New York Festivals International Radio Program & Promotions Awards  recently announced the 2010 competition Radio Awards Finalists.  This year’s international GrandJury® selected 181 entries from 17 countries as Finalists in the first round.  Now in its twenty-eighth year of honoring “The World’s Best Radio Programs ™,” the competition honors the most original and innovative work in radio broadcasting, with entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from around the world.

Trophy winners will be presented with NYF’s new Art Deco trophy, reminiscent of a classic 1920s Art Deco radio microphone, at the gala awards ceremony to be held on Friday, September 24th at the Manhattan Penthouse located at 5th Avenue at 14th Street.   To purchase tickets go to: http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/main.php?p=4,4

Prominent international companies taking the lead in the preliminary judging round include: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation with 17 Finalists; SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio USA, along with RTE Ireland, each with 8 Finalists; and TBI Media Ltd, England recognized with 7 Finalists.  All Radio Finalists will go on to the second round of judging to determine Gold, Silver, and Bronze award winners. 

"The sheer volume of high-level,award-worthy work this year has been simply astounding.  From ‘rockumentaries’ about Nirvana and Michael Jackson to searingly poignant portraits of religious persecution and medical epidemics, to good old-fashioned radio plays, the art of radio-- as represented by the 55 entries I reviewed--is quite possibly at its healthiest point ever."   Mark Travis, NYF Radio Program & Promotions Awards Advisory Board/ GrandJury, Senior Producer, The WFMT Radio Network, Chicago

Finalists include: Radio 2UE’s entry “Obama - The Inauguration Of A President”; Triple M, “Nirvana Live at Reading”; Radio Television Hong Kong, “Return to the Crying Land - Sichuan Earthquake 1st Anniversary Special”; New York Philharmonic, “The New York Philharmonic This Week”; Fresh Air Production, “The Winter Olympics”; Radio Free Asia, “20th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square”; SIRIUS XM Radio, “Haiti-Aftershock and Hope”; EMI Music, “The Beatles: Here, There and Everywhere”, Deutsche Welle Radio, “Gold Children - Child Labor in the Mongolian Gold Mines”; SIRIUS XM Radio, Senator Bill Bradley’s “American Voices”; BFBS “David Beckham in Afghanistan”; and Ten Alps Radio, “The Woodstock 40th Anniversary.” 

“Radio does not get better than this!  Compelling, moving, touching, funny, and inspiring....listening to some of the richest and most wonderful radio in the world.  The kind of radio that changes lives, gives you chills, and reminds you of the magic and power of the medium.  Congratulations NYF on a sensational competition.”
Blanquita Cullum NYF Radio Program & Promotions Awards GrandJury,  former Governor, U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors

New categories added to the 2010 competition include: “Podcast for the Arts,” which recognizes innovative work done by cultural institutions around the world.   The New York Philharmonic was named as a Finalist in the “Podcast for the Arts” category.

NYF has always championed the work of students by recognizing their most inspiring work in radio and rewarding them for their creativity. Several new categories were introduced this year in the student competition, Finalists include:  Best Student Artist Performance/Interview, “Crous de Montpellier/Conseil General de l'Herault,” Art school of Montpellier, France; and Best Student Comedy, “Walk the Plank,”WLTL Radio LaGrange, Illinois.

All entries were judged by the NYF Radio Program & Promotions Awards GrandJury, consisting of radio experts from stations and companies around the globe. The jury represents the most recognizable voices and experienced programming producers in the medium of radio.
 
Entries are judged on their production values, organization, presentation of information, creativity, and use of the medium.  Each jury member listens to and scores entries via the NYF online judging website.
 
A complete list of the 2010 NYF Radio Program & Promotions Awards Finalists is featured on the website at www.newyorkfestivals.com.

The 2010 Radio Program & Promotions Awards winners will be announced later this month and all winning entries will be featured in the Showcase section of our website. All winning entries are promoted by our network of representatives in 73 countries around the world.