This category is designed to recognise programmes that form part of a station’s regular schedule and are largely driven by the active involvement of their audience – where listeners initiate, contribute to and shape the programme’s content and output by telephone, text and e-mail, or through social and emerging media.
Judges will examine the programme’s topicality and relevance to target audience alongside its ability to stimulate debate, reaction or interaction and imaginatively employ that input on the air. Phone-in or talkback programmes should be entered in this category.
This category is for speech-led programmes only.
Current affairs programmes which are largely agenda-led may be entered into either category B4 Current Affairs Programme – Full Service or B5 Current Affairs Programme – Local / Regional as appropriate.
Music and entertainment-based programmes should be entered in Group A Music Programming and not this category which is confined solely to speech-led programmes.
Who Can Enter
This is a Programme Category Each programme may only enter one programme category and only once into that category. Stations may submit no more than 5 entries per category.
Entries can be made by licensed analogue and digital terrestrial commercial and public service radio stations operating on the island of Ireland. Entries must have originated from and been first broadcast on the island of Ireland.
Independent radio producers are eligible to enter but must present proof of transmission by the relevant qualifying station. In addition to the maximum of 5 entries which each station is permitted to submit in each category, independent producers may submit one entry per category on the payment of the €100 euro entry fee. Proof of broadcast from a qualifying station must be submitted with all independent entries.
Your nominated Station Manager will receive an automated email and will be required to sign off each entry before this is eligible to be put forward for Judging.
Entry Requirements and Conditions of Entry
The programme from which your entry is extracted must have been first broadcast within the validity period: 1st June 2023 – 31st May 2024.
Include an entry of up to a total of 20 minutes duration taken from a single broadcast in transmission sequence (not necessarily continuous). This broadcast should be a fair representation of the programme as generally broadcast.
“Best of” programmes which consist of a compilation of previously broadcast material are not eligible.
Telescoping in and out of music tracks, ad breaks and information segments is permitted. Permitted edit points should be marked by a 2 seconds dead air without any other indicators being added.
No other editing is permitted and all other programme material should be included in full. For example you are NOT permitted to take the first three minutes of an interview, fade down and then include a further piece from that same interview. You may either include one excerpt from the interview or the entire interview, should it fall within the time allowed for that entry. Please go to the rules and read carefully all the rules relating to the Submission of Broadcast Material.
Additional post-production audio material such as voice links, introductions or sign-offs are not permitted i.e. do not use voice links, stings, music beds or other post-produced elements. Judges are specifically instructed to disqualify should this occur.
The entry must be supported by a 250 word paragraph and a detailed running order to accompany the audio entry. The online entry form is designed to only permit a maximum of 250 words.
Each entry costs €100 plus processing fees. Every fourth entry is free.
How Do I Enter This Category
Once you have read all the entry requirements and conditions of entry for this category, and have finalised your audio entry, go to Enter Online and register (if you haven’t already done so). Then complete the entry form for this category and upload your audio entry. Click on Save to Later. This allows you to edit, print draft copies, delete or update your entry right up to the closing date (5pm Friday June 28th 2024).
Please ensure you have uploaded and completed all the required fields and hit submit. You will receive an automated email confirming your submission has been received.
The audio entry should be contained in one MP3 file of no more than 55MB in size.
Judging Criteria for this Category
Judges will look at the following criteria with marks equally split;
Presentation: Does the presenter appear knowledgeable and well-rehearsed? Is it polished and professional?
Production: This relates to the technical side of the entry, the production process itself. Is the chosen piece well-produced? Is quality evident?
Creativity: Judges will be looking for innovation, originality and novelty.
Value to the Listener: Does it connect with the audience ? Does it entertain? Does it achieve its purpose?
