[members-announce] JJA Panel Discussion "A Career In Jazz Radio-Where It Can Take You".

Tue Sep 13 13:13:41 EDT 2005

Dawn Singh Publicity

*/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:/*/ *August 24, 2005* /

CONTACT: *Dawn Singh*

75 Rossmore Road #4 • Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

*(p)* 857-544-0739 *(f)* 617-395-7743

dawn at dawnsinghpublicity.com

For information on the panel discussion, contact:

*Cheryl K. Symister-Masterson *

cherylk at ck-promotions.com

*(p)* 413-522-3371

*The Jazz Journalists Association*

*/and /*

*The Journalism Program, *

*University** of Massachusetts Amherst *

*Present*:

*/“A Career In Jazz Radio – Where It Can Take You.”/*

*Monday, September 26, 2005*

*University** of Massachusetts Amherst*

* Campus Center, Room 168C*

*7pm-9pm (6:30p-7p – refreshments)*

The Jazz Journalists Association Boston/New England Chapter and The 
Journalism Program will present /“A Career In Jazz Radio - Where It Can 
Take You”/ on Monday, September 26, 2005, 7-9 pm, at the University of 
Massachusetts Amherst Campus Center, Room 168C.

Panelists are *Tom Reney, *host of /Jazz A La Mode/, WFCR, 88.5 FM in 
Amherst, MA, *Alysia Cosby*, host of /The Listening Lounge, /WEIB 106.3 
Smooth FM in Northampton, MA, *Cheryl K. Symister-Masterson*, co-host of 
/Java Jazz/, WMUA, 91.1 FM at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, 
and *Donna Halper*, author and educator at Emerson College in Boston, MA 
The panel will be moderated by *Brian Barlow*,

General Manager of WICN, 90.5 FM in Worcester, MA. The event is free and 
open to the public. Refreshments will be served from6:30p-7p. The Campus 
Center is handicapped accessible.

The panelists will give their perspectives on jazz, journalism and 
broadcasting and discuss the personal fulfillments and many career 
avenues open to those involved in jazz radio.
Where does one start? Do you have to be a “professional” to get into 
radio? Can you make a living in this business?

*_ Biographies_
/_ _/*

*
/_ _/*

*Alysia Cosby* is best known for her smooth radio voice, heard every 
evening on

WEIB 106.3 Smooth FM, in Northampton, MA. She has been in radio for over 
10 years and has programmed the music and promoted many of the artists, 
performances and jazz festivals in New England. Currently she producing 
her radio show, /The Listening Lounge with Alysia Cosby/, which airs 
every Sunday night, 8-10p, on WEIB. On her weekly show you will hear a 
‘blend of smooth and jazzy grooves’, including World Music, Latin and 
Brazilian, Chill, Downtempo, Soul, Contemporary & Vintage Jazz, and new 
‘twists’ on some classic songs.

As host and producer of The Listening Lounge, Ms. Cosby focuses on 
promoting individual artists and those signed to major and independent 
record labels and has just released a CD featuring independent artists 
from around the world. Recognizing the many opportunities available to 
her, Ms. Cosby has created her own company, ALYSIA UNLIMITED, LLC in 
order to develop her many interests and endeavors. The first project is 
“The Listening Lounge Vol. 1”, released on her own label, and on the 
very near horizon a video show and film projects.

*______________________________________________________*

* *

*Donna L. Halper* has spent more than thirty years in broadcasting and 
more than 20 years as an educator. She was the first woman in the 
history of Northeastern University to be on the radio, and after 
graduating and receiving her Master's degree (one of two that she 
holds), she was hired by radio stations in Cleveland, New York City, 
Washington DC and Boston. She spent 12 years on the air in a number of 
formats (including jazz) and was also a music director and assistant 
program director. She discovered the rock group Rush, who dedicated 
their first two albums to her. In 1980, she started a radio consulting 
firm, specializing in small and medium markets. When the industry began 
to change and there was fewer places doing live programming, Ms Halper 
returned to the classroom and became actively involved in teaching media 
criticism, media history, and media ethics.

She is currently completing a PhD in Communication at the University of 
.Massachusetts Amherst and has been an Adjunct Professor in the 
Journalism Department at Emerson College for the past 14 years.

