NEW YORK — Since 1982, New York Festivals Radio Awards have saluted the best in global audio content. We now know who the 2019 winners are, and among them is Westwood One and a famed CBC journalist who has hosted Radio One news magazine The Current since 2002.
The New York Festivals Radio Awards Grand Jury awarded a wide spectrum of radio content submitted from 35 countries around the globe. Award-winning, podcasts and audiobooks, live events, dramas and documentaries, breaking news coverage, and multi-genre music specials were celebrated at the 2019 New York Festivals Radio Awards ceremony, held in Manhattan.
Taking the honor of Broadcaster of the Year, for the third straight year, is RTÉ Ireland. The network earned several awards; Gold trophies winners include “The Summer Of Astral Weeks” (RTÉ Radio 1), “The Yellow Line” (RTÉ Radio 1), “The lyric Concert” (RTE Lyric FM), “The Announcement” (RTÉ Radio 1), and “Finding Private Branch” (RTÉ Radio 1).
Almost Tangible, UK earned the title of Production Company of the Year and the distinguished Grand Award for “Macbeth” (Best Digital Drama Program). The award-winning podcast was recorded live on location at Glamis Castle with a cast and crew of 25. Macbeth also earned 4 Gold trophies for Best Digital Drama Program, Best Director, Best Sound, and Drama Podcast.
U.S.-based winners included ESPN Films 30 for 30 Podcasts, which was recognized with the Grand Award for 30 for 30 Podcasts: “Juiced” “All In: Sparking the Poker Boom” and “The Six Who Sat” (Narrative/Documentary Podcast) highlighted compelling people and iconic events in sports history. The series also earned a Gold trophy for Narrative/Documentary Podcast and Bronze trophy for Sports Broadcast.
“One thing we love about the New York Festivals is how widely they listen,” said Jody Avirgan, Producer/Host for ESPN Films 30 for 30 Podcasts. “Winners come from all over the world and take all sorts of creative approaches to this medium. So, we’re particularly honored to be among such a diverse and inspiring group of radio-makers.”
News, Investigative Reports and Talk/Interview programs provided information on events and issues unfolding on the world stage. Entries recognized with Gold trophies include “Parkland Shooting” for Cumulus-owned Westwood One, “Rough Justice: Can The NT Keep Its Kids Safe?” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and “The Interview Which Uncovered An Alleged Torturer” for SBS (Belgium).
The Kalb Report: Cokie Roberts National Press Club Journalism Institute was honored with a Silver trophy.
Meanwhile, it was Anna Maria Tremonti, host of CBC Radio One’s The Current since its November 2002 debut, who earned a Gold trophy as “Best Talk Show Host.”
Wallace Chapman, host of Sunday Morning – a five-hour live interview program on Radio New Zealand National, received a Silver trophy (Best Talk Show Host).
New York Philharmonic’s “100 Years of Leonard Bernstein” earned 2 Gold trophies (Best Mini- Series and Music) for their five-week series of Bernstein-themed programming. The program also received a Silver trophy for Best Director.
Prominent award-winning radio industry executives honored winners and presented award segments:
- Richard Baker, Senior Investigative Journalist – The Age, Melbourne (Australia)
- Jennie Cataldo, Vice President of Programming – BMP Audio USA
- Donal O’Herlihy, Producer, Documentary on One – RTÉ Radio 1 – RTÉ Ireland
- Tanya Springer, Senior Producer, CBC Podcasts and Alisa Siegel, Producer – CBC Radio – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- Mark Travis, Associate Director, Media Production – New York Philharmonic USA.
For a complete list of all the 2019 New York Festivals Radio Award winners, please click HERE.
