MEDIA ADVISORY - AMI-audio honoured with four awards for outstanding programming

TORONTO, July 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) is pleased to announce that its AMI-audio channel was recently recognized with three international awards and one national award for outstanding programming in a variety of categories.

On June 23 two AMI-audio original documentaries were awarded bronze medals at the New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards, marking the organization's first double medal win at the competition.

In the History category, AMI-audio received a bronze medal for Death of a President: The Moment and The Controversy, investigating the events before and after the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy, produced by Paul Daniel and Michael Iantorno and narrated by James Denas. In the Travel and Tourism category, AMI-audio received its second bronze medal for an original documentary exploring the people, history, music and cuisine of New Orleans entitled New Orleans: The City That Care Forgot, produced by Paul Daniel and narrated by Ingrid Schumacher, with technical assistance from Michael Iantorno, Paula Dineen and Jason Vermes.

"We are extremely proud of both of these original documentaries and honoured to have been recognized with two bronze medals," says Joe Lamanna, Manager, National Programming for AMI-audio. "The JFK special took more than six months to research and complete while the New Orleans special took seven months to make with more than twenty interviews conducted in just three days. Both are a testament to the commitment of our staff to produce content that is both interesting and accessible for our audience."

Additionally, AMI-audio received an honourable mention at the International Association of Audio Information Services (IAAIS) Awards on June 28 in the Magazines category for a Toronto Life special produced by Michael Iantorno and Bill Shackleton and read by Dan Shulman and Matt Speirs. The special focused on two unique Toronto stories, the first exploring the controversy surrounding the city's now infamous mayor Rob Ford, and the second following a financial disaster in the Islamic community.

A fourth award from the National Campus and Community Radio Association in Canada once again recognized producers Paul Daniel and Michael Iantorno in the Syndicated Show or Podcast category for the AMI Contact program An Accessible Brothel for People with Disabilities.

For further information on programming available on AMI-audio, visit AMI.ca or check your local TV listings for the AMI-audio channel in your area.

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About Accessible Media Inc. 
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) is a not-for-profit multimedia organization operating two broadcast services: AMI-audio and AMI-tv, and a website (AMI.ca). A third broadcast service, AMI-télé, will launch in December 2014. Serving more than five million Canadians who are blind, partially sighted, deaf, hard of hearing, mobility or print restricted, AMI's mission is to make accessible media for all Canadians.

SOURCE: Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)

Janis Davidson Pressick, Communications Manager
800-567-6755 ext. 0971, [email protected]

Taylor Turner, Communications Coordinator
800-567-6755 ext. 0977, [email protected]