Public
Radio's Regional Organizations
California
Public Radio●Eastern Region Public Media●Public Radio in
Mid-America●Western States Public Radio
Presentation of 2008 PRRO Award
by Paul Stankavich, WSPR, on Behalf of PRRO
March 11, 2008 Chantilly, VA
Joanne
Church
President, Radio Research Consortium
Every year,
Public Radio's Regional Organizations present the PRRO award to
an individual whose work has significantly contributed to the health and
growth of Public Radio. I'm Paul Stankavich, President of Western States
Public Radio and have been asked by my fellow regional presidents (Frank
Lanzone, President, California Public Radio; Lee Ferraro and Dave
Spizale,
Co-Chairmen, Eastern Region Public Media; and Cleve Callison, President,
Public Radio in Mid America) to speak for them in presenting this award.
This year, the Award is a fully restored Silvertone 1952 working radio.
For
those interested, it has tone control, octal tubes and a built-in loop
antenna. The lattice grill is its distinguishing feature.
This year's award recipient has worked in radio for more than 35 years most
of that time working in some obscurity, somewhat unrecognized except for
those with a particular interest in this aspect of broadcasting.
Graduating
from Trinity College in Washington D.C. our honoree went to work in the
industry. An avid baseball and basketball fan and somewhat of an outdoor
enthusiast - our honoree vacations at the family homestead on Jughandle
Mountain in Idaho. She is the mother of two sons and a cat named Max.
While some of you may now have enough information to identify our PRRO Award
winner, the rest should get it from this obvious clue - she helped form the
RRC and has been its President since 2005.
Our umbrella contract with Arbitron would never have happened without the
dedicated and knowledgeable effort of this year's PRRO Award recipient,
Joanne Church.
In nominating Joanne, it was said, "Since the announced rollout of
Arbitron's PPM measurement technology, Joanne has led an uphill fight to
maintain public radio's access to listener data at reasonable prices. In
the past 2 years, she has guided the process from an initial position that
would have probably severed the relationship - or at best cost stations a
lot of money - to being on the verge of signing a new agreement which will
allow access to PPM data at greatly reduced rates."
RRC represents more than 600 public radio stations and, under Joanne's able
leadership, will continue to provide us with audience data that is
understandable and useful as we build our audience. I don't think there
is
anyone in public radio today that works so hard for all of us and seeks so
little in recognition. I'm pleased today to acknowledge that work and to
offer our collective thanks and praise to Joanne Church, President of RRC
and a great friend of public broadcasters.
Joanne is unable to join us today, her father was interred at Arlington
National Cemetery earlier today and she needed to be with her family.
Accepting on her behalf is: Dave Edwards, RRC Board member.
California Public Radio, Frank Lanzone, President
Eastern Region Public Media, Lee Ferraro and Davie Spizale, Co-Chairmen
Public Radio in Mid America, Cleve Callison, President
Western States Public Radio, Paul Stankavich, President