secret corner” producing a live show on WMBR, MIT’s all volunteer, free-form station. In the Margin of the Other is an exploration of my wide-ranging musical tastes merging with sound/art and writing. I aircheck every show and listen to most of them but sometimes things slip by… like this show from last August, 2006. I was on a long, leisurely drive last week with my friend Adi and pulled this one up randomly on my iPod. I was surprised by what happened in one of the breaks. Surprised because I didn’t remember it (a consequence, I think, of being on air and in-the-moment), and surprised because it is little recapitulation of Arriving is Leaving from Between Here and Gone. A margin inside the margin.

I went to the One Hundred Club dinner this week hosted by one of my mentors, Norman Knight, honoring Peter Smythe. Smythe is Prez & CEO of Greater Media operating 20 radio stations around the country; one of the rare small to mid-size radio groups that didn’t get gobbled by Clear Channel. Knight was a colleague/contemporary of my radioman father, Don Schardt. My father and Norman are from the “innovation” era of commercial radio…when it was run by people who knew the power of the medium, made interesting programs, and who also carried a deep sense of public service. Read more »