New York Festivals Radio Awards entries now open

New York Festivals International Radio Programs & Promos Awards has announced its official Call for Entries, with a range of new categories including: Best Legal Reporting, Best Current Affairs, Best Sports Format, Student Drama and Entertainment Program Promos.

Established in 1982, the competition honors the most innovative work in radio broadcasting, with entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from around the globe. 

“We here at New York Festivals are very proud to recognize the creativity, innovation and quality exhibited around the world in radio today. Even as distribution platforms multiply across the airwave spectrum, one thing remains constant: the power of the individual voice. For the past few years, we added categories in keeping with our goal of honoring the exceptional and innovative work that the radio community is creating to engage audiences,”said Rose Anderson, Executive Director of the NYF Radio Programs & Promos Awards.

Each year Anderson carefully monitors worldwide programming and introduces new categories to showcase emerging trends in the broadcast industry.

The new Categories launched this year include: Best Legal Reporting; Current Affairs; Social Issues; Best Interview; Best Performance by an Actor/Actress; Best Sports Format; Student Drama; Entertainment Program Promo; and additional satellite and online categories for Drama, Comedy, and Religious Programs.

In last year’s competition, RTÉ Radio Ireland’s exceptional work earned the network the Broadcaster of the Year Award for the second year in a row.  Pirate Group Inc., Canada, earned the  Production Company of the Year Award, and was honored with a Grand Trophy in the Business/Consumer Issues category for “The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented The House Wife.”

George Washington Global Media Institute, USA, was honored with a Grand Trophy in Best Talk /Interview Special category for “The Kalb Report – Anchoring 9/11: The Day and The Decade.”

According to Grand Trophy award-winner Terry O’Reilly, Pirate Radio co-founder & host of CBC Radio’s Age of Persuasion: “Winning at the New York Festivals is such an honor – because you’re competing against the world, and the standards are so impossibly high. The international jurors don’t bring any preconceived notions, and they don’t bring any allegiances. They just bring their ears and a razor-sharp yardstick. That’s why a NYF win is so very sweet.”

“As a longtime jurist, I have always been amazed at the quality of the entries in the New York Festivals competition. So, when a jury of our peers honored ‘The Kalb Report’ with the 2012 Grand Award, we were truly humbled. And the Grand Award itself has been proudly displayed at both George Washington University and The National Press Club in Washington, D.C, ” commented Michael Freedman, executive producer and former general manager of CBS Radio Network. “From the legendary Marvin Kalb to the students on our team, this honor has served to inspire us all to raise the bar even higher through the magic medium of radio!”            

NYF and the United Nations Department of Public Information offer the opportunity for the competition’s entrants to be awarded the United Nations Department of Public Information Award. Since 1990, this coveted award has honored radio broadcasting that best exemplifies the ideals and goals of the United Nations.   

NYF International Radio Programs & Promos Awards Grand Jury enlists jurists from all over the world, representing some of the most recognizable voices and captivating programming producers in the industry. Entries are judged on production values, organization, presentation of information, creativity, and use of the medium. 

The 2013 competition will honor the World’s Best Radio Programs & Promos on June 17th at an awards ceremony at Manhattan Penthouse in New York City.

To enter this year’s competition go to: http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/main.php?p=5,1. Vew the 2013 Call for Entry video here.

The deadline for entering the 2013 International Radio Programs & Promos Awards competition is March 18th, 2013.