IRN AWARDS IN ASSOCIATION WTH SKY NEWS WINNERS REVEALED:
HALLAM DOES THE IRN DOUBLE
Hallam FM is celebrating an IRN Awards double after winning two of the main prizes at the event which celebrates commercial radio news.
The Sheffield-based station was named News Team of the Year in the ‘Over 1 million TSA’ category while its chief journalist Laura Pennington picked up the award for ‘Reporter of the Year.’
The judges said the Hallam team is “on top of its game” and “stood out for delivering brilliant and creative exclusives.” Pennington was described as a “deserving winner” for reporting with “personality, refreshing clarity and empathy.”
BOB fm Hertfordshire was named ‘News Team of the Year’ with a TSA of under 1 million. According to the judges, the team “delivers an impressive range of stories” and is “brimming with ideas on how to make radio news rich in sound and creativity.”
The IRN Awards 2016 in association with Sky News were held at London’s Century Club and hosted by the Sky News and Sky Sports presenter Sarah-Jane Mee.
Stray FM won the most popular category – Best News Special or Feature – with a reporter’s personal account of the issue of people being taken into police custody under the Mental Health Act. Ailsa Rochester’s “brave and candid piece” was praised as a “fine piece of reporting.”
Gillian Wheelan from Global’s Newsroom Scotland was the winner of the Best Interview category for a “frighteningly honest interview” with the victim of domestic abuse. The judges described it as “extraordinary” with “strong and emotive content.”
Global’s Newsroom Wales secured victory in the Best Sports Coverage category with a feature about the Welsh football team’s progression to Euro 2016. The judging panel though it was an “engaging and compelling listen.”
The Newsreaders of the Year were Naomi Holland from Downtown and Cool FM in the ‘Over 1 million TSA’ category and Spire FM’s Henrietta Creasey in the ‘under 1 million’ alternative. Judges said Holland – a runner up last year – had “a wonderful, engaging voice” while Creasey was commended for her “polished, professional style” and her “understanding of her craft.”
The winner of the Newcomer of the Year was LBC’s Charlotte Wright who impressed judges with her “considerable reporting skills combined with a flair for good storytelling.”
The Student Journalist of the Year Award supported by the BJTC went to Rukiyah Khatun from Bauer Academy/NBS, and Bauer Media’s Entertainment hub picked up the Best Entertainment Coverage award because it showed “real appetite for getting original and exclusive news lines”.
The coveted IRN Gold Award was presented to Sean Dunderdale for his outstanding contribution to the commercial radio industry.
Sean has been at the forefront of the Lincs FM Group’s output for more than 20 years as a broadcaster, journalist and manager.
He joined the group shortly after its launch in 1992 to help out with sports results on a Saturday afternoon and started to present the show eight years later. He progressed to Group News Editor and became Director of Programming six years ago.
Sean has led the development of newly qualified journalists with many of his protégés being heard and seen across radio and TV today, both commercially and with the BBC.
Commenting on the awards, IRN and Sky News Radio Editor Dave Terris said: “It’s been another hugely successful year for commercial radio news teams as they keep listeners up to date with the news agenda and, crucially, deliver their own distinctive exclusives. With the modern media landscape so diverse, it’s vital our industry keeps ahead of the game and these Awards prove that our journalists are ambitious and full of ideas to make first class content.”
IRN Managing Director, Tim Molloy said:
“The awards are now very competitive with one category attracting over sixty entries this year and as always the standard of journalism is extremely high and in particular it’s fantastic to see so much young talent coming into the industry.”
