News award winners announced

Some of commercial radio's top journalists are making the headlines themselves today – rather than writing them. At the annual IRN Awards ceremony, Smooth Radio London's Howard Hughes has been given a special award for his contribution to the industry, whilst Emap's Manchester-based news team are celebrating picking up the prize for Best News Coverage.

Giulia Bould from Radio City was named the UK’s best commercial radio newsreader, with the judges saying her bulletins were well targeted and creatively written to engage the station’s core demographic.

Colin Mackay from Radio Forth picked up the News Reporter of the Year gong for his outstanding delivery of news in the past 12 months.

Scoop of the Year went to Mercury FM who set the national news agenda on the day showing strong investigative reporting techniques on rogue parking fees at Gatwick Airport.

Best News Programme was presented to Real Radio Wales who put together a fantastic package commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster. Real Radio Yorkshire took home the Best Sports Coverage for insightful reporting of Sheffield United's path to the Premiership. Real Yorkshire also got the award for Best Funny Story – a Crazy Italian Woman who spoke to them after Italy won the World Cup, and enhanced her communication techniques by singing rather badly over Italian opera tracks. GMG's other Real Radio station, in Scotland, was given the IRN Contribution Award for providing the national newsdesk with a number of lead stories over the last 12 months.

Beacon Radio’s Ray Sadri was awarded the Young Journalist of the year title. The Judges said Ray’s ability to communicate the issues with such authority so early in his career made him the number one choice.

Magic 1152/Key 103 took home the Best News Coverage accolade for coverage of the growing gun crime in Manchester among teenagers.

This year the newly introduced IRN Special award was given to Smooth Radio's Howard Hughes for his extraordinary contribution to commercial radio journalism. Howard spent many years as the breakfast news man alongside Chris Tarrant on Capital FM in London and is well known for his unique style of writing and reading radio news.

All the winners received a trophy and a cash prize from guest presenter, ITV Newsreader Alastair Stewart.

IRN Editor Jon Godel told RadioToday.co.uk: "These awards illustrate the important role local radio news teams play in their area. This year we saw some high quality, distinctive journalism from across the UK proving newsgathering in commercial radio news is alive and well."

The full list of winners is..

[b]Best Sports Coverage[/b]
Real Radio Yorkshire – Sheffield United's path to the Premiership

[b]Best Funny Story[/b]
Real Radio Yorkshire – Crazy Italian Woman

[b]Scoop of the Year[/b]
Mercury FM – Rogue Gatwick Airport Parking

[b]Young Journalist of the Year[/b]
Ray Sadri – Beacon Radio

[b]News Reporter of the Year[/b]
Colin Mackay – Radio Forth

[b]Best News Programme[/b]
Real Radio Wales – 40th anniversary of Aberfan

[b]Best News Coverage[/b]
Key 103 / Magic 1152

[b]Newsreader of the Year[/b]
Giulia Bould – Radio City

[b]IRN Contribution Award[/b]
Real Radio Scotland

[b]IRN Special Award[/b]
Howard Hughes

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