The BBC picked up four awards for its news coverage at the 30th Sony Radio Academy Awards 2011.
BBC 4’s Matthew Price won News Journalist of the Year, with judges commending him for “reporting which made you feel as if you were standing alongside the reporter”, and his ability to paint “vivid pictures in the listener’s head.”
BBC Radio 5 Live’s Victoria Derbyshire won the award for Best News & Current Affairs Programme. Judges said that “Victoria proves herself an outstanding, versatile presenter, who is clearly backed by a strong production team.”
BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine’s interview with Gordon Brown saw him scoop the Best Interview award. Vine was praised for using the “infamous ‘she’s a bigot’ tape to hammer home the final nail in the prime-ministerial coffin”.
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5 Live Drive: Birth of The Coalition won Best Breaking News Coverage, and Real Radio North East for Real Radio won Best News Special for ‘Raoul Moat – The Final Hours’. Judges said: “Having the courage to drop all music and adverts and report solidly for 8 hours ‘as it happened’ was a huge risk but Real Radio North used the eyes and ears of its listeners. They provided a tapestry of eyewitness testimony as they described developments unfolding literally on their doorstep and the risk paid off.”
BBC Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale was presented with a Special Award “in recognition of more than 40 years of exceptional broadcasting including her breakthrough achievements, her championship of the new, and the inspiration she has given to music makers and broadcasters alike.”
Judges included Emma Barnett, Natasha Kaplinsky, Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, Hardeep Singh Kohli and Miranda Sawyer.
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