CATEGORIES
To enter the 2025 awards, please download the entry forms here. This link gives you access to all of the entry forms as well as conditions of entry and judging criteria for each category. Please ensure you read each entry form carefully as no two are the same!
News Team of the Year - hubs or station under or over 1.5M TSA
This award will go to the team which provides its target audience with the best news service around. Judges will be listening to the way news is written and presented, the choice of stories and audio, the angles pursued and the breadth of information. You’ll also need to demonstrate excellent storytelling, and the development and use of original content on digital platforms.
Entries should include at least one news bulletin but overall should be a compilation of reports and packages. Judges will be referencing exceptional, complementary digital output as part of their process. Please ensure you specify the relevant band of your hub or station (Under 1.5M TSA or Over 1.5M TSA), as there are two categories within this award. Entries should not exceed 10 minutes.
Best News Special
This award recognises an individual or team which has dedicated time and effort to an exclusive news special, feature or investigation which has made a difference and resonated with their audience. Judges will be examining the impact of the feature, the editorial rigour, the quality of storytelling and the way in which it is presented. Entries could include bulletin coverage, packages, interviews and live reports. Examples of excellent, complementary digital content will be strongly considered by the judges. The total duration of the audio should not exceed 10 minutes. Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'Best News Story or Coverage' award.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Best News Story or Coverage
Is there one story which set you apart and attracted your audience’s attention? Or are you particularly proud of the way your team covered a particular news event? This award recognises how a story was broken, developed and subsequently presented and sustained to keep your listeners coming back for more. Judges will be looking for evidence of how you pulled it together and told the story in an engaging fashion. They will also assess the angles pursued, choice of interviewees and broadcasting techniques. The audio should not exceed 10 minutes but digital content which augments the coverage will be strongly considered by the judges. Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'Best News Special' award.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Reporter of the Year - National
This category is targeted at someone who predominantly reports for national brands across the UK. Reporters in this category will demonstrate an outstanding ability to handle a broad range of stories and tell them in an engaging fashion for a UK-wide audience. They will get to the heart of a story, or breaking news, develop their own original content and conduct agenda-setting interviews which make an impact across the country. Complementary digital content will enhance entries.
Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'Specialist Reporter of the Year' award.
Entries should not exceed 10 minutes.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Reporter of the Year - Regional
This category is targeted at someone who predominantly reports for local/regional stations/ nation hubs. Judges will look for an ability to handle a broad range of stories, tell them in an engaging fashion and develop their own original content. They will be embedded in their regional or nation hubs, get to the heart of local stories and source news-making interviews and case studies. Stories that can be demonstrated to be exclusive will be highly valued by the judges as will additional digital content. Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'Specialist Reporter of the Year' award.
Entries should not exceed 10 minutes.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Newsreader of the Year - National
Do you have the voice and bulletin creativity that really engages your audience? Judges are looking for someone who demonstrates appropriate story selection, clever use of audio and a unique presentation style. We’re looking for someone who doesn’t just read the news well – but is an exceptional communicator who people want to listen to.
Entries should include audio of two news bulletins broadcast on separate days (one for each day) and be no longer than 10 minutes.
This category is targeted at someone who predominantly reads the news for national brands across the UK.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Newsreader of the Year - Regional
Do you have the voice and bulletin creativity that really engages your local audience? Judges are looking for someone who demonstrates appropriate story selection, clever use of audio and a unique presentation style. We’re looking for someone who doesn’t just read the news well – but is an exceptional communicator who people want to listen to.
Entries should include audio of two news bulletins broadcast on separate days (one for each day) and be no longer than 10 minutes.
This category is targeted at someone who predominantly reads the news for local/regional stations/ nation hubs.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Best Interview
Have you conducted a standout interview that has driven your agenda, pricked the conscience of your audience and triggered a debate? The interviewee doesn’t have to be someone in the public eye but the use of audio, handling of the guest and the way in which the interview is presented are important.
