THE arrival of two giant pandas to Edinburgh Zoo, from China in December, has helped Scots radio station, Real Radio Scotland, win a news award.
The station was winner of the ‘And Finally’ category at the Independent Radio News awards, held earlier today and which celebrate the best of news reporting among commercial radio stations.
The awards also delivered runners-up prizes for Real Radio Scotland’s Corrie Martin (Newsreader of the Year) and for the station’s reporting of physical threats made against Celtic FC manager, Neil Lennon (Sports Story).
Real Radio Scotland’s owners, GMG Radio, won first or second place in seven of the eight categories it was nominated in.
In a GMG statement reacting to its awards, group programme director, John Simons, is quoted as saying: “We have some outstanding journalistic capability within our news teams and it is fantastic to see this talent recognised as among the best in the business once again.”
The full list of winners and runners-up reads:
Newcomer of the Year
Winner: Jessica Parker, 106 JACKfm Oxfordshire
Runner-up: Jennie Clark, Real Radio Wales
Best Original News Story
Winner: Domestic Violence Specials – Gem 106
Runner-up: Selby Rail Crash – Real Radio Yorkshire
Reporter of the Year
Winner: Katie Collins – GMG Radio North West
Runner-up: Daniel Freedman – LBC
Newsreader of the Year
Winner: Paul Lockitt – Key 103
Runner-up: Corrie Martin – Real Radio Scotland
Best Newsteam/ Newsroom <750,000
Winner: Radio Aire
Runner-up: Isle of Wight Radio
Best Newsteam/ Newsroom >750,000
Winner: GMG Radio North West News Team
Runner-up: Touch Radio (Quidem Midlands News team)
Best Sports Story
Winner: Carling Cup Final – BRMB
Runner-up: Neil Lennon Terror Target – Real Radio Scotland
‘And Finally’
Winner: Pandawatch – Real Radio Scotland
Runner-up: The Princess and the Pea…..Fritter – Metro Radio
IRN Gold Award 2012
Winner: John Pickford, Head of News, Key 103
