The nominations for the 2026 Commercial Radio News Awards in association with IRN and Sky News have been revealed.
Sky News ‘Mornings’ and ‘Cheat Sheet’ podcast presenter, Kamali Melbourne, announced the shortlists for the 13 categories which recognise quality journalism, presentation and production in commercial radio news and sport.
The winners – including the recipient of the prestigious Gold Award – will be announced at Sky Cinema at Sky’s west London HQ on Thursday 26th March 2026.
IRN Editor and Chair of Judges, Dave Terris said: It’s a significant achievement making the shortlist for these hugely competitive awards. The investment in high quality journalism, storytelling, production and presentation shines through which bodes well for the millions of people who get their news and sport from commercial radio.
“Congratulations to everyone who has been nominated and a big thank you to the judges who have faced some tough deliberations.”
And the nominees are…
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
- Joseph Draper – LBC
- Martha Tipper – Greatest Hits Radio, Kent, Bauer Media Audio
- Phoebe Abruzzese – Global’s Newsroom North East
- Molly Tulett – Clyde 1, Bauer Media Audio
- George Icke – Global’s Newsroom Central Region
BEST INTERVIEW
- Pregnancy, Prison and the Cost of Injustice – Shivani Sharma, Global’s Newsroom Central Region
- Micky Welch interviews a Benwell explosion victim – Micky Welch, Hits Radio North East, Bauer Media Audio
- Terror at the Synagogue, Yoni Finlay – Chris Chambers, Global’s Newsroom North West and Yorkshire
- Lost Souls: Row 9, Grave 28 – Greatest Hits Radio, Bauer Media Audio
- ‘I’m Proud of Him,’ Noel Gallagher, Oasis Exclusive – talkSPORT
REPORTER OF THE YEAR (NATIONAL)
- Victoria Glover – Hits Radio, Bauer Media Audio
- Helen Hoddinott – LBC
- Mick Coyle – Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio, Bauer Media Audio
- Chris Chambers – Global’s Newsroom North West and Yorkshire
- Joseph Draper – LBC
REPORTER OF THE YEAR (SPECIALIST)
- Will Hobbs – talkSPORT and Times Radio
- Christian Jones – Manx Radio
- Georgie Prodromou – Bauer Media Audio
- Fraser Knight – LBC and LBC News
- Alan Smith – Bauer Media Audio
REPORTER OF THE YEAR (REGIONAL)
- Phoebe Abruzzese – Global’s Newsroom North East
- Karen Liu – Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio Teesside, Bauer Media Audio
- Shivani Sharma – Global’s Newsroom Central Region
- Alan Zycinski – Global’s Newsroom Scotland
- George Icke – Global’s Newsroom Central Region
BEST SPORTS COVERAGE
- Aberdeen’s Hampden Heroes – Dave Galloway, Northsound 1, Bauer Media Audio
- Goodbye to Goodison – Global’s Newsroom North West and Yorkshire
- Scotland’s Greatest Night – Clyde 1, Bauer Media Audio
- Tell Me Ma…From Newcastle to Wembley and Home for Tea – Hits Radio North East, Bauer Media Audio
- Leeds United: Back Where we Belong – West Yorkshire News Team, Bauer Media Audio
BEST NEWS STORY OR COVERAGE
- The Murder of Harvey Willgoose – Hits Radio South Yorkshire, Bauer Media Audio
- Terror at the Synagogue – Global’s Newsroom North West and Yorkshire
- A Round with Donald – Clyde 1 and Northsound 1, Bauer Media Audio
- Ozzy Osbourne – The Son of Birmingham – Greatest Hits Radio and Planet Rock, Bauer Media Audio
- Inside the Synagogue – Manchester’s Hits Radio, Bauer Media Audio
NEWSREADER OF THE YEAR (NATIONAL)
- David Domb – Global’s Newsroom London
- Will Hobbs – talkSPORT and Times Radio
- Amelia Cox – LBC and Global’s Newsroom London
- Aileen O’Sullivan – KISS FM UK, Bauer Media Audio
- John Stratford – LBC News
NEWSREADER OF THE YEAR (REGIONAL)
- George Painter – Global’s Newsroom Bristol
- Nicolle Cassels – Global’s Newsroom Scotland
- Micky Welch – Hits Radio North East, Bauer Media Audio
- Anna Harding – Global’s Newsroom Central Region
- Annie Mae Walker – Global’s Newsroom North West and Yorkshire
BEST NEWS SPECIAL
- My Stalker Moved in Next Door – Victoria Glover, Hits Radio, Bauer Media Audio
- Jogging Through Abuse: An LBC Exclusive Exposing Life on a Run – Emma Corr, LBC
- Before 12 Weeks – Alice Faulkner, Clyde 1 – Hits Radio Network Scotland, Bauer Media Audio
- Lost Souls – Greatest Hits Radio – Bauer Media Audio
- Head Before Wicket – Will Hobbs, talkSPORT
NEWS TEAM OF THE YEAR (hubs or stations under 1.5 million TSA)
- Northsound News – Bauer Media Audio
- Lincolnshire News Team – Bauer Media Audio
- MFR News – Bauer Media Audio
- Hits Radio South Yorkshire – Bauer Media Audio
- Hits Radio Teesside – Bauer Media Audio
NEWS TEAM OF THE YEAR (hubs or stations over 1.5 million TSA)
- talkSPORT News Team – talkSPORT
- Hits Radio North East – Bauer Media Audio
- Global’s Newsroom Scotland
- Times Radio News Team – Times Radio
- Clyde 1 News Team – Clyde 1, Bauer Media Audio
STUDENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
- Muhsin Mahmud – City St George’s, University of London
- Ella Witcher – University of Lincoln
- Lucy Antonatos – City St George’s, University of London
- Anna Johnson – University of East Anglia
- Chloe Sackur – City St George’s, University of London