The interview must have been broadcast in clips and/or in long form via digital platforms. Entries should not exceed 10 minutes.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Specialist Reporter of the Year
This category is targeted at someone who reports with a specialist brief, e.g. politics, sport, crime or entertainment news. Reporters in this category will demonstrate solid expertise in their field and be able to report, analyse and contextualise stories on air and online. They will get to the heart of a story develop their own original content and conduct agenda-setting interviews which make an impact. Complementary digital content will enhance entries which should be no longer than 10 minutes.
Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'National/Regional Reporter of the Year' award.
Best Sports Coverage
This award recognises outstanding sports reporting, commentary and presentation which demonstrates an understanding of the target audience. Entries should focus on how a sports team or reporter has developed stories, provided insight and analysis and engaged listeners. Judges will be listening out for clever storytelling, angles pursued, the strength of interviews and the use of atmospheric audio. Entries should include bulletin and interview clips, packages and / or coverage of an event. The overall audio compilation should not exceed 10 minutes, but judges will accept and expect additional digital content.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Newcomer of the Year
This category is aimed at anyone who began their career in radio after 1st January 2023. Judges will be looking for someone who’s made their mark already. Evidence of a flair for writing, news reading and reporting will support entries as well as a clear ability to connect with the target audience.
Entries should contain a written submission from a News Editor/ Manager explaining why the candidate is being nominated as well as an audio compilation of bulletins/packages/interviews no longer than 10 minutes.
Student Journalist of the Year - supported by the BJTC.
The IRN Student Award – supported by the BJTC - is an opportunity to showcase your radio journalism skills to the commercial radio sector.
Entries can be one long news report/documentary or two short packages up to 2 minutes each, with the total duration of the entry not exceeding 15 minutes.
Judges will be looking for evidence of a range of broadcast journalism skills including the pursuit of angles and interviewees, the creative use of audio and the crafting and shaping of stories. Additional digital content will be beneficial.
This award is open to students graduating from a BJTC - accredited broadcast journalism course in 2025 and to those who completed their courses in 2024 who therefore might already be employed. Entries should be signed off by your course leader.
IRN Gold Award - for outstanding contribution to commercial radio news
No criteria or entries required, but please email us your ideas along with 500 words of why you think they deserve to win.
This award will go to the team which provides its target audience with the best news service around. Judges will be listening to the way news is written and presented, the choice of stories and audio, the angles pursued and the breadth of information. You’ll also need to demonstrate excellent storytelling, and the development and use of original content on digital platforms.
Entries should include at least one news bulletin but overall should be a compilation of reports and packages. Judges will be referencing exceptional, complementary digital output as part of their process. Please ensure you specify the relevant band of your hub or station (Under 1.5M TSA or Over 1.5M TSA), as there are two categories within this award. Entries should not exceed 10 minutes.
Best News Special
This award recognises an individual or team which has dedicated time and effort to an exclusive news special, feature or investigation which has made a difference and resonated with their audience. Judges will be examining the impact of the feature, the editorial rigour, the quality of storytelling and the way in which it is presented. Entries could include bulletin coverage, packages, interviews and live reports. Examples of excellent, complementary digital content will be strongly considered by the judges. The total duration of the audio should not exceed 10 minutes. Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'Best News Story or Coverage' award.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Best News Story or Coverage
Is there one story which set you apart and attracted your audience’s attention? Or are you particularly proud of the way your team covered a particular news event? This award recognises how a story was broken, developed and subsequently presented and sustained to keep your listeners coming back for more. Judges will be looking for evidence of how you pulled it together and told the story in an engaging fashion. They will also assess the angles pursued, choice of interviewees and broadcasting techniques. The audio should not exceed 10 minutes but digital content which augments the coverage will be strongly considered by the judges. Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'Best News Special' award.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Reporter of the Year - National
This category is targeted at someone who predominantly reports for national brands across the UK. Reporters in this category will demonstrate an outstanding ability to handle a broad range of stories and tell them in an engaging fashion for a UK-wide audience. They will get to the heart of a story, or breaking news, develop their own original content and conduct agenda-setting interviews which make an impact across the country. Complementary digital content will enhance entries.
Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'Specialist Reporter of the Year' award.
