In May of 2000, four weeks into the  commercial strike, Access Talent announced its AudioJam 2000 contest: "What I Did During My Summer Vacation." Initially intended to be a fun, upbeat event to keep the Voice Over community in a positive frame of mind, the increasingly grim tenor of the strike lent a dark and ironic tone to the contest. 

When it came time to evaluate the submissions, our judges had just been informed of the passing of one of the great institutions of the Voice Over world: Bill "Rosko" Mercer. After much discussion, the judges determined that his on-air resignation from WOR in 1967 spoke directly to the central issues facing the SAG and AFTRA actors in the summer of 2000.

It is with great respect and honor that Access Talent announces Rosko as the winner of the Audiojam 2000; we hope that his words inspire people everywhere to stand up for their beliefs and to behave with dignity and honor in finding their way.

 Click here to download Rosko's commentary on the increasing influence of commercial interests in Radio and Media.