The nominations for the 2017 IRN Awards in association with Sky News have been announced today.
The number of nominees has increased to five per category and the winners will be revealed at Sky Central in west London on Thursday 23rd March in a ceremony hosted by Sky News Sunrise presenter Sarah-Jane Mee.
The Gold Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to the commercial radio industry, will also be presented at the event.
The nominees are:
Newcomer of the Year
Phil McDonald – Northsound
Charlotte Gay – Global’s Newsroom West
Rosie Wright – Premier Christian Radio
Hope Webb – Forth 1 & Forth 2
Rosanna Austin – Radio Aire
Best Sports Coverage
Dare to Dream: Northern Ireland Euro 2016 Journey – Downtown Radio & Cool FM
Rio 2016: Team Yorkshire – Radio Yorkshire
Scottish Cup Final 2016: Heroes and Hooligans – Clyde 1
Pulse 2: Matchday LIVE – Pulse 2
Euro 2016: The Pride of the Dragon – Global’s Newsroom Wales
Best News Special or Feature
Leeds Over the Limit – Radio Aire
The Manchester Bomb – Key 103
US Election Special – talkRADIO
Dunblane 20 Years On – Clyde 1 & Clyde 2
Justice for Joseph – Key 103
Best Interview:
Vicky Murray – West FM & Westsound
Lorraine’s Life Sentence – Stray FM
Stoke-on-Trent Imam Condemns Terror Attacks – Signal 1 & Signal 2
Lorry Accident: A Widow’s Love and Forgiveness – Clyde 1 & Clyde 2
Steve Kelly: My Hillsborough Journey – Radio City 2 & Radio City Talk
Student Journalist of the Year – supported by the BJTC
Carlie Foster – University of Salford
Patrick Hildred – University of Sheffield
Mariana Des Forges – Goldsmiths, University of London
Kait Borsay – University of Westminster
Al Riddell – Goldsmiths, University of London
Reporter of the Year:
Charlotte Gay – Global’s Newsroom West
Hope Webb – Forth 1 & Forth 2
Martin Lindsay – Global’s Newsroom North East
Linda Sinclair – Clyde 1 & Clyde 2
Connor Gillies – Global’s Newsroom Scotland
Newsreader of the Year for stations or hubs with a TSA of under one million
Matt Soanes – Lincs FM
Chris Hubbard – BOB fm Hertfordshire
Janine Hindle – 2BR
Vicky Murray – West FM & Westsound
Phil Munns – Dee 106.3 and Silk 106.9
Newsreader of the Year for stations or hubs with a TSA of over one million
Naomi Holland – Downtown Radio & Cool FM
Katy White – Gem 106
Tim John – Capital FM
Robyn Schonhofer – talkSPORT & Virgin Radio
Chris Holdsworth – 107.4 Tower FM, 107.2 Wire FM & 102.4 Wish FM
News Team of the Year with a TSA of under one million
Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire
Radio Aire News
Pulse 1 & Pulse 2 News Team
JACK fm Oxfordshire
Radio Borders
News Team of the Year with a TSA of over one million
Global’s Newsroom Midlands
Radio City News
Global’s Newsroom Wales
Downtown Radio & Cool FM News Team
Global’s Newsroom Scotland
IRN Editor and Chair of Judges Dave Terris said: “Once again, the response has been phenomenal which has meant some tough calls for the judges. Increasing the number of nominees to five is a reflection of the quality and enterprise of news teams across the UK as the battle to be distinct intensifies. It makes for a cracking event on March 23rd.”
IRN Managing Director Tim Molloy said: “Thank you to everyone who entered this year and commiserations if your entry didn’t make the shortlists. As always it has been difficult to whittle the entries down but we hope by now having five nominees per category we can recognise and encourage more radio news talent than before. Please do join us on the day even if you haven’t been nominated.”