The winners in full:
IRN Gold Award
Sean Dunderdale
News Team of the Year (Over 1m TSA)
Hallam FM
News Team of the Year (Under 1m TSA)
BOB fm Hertfordshire
Best News Special or Feature
Police Custody under the Mental Health Act: My Experiences – Stray FM
Reporter of the Year
Laura Pennington – Hallam FM
Best Sports Coverage
Euro 2016: The Rise of the Dragon – Global’s Newsroom Wales
Best Entertainment Coverage
Bauer Media Entertainment Hub
Best Interview
Survivor: A Domestic Abuse Story – Gillian Wheelan from Global’s Newsroom Scotland
Newsreader of the Year (Over 1m TSA)
Naomi Holland – Downtown and Cool FM
Newsreader of the Year (Under 1m TSA)
Henrietta Creasey – Spire FM
Newcomer of the Year
Charlotte Wright – LBC
Student Journalist of the Year – Supported by the BJTC
Rukiyah Khatun – Bauer Academy/NBS
IRN AWARDS 2015
Three commercial radio news teams are celebrating retaining their titles at the IRN Awards 2015 in association with Sky News.
Global’s Newsroom in Wales was named ‘News Team/Newsroom of the Year with a TSA of over one million’ for the second consecutive year. The judges described it as a “deserving winner” because the team showed it could initiate and deliver an original investigation as well as pursue news making interviews on stories that would resonate nationally.”
Radio Aire in Leeds followed suit by picking up the ‘News Team of the Year with a TSA of under one million.’ “The team delivers a great range of stories, imaginatively told with verve and authority” according to the judges who said Aire’s journalists “originate stories as well as react to what’s happening around them.”
And Global Radio’s Entertainment Team retained the ‘Best Entertainment Coverage’ prize with judges commending its “impressive range of subjects” and clear storytelling “from the red carpet to intimate interviews in the studio.”
The IRN Awards – which celebrate the achievements of news teams and journalists in commercial radio – were held at the Century Club in London and hosted by Sky News and Sky Sports Presenter Sarah-Jane Mee.
The hotly contested ‘Best News Special or Feature’ was won by Hallam FM for its investigation into prostitution in Sheffield. The judges said it was a “hugely impressive piece of broadcasting” and “a stand out example of radio journalism.”
Lauren Jones from Global’s Newsroom Wales was named ‘Reporter of the Year.’ According to the judges she “handles stories skilfully” pointing to her interview with the father of a British jihadi. They said she has “bundles of energy and determination – just what local reporters should possess.”
Key 103’s interview with a local gangster who scaled the Big Wheel in Manchester city centre in an apparent protest won the “Best Interview” award. The judging panel thought it was an “utterly compelling listen” that was “both funny and full of local detail.”
The winner of the Best Sports Coverage was 102.4 Wish FM for the 2014 Super League Grand Final. A combination of “spine tingling commentary, a great mix of music and fun, quirky pieces with the players” was enough to persuade the judges.
The Newsreading Awards went to LBC’s Simon Conway in the “Over 1 million TSA” category and Bethan Davies from Radio Aire in the “Under 1 million” alternative. Judges described Conway as a “confident and compelling presenter” while Davies was praised for being “an unflappable newsreader” with “amazing talent.”
Bev Rimmer from BOB FM Hertfordshire was named “Newcomer of the Year” because she’s “passionate, brilliant and well rounded.” She was also nominated in the Best Reporter category.
The prestigious IRN Gold Award was presented to Ralph Bernard CBE for an outstanding contribution to the commercial radio industry in a career spanning 35 years.
Ralph has enjoyed huge success as a radio executive but he first made his mark as a journalist. At Hallam FM in Sheffield, he produced commercial radio’s first networked documentary which earned him the head of news job at Peterborough’s Hereward Radio.
He went on to form GWR and helped bring about the merger with Capital Radio to create GCap Media. Under his leadership, Classic FM was born and he led it for 20 years as Chief Executive and subsequently, Chairman.
Ralph is currently the Chair of the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.
Commenting on the awards, IRN Managing Director, Tim Molloy, said: This year’s winners all deserve praise for upholding the very best standards in radio journalism. Whether reporting from the scene or calmly delivering a studio bulletin with authority, all of them knew how to communicate an important story to their audience.
