STUDENT REPORTER ALYSSA SMITH RECEIVES 2009 CMA CLOSE UP AWARD OF MERIT

NASHVILLE - The Country Music Association has selected Vanderbilt University graduate, Alyssa Smith as the recipient of the 2009 CMA Close Up Award of Merit. The award was created in 2007 to honor the student who demonstrated the most creativity, dedication and promise in covering the CMA Music Festival on assignment from CMA.

Smith was presented the award during the backstage press conference coverage of the 2009 CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Sommet Center in Nashville.

"CMA is proud to foster up-and-coming music journalists by offering them the tools and opportunities to hone their skills," said Wendy Pearl, CMA Vice President of Communications. "It is important for us as a trade association to recognize excellence in entertainment journalism and encourage the next generation of writers."

Candidates for the CMA Close Up Award of Merit were chosen based on recommendations from department heads in Journalism or equivalent programs at universities and colleges in central Tennessee. The final team of 14 reporters and photojournalists covered all aspects of the 2009 CMA Music Festival, under direction from Bob Doerschuk, Editor of CMA Close Up. Their work was posted daily during the Festival and has been archived at http://www.CMAfest.com.

Following the Festival, CMA Close Up's editorial team reviewed the writers' performance and stories and selected Smith as the recipient of the honor. She was also invited to cover the 2009 CMA Awards for the magazine from the backstage press room.

"We had a large and very talented group of student volunteers covering CMA Music Festival this year, but even among this impressive company Alyssa distinguished herself through the quality of her coverage as well as the unusual initiative she displayed," Doerschuk said. "This kind of curiosity and follow-through is often what separates the gifted from the good reporters, which is why I believe Alyssa stands out from the crowd."

Smith was raised in Chatham, NJ, and starting playing cello in third grade. Prior to graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2009 with a bachelor's of science degree in Human and Organizational Development, she interned with Thirty Tigers and in the publicity department of Universal Music Group.

"During the CMA Music Festival, I worked amongst great talent," Smith said. I am honored to be chosen for such a distinction. It was a unique opportunity and I enjoyed every minute of it - including being in the sweltering heat for hours on end. What better way to see my efforts paying off through my previous work in the industry than seeing those artists win Awards!"

Smith now teaches fourth grade at Merrol Hyde Magnet School in Hendersonville, Tenn. She has also begun working in the music industry as a new media consultant. Her first client is Nashville-based artist Robert Burgess.