The 2009 New York Festivals Radio Programming & Promotion Awards, honoring The World's Best Radio, announced its winners today. Grand Trophies were awarded to WFMT for "Studs Terkel: Montage of a Life" for Culture & the Arts, USA; Brook Lapping Productions for "The New York 77 Blackout" for History, England; Rogers Broadcasting for "This One's For You" for Station Promotion, Canada; and Battery Radio for "Hark!" for Best Sound, Canada.
The coveted title of NYF's 2009 Radio Programming & Promotion Broadcaster of the Year was awarded to Radio Free Asia, the forum that provides timely news to Asian countries where access to a free press is prohibited by the government. RFA was honored with three Gold World Medals, one Silver Medal and three Bronze Medals. Gold winners include; Best Human Interest Story for Radio Free Asia's "A Lucky Uyghur Baby is Born"; "Law Study Group Brings Lawlessness to China" was honored with a Gold for Best investigative Report. A Gold Medal was also awarded to "RFA Burmese Critical Link in Cyclone Nargis Reporting" for Best Ongoing News Story.
Radio Free Asia received one Silver Medal for Best Investigative Report (Longform) for "Crimes Without Punishment" and three Bronze Medals for "Asia Pacific Report" Best Newscast; "The Loner in Ritan Park - A Worldwide Exclusive Report in Beijing During the 2008 Olympics" Best Special Report; and "Young Olympic Torch Protesters Arrested and Beaten By Police" National /International Affairs.
"Radio Free Asia is thrilled and honored to be named ‘Broadcaster of the Year' by the New York Festivals," said Libby Liu, President of Radio Free Asia. "This tremendous honor is so much more gratifying because our journalists work to deliver news from some of the most difficult and dangerous environment in the world. This high recognition distinguishes their commitment and their courage in overcoming great obstacles to inform our listeners of the news happening in their regions every day."
NYF announced new categories this year to evolve with consumers and technology, those categories both Online and Satellite Radio received incredible recognition from the jury. Winners announced in the Online and Satellite categories include, SIRIUS XM Radio USA, winning a Silver Medal for Bill Bradley's "American Voices" for Best Satellite Radio Personality, and two Bronze Medals for Best Satellite Talk Program. Bill Bradley, former Senator and former pro basket ball player for the New York Knicks also received a Finalist Certificate for Best Online Radio.
Argentina's Radio Mitre also received a Bronze Award for Best Online and a Finalist Certificate for Best Online Music Program. UNICEF Radio USA was honored a Silver Medal for "Gaza" for Best Online News Program. Germany's SNN received a Silver Medal for 90elf Best Online Sports Program.
This year's Radio Programming & Promotion Awards Grand Jury awarded 30 Gold Medals, 36 Silver and 42 Bronze Medals. In addition, 58 Finalist Certificates were awarded. The 2009 competition received entries from 26 countries around the world.
The United States was a standout in this year's NYF Radio Programming & Promotion Awards receiving eleven Gold Medals, eight Silver, and twenty-one Bronze Medals. England was honored with six Gold Medals, and Canada received five Gold medals. Australia was also awarded two Gold medallions. Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and The Netherlands each received a Gold Medal for outstanding entries.
All winning entries of the NYF Radio Programming & Promotion Awards will be featured in the Showcase section on www.newyorkfestivals.com.
All press inquiries are welcome and should be directed to Gayle Mandel: gmandel@internationalawardsgroup.com, T: 1 212 643 4800.
International Awards Group (IAG) organizes advertising and programming competitions for the following brands: AME Awards for Advertising Marketing Effectiveness; Hive Awards for the Unsung Heroes of the Internet; Innovative Advertising Awards; Midas Awards for Financial Services Communications; The Global Awards for Healthcare Communications; NYF World's Best Advertising; NYF Film & Video; NYF Radio Programming & Promotion; and NYF Television Programming & Promotion. Founded in 1957, IAG and their brands have representation in 84 countries. For more information, go to www.newyorkfestivals.com.