BBC Asian Network presenter Sonia Deol will host this year’s Frank Gillard Awards which laud the corporation’s local English radio output in honour of the founder of BBC local radio in England, who died in 1998.
Deol will be joined on stage by BBC director general Greg Dyke for the ceremony at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford on 6 October. Nominations for the 14 categories close on 1 July.
A new category will judge stations for their interpretation of the BBC’s Voices project. Local radio channels have spent months working in their communities, giving local people airtime and supporting causes.
Judges include BBC Three news presenter Tazeen Ahmad, BBC Radio Five Live presenter Fi Glover, BBC Sport presenter Mary Rhodes, BBC News Europe correspondent Jonathan Charles and Roger Mosey, head of BBC TV News, who all began in local radio.
Categories include best reporter, coverage of a news story, station of the year and top programme presenter.
By Wale Azeez
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