IRN Editor Dave Terris said: There were some outstanding entries which prove commercial radio news is alive and kicking. The pursuit of original stories, the desire to be distinctive and the ability to engage audiences with great story telling means the winners had to be at the top of their game. Entries get better every year and competition is fierce - and that bodes well for the future.
Three commercial radio news teams are celebrating retaining their titles at the IRN Awards 2015 in association with Sky News.
Global’s Newsroom in Wales was named ‘News Team/Newsroom of the Year with a TSA of over one million’ for the second consecutive year. The judges described it as a “deserving winner” because the team showed it could initiate and deliver an original investigation as well as pursue news making interviews on stories that would resonate nationally.”
Radio Aire in Leeds followed suit by picking up the ‘News Team of the Year with a TSA of under one million.’ “The team delivers a great range of stories, imaginatively told with verve and authority” according to the judges who said Aire’s journalists “originate stories as well as react to what’s happening around them.”
And Global Radio’s Entertainment Team retained the ‘Best Entertainment Coverage’ prize with judges commending its “impressive range of subjects” and clear storytelling “from the red carpet to intimate interviews in the studio.”
The IRN Awards – which celebrate the achievements of news teams and journalists in commercial radio – were held at the Century Club in London and hosted by Sky News and Sky Sports Presenter Sarah-Jane Mee.
The hotly contested ‘Best News Special or Feature’ was won by Hallam FM for its investigation into prostitution in Sheffield. The judges said it was a “hugely impressive piece of broadcasting” and “a stand out example of radio journalism.”
Lauren Jones from Global’s Newsroom Wales was named ‘Reporter of the Year.’ According to the judges she “handles stories skilfully” pointing to her interview with the father of a British jihadi. They said she has “bundles of energy and determination – just what local reporters should possess.”
Key 103’s interview with a local gangster who scaled the Big Wheel in Manchester city centre in an apparent protest won the “Best Interview” award. The judging panel thought it was an “utterly compelling listen” that was “both funny and full of local detail.”
The winner of the Best Sports Coverage was 102.4 Wish FM for the 2014 Super League Grand Final. A combination of “spine tingling commentary, a great mix of music and fun, quirky pieces with the players” was enough to persuade the judges.
The Newsreading Awards went to LBC’s Simon Conway in the “Over 1 million TSA” category and Bethan Davies from Radio Aire in the “Under 1 million” alternative. Judges described Conway as a “confident and compelling presenter” while Davies was praised for being “an unflappable newsreader” with “amazing talent.”
Bev Rimmer from BOB FM Hertfordshire was named “Newcomer of the Year” because she’s “passionate, brilliant and well rounded.” She was also nominated in the Best Reporter category.
The prestigious IRN Gold Award was presented to Ralph Bernard CBE for an outstanding contribution to the commercial radio industry in a career spanning 35 years.
Ralph has enjoyed huge success as a radio executive but he first made his mark as a journalist. At Hallam FM in Sheffield, he produced commercial radio’s first networked documentary which earned him the head of news job at Peterborough’s Hereward Radio.
He went on to form GWR and helped bring about the merger with Capital Radio to create GCap Media. Under his leadership, Classic FM was born and he led it for 20 years as Chief Executive and subsequently, Chairman.
Ralph is currently the Chair of the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.
Commenting on the awards, IRN Managing Director, Tim Molloy, said: This year’s winners all deserve praise for upholding the very best standards in radio journalism. Whether reporting from the scene or calmly delivering a studio bulletin with authority, all of them knew how to communicate an important story to their audience.
IRN Editor Dave Terris said: There were some outstanding entries which prove commercial radio news is alive and kicking. The pursuit of original stories, the desire to be distinctive and the ability to engage audiences with great story telling means the winners had to be at the top of their game. Entries get better every year and competition is fierce - and that bodes well for the future.
