The New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards announced the 2016 Finalists. World-wide since 1982, New York Festivals Radio Program Awards honors the World’s Best Radio Programs, receiving entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from around the globe.
“This year’s entries are truly inspiring, they embody creativity, innovation and brilliant storytelling,” said Rose Anderson, Executive Director of New York Festivals Radio Program Awards. “These exceptional programs engage, entertain, inform, and transport the listener and are a testament to the power of the human voice.”
NYF’s Grand Jury selected 296 Finalists from entries submitted from 29 countries worldwide. Entries were judged by the 2024 Grand Jury on production values, organization, presentation of information, creativity and use of the medium. All entries achieving Finalist status proceed to the medal round to determine Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies.
RTÉ Ireland was a dominant force in this year’s competition with 31 entries moving on to the medal round. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation had 19 entries achieve Finalist status, and TBI media was next with 11 Finalists.
New York Festivals Radio Awards newly launched documentary categories provided a platform for those with a distinctive voice and point of view. The Biography/Profiles category saw a robust number of entries achieve Finalist status including: “Steve, David And Goliath” Australian Broadcasting Corporation; “Peter Sellers: From Southsea To Stardom” BBC, UK; “Ginsberg in India” Freewheel Productions, Canada; “Neil ‘n’ Dud – The Other Side of Dudley Moore” Jazz FM, UK; “Arthur Miller – Speaking Of New York” Just Radio Ltd, UK; “30 Years Man And Boy, A Calmer Chameleon: The Boy George Story” Magnum Opus Broadcasting, UK; “Father Hood: The Holy Man and the Heist” Newstalk/Independent, Ireland; “Lynn Hill: Twenty-First Century War Poet” Prison Radio Productions, UK; “Encountering Marina Abramovic- Artist and Icon” Robyn Ravlich, Australia; “Digitising Rita” RTÉ lyric fm, Ireland; “Mick Meaney – Buried Alive” RTÉ Radio 1 Ireland; and “Good Morning Vietnam” TBI Media, UK.
2016’s new documentary category Climate Change & Sustainability recognized programs that address critical issues of climate change and perspectives on sustainability awareness. Finalists include: “Bright Sparks: An Atmosphere for Change” Athena Media, Ireland; “In the Balance: The Climate Debates” BBC, UK; and “Game-Changing Climate Leadership: What Happens In California Doesn’t Stay in California” Bioneers, USA.
Also new in 2024, Music documentaries scored 8 entries a spot in the medal round: “Somebody Did It Better, presented by Miss Moneypenny” BBC, UK; “Bring It On Home: Led Zeppelin in the West Midlands” Birmingham City University, UK; “The Grammys, turn to game music” Busan English Broadcasting Foundation (BeFM )South Korea; “The Story of the Byrds” Document Media Ltd, UK; “Sounds to Illustrate Dreams: The Lullaby: The Untold Stories of Lullabies” KBS, South Korea; “Arts Technologica: Music” Overtone Productions Ltd., UK; “Vocal Chords: The Odyssey of the Voice with Iarla Ó’Lionáird” Athena Media Ltd., Ireland; and “Sinatra in the UK 1953” Trevro Dann’s Company, UK.
Audio Books, launched in 2024, continued to showcase the rising trend in spoken entertainment. Finalists include: “Girl on the Train” Penguin Random House UK; “Sunday Suspense Presents – The Hound of the Baskervilles” Radio Mirchi, India; “Spoon River” Soulpepper Theatre Company, Canada; “HOOD: King’s Command” and “HOOD: Warriors’ Harvest” Spiteful Puppet Entertainment Ltd., UK.
The United Kingdom was out front with 88 exceptional entries achieving Finalist status; the United States saw 48 entries move forward; Ireland 41, followed by Canada with 32 Finalists.
New York Festivals Radio Awards enlists jurists from all over the world to become members of the Grand Jury and includes some of the most recognizable voices and captivating programming producers in the industry.
New York Festivals, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Public Information, established the United Nations Awards in 1990 to honor programs highlighting global concerns of interest to the UN. Each year, the United Nations Department of Public Information convenes a panel to review nominated Finalists for the United Nations Department of Public Information Award. This coveted award honors radio broadcasting that best exemplifies the ideas and goals of the United Nations.
Join New York Festivals Monday June 20, 2024 as we honor the World’s Best Radio Programs at the 2024 awards ceremony at Manhattan Penthouse in New York City.
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