Emap station Viking FM has won one of four United Nations Department of Public Information Awards. The award was for an advert created on behalf of One Hull and Hull City Safe about 'Hate Crime', to raise awareness of racism and discrimination.
Rachael Gladstone and John Ashbrook from Viking FM’s creative team have cleared a space on the radio station’s mantelpiece as they wait for their bronze United Nations Award to arrive from overseas.
Head of Creative Rachael Gladstone said: "We're absolutely ecstatic! Viking FM takes pride in involving itself in local issues, but sometimes these are part of a larger global issue. It is immensely rewarding that our work here has been recognised by the United Nations and we think it particularly fitting that in the year in which we are celebrating the bicentennial of the end of the slave trade, which was largely influenced by Hull's own William Wilberforce, Hull is still playing its part in issues of Peace and Human Rights."
Viking FM’s Station Director Steve Allbones said: "This amazing United Nations Award isn't just for Viking FM, it’s an award for Hull. The city should be proud of the positive actions pioneered by Hull to raise awareness and prevent prejudice and discrimination."
The award-winning advert explains that children are not born to practice racism or homophobia and features an informal discussion between an adult and two children . The adult asks the children questions such as ‘Do you want to be a bigot?’ to which one child replies ‘No I want to be a singer, what does a bigot mean?'
John Ashbrook, a Creative Writer for Viking FM said "I thought it was important to keep the message simple. That fact is that we aren't born hating and distrusting people, we learn that as we go along and the proof of this is in the innocence of children. The girls in the ad weren't coached, they gave genuine answers to the questions, and therefore made the point far more profoundly than anything I could write."
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