On Air Fest Announces CNN Anchor Audie Cornish as 2023 Recipient of Audio Vanguard Award

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - January 17, 2023 - Today, On Air Fest is proud to announce CNN Anchor Audie Cornish as this year's recipient of the Audio Vanguard Award. Since 2020, the annual honor has celebrated one icon whose contributions to the storytelling medium have not only inspired a creative legacy, but further advanced the culture of audio. While previous awardees include This American Life's Ira Glass, Fresh Air's Terry Gross and Radiolab's Jad Abumrad, the 2023 edition of the Audio Vanguard Award will recognize Audie Cornish through a career-spanning interview conducted by Kara Swisher, host of On with Kara Swisher & Pivot podcasts, and Editor-At-Large at New York Magazine. 

Taking place Saturday, February 25th – as part of the culmination to On Air Fest's three days of expansive programming at Brooklyn's Wythe Hotel – the Main Stage presentation will highlight more than two decades of trailblazing, Peabody Award-winning journalism that Audie Cornish has delivered, in front of a public audience of fans, fellow storytellers, festival attendees and industry members. As longtime co-host of NPR's All Things Considered and host of Weekend Edition Sunday, and in her current role as CNN anchor, correspondent, and host of the CNN Audio podcast The Assignment, Cornish's singular voice has attracted creators and listeners to the audio medium in a way that has elevated the artform and left an indelible impact. Named host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday in 2011, she earned a George Peabody Award for her work with David Isay's StoryCorps 9/11 Project, and in 2020, the National Press Foundation recognized her work with the Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. Her interview subjects have ranged from stars such as singer Bruce Springsteen, to political figures such as former President Barack Obama and Senator Elizabeth Warren, to literary icons like Ta-Nehisi Coates.

On the 2023 Audio Vanguard Award, and the community's enduring love for Audie Cornish's work, On Air Fest's Director of Programming, Jemma Rose Brown, says, "Audie is a potent voice in the audio movement and we're so honored to have her take the stage at this important moment."

Listen to new episodes of CNN Audio's The Assignment with Audie Cornish every Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts, and find On Air Fest tickets and information HERE

Hailed as "the Coachella of podcast festivals" (Fast Company), On Air Fest has increasingly become the most important, influential event in audio culture. From February 23-25 at Wythe Hotel, the 2023 edition will mark its biggest lineup and most ambitious year to date. Read more at The Hollywood Reporter. 

Produced by work x work- the go-to creative agency that's been powering the podcast revolution, bringing major brands like Meta, Netflix, NFL, Sonos, Spotify, Squarespace, Target, Warner Music Group and many more into the audio movement - next month's series will include the highly-anticipated relaunch of On Being with Krista Tippett, live tapings from People's Party with Talib Kweli, Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso, Kaitlin Prest's newest series Sisters and 100+ other voices and presentations to be announced, plus a series of "sonic dinners" pairing audio and culinary arts, and the debut of On Air: The Podcast Experience. 

An unprecedented and immersive new way to connect with podcasts, the first-of-its-kind On Air: The Podcast Experience will see multiple rooms at Wythe Hotel taken over by a collection of shows and their creators. Featuring ephemera from My Favorite Murder and other programs from the Exactly Right Network, as well as the On Being Project, Kaitlin Prest's The Heart and more TBA, each space will envelop visitors in the world of a singular podcast, as rooms draw inspiration from open studio tours, immersive theater, and interactive fan experiences that are commonplace in film, TV and art, but have eluded podcasting until now. On Air: The Podcast Experience will open on February 23, with more details available at experiencepodcasts.com. 

About On Air Fest

On Air Fest is advancing the culture of audio. We bring together an expansive range of emerging and established voices to explore the creative possibilities of sound. Created and produced by work x work, On Air Fest has evolved into the premier cultural event for audio storytellers and inspired listeners. Throughout the year, we produce a range of cultural programming, from annex events, to our residency program, creative collaborations to cultural campaigns and podcasts. On Air Fest carves a place for artists and storytellers who are defining this moment in audio.

About work x work

work x work is a full-service creative agency amplifying the world's leading brands through storytelling, design, and experiences. Our innovative work has made us the go-to agency for organizations looking to participate in audio culture. In addition to design, strategy and events, we create multi-channel campaigns, original content and produce podcasting's premier cultural event, On Air Fest.

For more information, contact Matt Hanks, Greg Jakubik or Annie Mickum at

Shore Fire Media, (718) 522-7171