Entries should not exceed 10 minutes.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Reporter of the Year - Regional
This category is targeted at someone who predominantly reports for local/regional stations/ nation hubs. Judges will look for an ability to handle a broad range of stories, tell them in an engaging fashion and develop their own original content. They will be embedded in their regional or nation hubs, get to the heart of local stories and source news-making interviews and case studies. Stories that can be demonstrated to be exclusive will be highly valued by the judges as will additional digital content. Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'Specialist Reporter of the Year' award.
Entries should not exceed 10 minutes.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Newsreader of the Year - National
Do you have the voice and bulletin creativity that really engages your audience? Judges are looking for someone who demonstrates appropriate story selection, clever use of audio and a unique presentation style. We’re looking for someone who doesn’t just read the news well – but is an exceptional communicator who people want to listen to.
Entries should include audio of two news bulletins broadcast on separate days (one for each day) and be no longer than 10 minutes.
This category is targeted at someone who predominantly reads the news for national brands across the UK.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Newsreader of the Year - Regional
Do you have the voice and bulletin creativity that really engages your local audience? Judges are looking for someone who demonstrates appropriate story selection, clever use of audio and a unique presentation style. We’re looking for someone who doesn’t just read the news well – but is an exceptional communicator who people want to listen to.
Entries should include audio of two news bulletins broadcast on separate days (one for each day) and be no longer than 10 minutes.
This category is targeted at someone who predominantly reads the news for local/regional stations/ nation hubs.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Best Interview
Have you conducted a standout interview that has driven your agenda, pricked the conscience of your audience and triggered a debate? The interviewee doesn’t have to be someone in the public eye but the use of audio, handling of the guest and the way in which the interview is presented are important.
The interview must have been broadcast in clips and/or in long form via digital platforms. Entries should not exceed 10 minutes.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Specialist Reporter of the Year
This category is targeted at someone who reports with a specialist brief, e.g. politics, sport, crime or entertainment news. Reporters in this category will demonstrate solid expertise in their field and be able to report, analyse and contextualise stories on air and online. They will get to the heart of a story develop their own original content and conduct agenda-setting interviews which make an impact. Complementary digital content will enhance entries which should be no longer than 10 minutes.
Please note, entries for this category cannot be submitted in the 'National/Regional Reporter of the Year' award.
Best Sports Coverage
This award recognises outstanding sports reporting, commentary and presentation which demonstrates an understanding of the target audience. Entries should focus on how a sports team or reporter has developed stories, provided insight and analysis and engaged listeners. Judges will be listening out for clever storytelling, angles pursued, the strength of interviews and the use of atmospheric audio. Entries should include bulletin and interview clips, packages and / or coverage of an event. The overall audio compilation should not exceed 10 minutes, but judges will accept and expect additional digital content.
NOTE: This category allows up to 3 entries per station/hub.
Newcomer of the Year
This category is aimed at anyone who began their career in radio after 1st January 2023. Judges will be looking for someone who’s made their mark already. Evidence of a flair for writing, news reading and reporting will support entries as well as a clear ability to connect with the target audience.
Entries should contain a written submission from a News Editor/ Manager explaining why the candidate is being nominated as well as an audio compilation of bulletins/packages/interviews no longer than 10 minutes.
Student Journalist of the Year - supported by the BJTC.
The IRN Student Award – supported by the BJTC - is an opportunity to showcase your radio journalism skills to the commercial radio sector.
Entries can be one long news report/documentary or two short packages up to 2 minutes each, with the total duration of the entry not exceeding 15 minutes.
Judges will be looking for evidence of a range of broadcast journalism skills including the pursuit of angles and interviewees, the creative use of audio and the crafting and shaping of stories. Additional digital content will be beneficial.
This award is open to students graduating from a BJTC - accredited broadcast journalism course in 2025 and to those who completed their courses in 2024 who therefore might already be employed. Entries should be signed off by your course leader.
IRN Gold Award - for outstanding contribution to commercial radio news
No criteria or entries required, but please email us your ideas along with 500 words of why you think they deserve to win.