Ms. Halper is the author of three books, the most of recent of which is 
"Invisible Stars: A Social History of Women in American Broadcasting." A 
well-respected media historian, she is one of the editors of the Boston 
Radio Archives, and has spoken about the history of broadcasting at 
colleges and historical societies all over the eastern United States. 
She also does free-lance writing and her articles have appeared in both 
magazines and newspapers.

________________________________________________________

**

*Tom Reney* is the producer and host of "Jazz à la Mode" at WFCR, the 
NPR affiliate in Amherst, Massachusetts. The program is heard on 
weeknights (Monday-Thursday) between 8 p.m. and midnight. Mr. Reney 
originated the program, which was WFCR's first daily jazz program, in 
1984. "Jazz à la Mode" presents recordings and features that draw on the 
entire history of jazz. Birthdays and other anniversaries are routinely 
highlighted, and the show generally offers a mix of new and older 
recordings. Mr. Reney's career in radio began in 1977 at WCUW, a 
community-licensed NFCB affiliate, in Worcester.

Mr. Reney has lectured on jazz history at the University of 
Massachusetts, Amherst College, and Smith College, and teaches his own 
courses in jazz history in Northampton, MA. As a freelance writer, his 
articles appear in /The Boston Globe Magazine/, /Valley Advocate/, 
/Worcester Telegram & Gazette/, and /Down Beat/. Mr. Reney served as the 
jazz and popular music editor to the Cambridge University Press 
publications, /The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia/ and /The 
Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography. /He has written liner notes 
for RCA Records and Rounder Records. Mr. Reney emcees at the Litchfield, 
Newport, and Tanglewood Jazz Festivals each summer.

__________________________________________________________

*Cheryl K. Symister-Masterson** *has been a radio host at WMUA, 91.1 FM, 
the student radio voice of the University of Massachusetts Amherst since 
1995 and has served as its Jazz Director and Co-Director. Currently, she 
is finishing up her final graduate year at Boston University’s 
Metropolitan College, pursuing her Master of Science degree in Arts 
Administration. She owns and operates CK Promotions, LLC and is a 
licensed talent/booking agent in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ms. Symister-Masterson maintains membership in both the International 
Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) and the Jazz Journalists 
Association (JJA), both advocating for jazz education among its members 
and the public. In 2005, she was one of the first recipients of the Jazz 
Journalists Association’s Clarence Atkins Fellowship and attended the 
National Critics Conference /“Critical Unity in Critical Times”/ in Los 
Angeles, CA at USC Annenberg School for Communications.

_________________________________________________________________

*Brian Barlow**, *since 1985, has been a volunteer on-air jazz host for 
WICN, 90.3 FM, New England’s Jazz and Folk Station, while he ran his 
businesses and raised his children. In 1999 he was hired as the General 
Manager of WICN to re-invigorate the struggling station. Five years 
later WICN is a healthy, vital cultural contributor to the central New 
England region. Listenership and membership have increased 50% and 
corporate support has increased 500%! In 2005, Mr. Barlow concluded 
managing the station through a capital campaign to move to new 
facilities and enhance WICN’s commitment to the region.

_______________________________________________________________________

*The Jazz Journalists Association Boston/New England Chapter*

The JJA Boston/New England Chapter is dedicated to the education and 
appreciation

of jazz and improvisational music in the New England area. We seek to 
engage industry

colleagues, students and the general public in presentations relating to 
jazz and

journalism.

We conducted four successful panel discussions in our 2004-2005 season. 
They were held at The Regattabar Jazz Club, The Real Deal Jazz Club & 
Café (both in Cambridge, MA), and Scullers Jazz Club, (Boston, MA). We 
received excellent press in The Boston Globe, The Phoenix, The Tab, and 
other Boston area publications.

* *

*The Jazz Journalists Association*

The Jazz Journalists Association is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit 
organization of internationally-based writers, editors, photographers, 
broadcasters and media specialists who institute collegial and 
educational programs for the appreciation, documentation and 
promulgation of jazz. JJA comprises more than 400 members in the US, 
Canada, Australia, Europe, the UK, Japan, Mexico, Moscow, South Africa 
and South America.

*/For more information about the Jazz Journalists Association, please 
visit its website at www.jazzhouse.org/*

-- 
Cheryl K. Symister-Masterson, 
Talent Agent/Promoter
CK Promotions, LLC
3 Church St.
Millers Falls, MA 01349-1332
(413) 522-3371
cherylk at ck-promotions.com
www.ck-promotions.com