photo courtesy of the Radio Academy
The
Linda Gage Memorial Award
2001
For the fifth year running, entries were invited for short features which demonstrate entrant’s production skills, The award is open to all those on recognised radio or media training courses. The judges are looking for an innovative piece of radio (a short feature up to 4 minutes in duration) that demonstrates production and presentation skills and which makes full creative use of the medium of sound. The judges assessed entries on the technical quality, editorial content and overall production.
This year’s prize included a portable mini disc recorder, a place at the Radio Festival and a year's subscription to The RADIO Magazine.
The winning entry was submitted by Agnes Kruger, a radio student from Goldsmith College in S.E. London.
The award attracted entries from radio students from all parts of the United Kingdom. In making the award to Agnes Kruger, the judges commented that her entry “Bounce Control” was a good story about the sports bra, well told with a good variation of views. Technically it was very dynamic with good use of music. The production was very pacey. It had plenty of energy and humour but was free of clichés. It was well mixed with no presenter links. A montage that actually works. (Click here for the judges comments in full).
The award was presented to Agnes at the Radio Festival in Manchester on the 9th July.
photo courtesy of the Radio Academy
The Linda Gage Memorial Award
for 2001 was supported by Independent
Radio News,
Broadcast Training Ltd, The
Radio Magazine and the Radio Academy.
The Linda Gage Memorial Award 2001
Judges Comments
This is the fifth year the competition has run and has attracted a large number of entries from colleges and universities around the United Kingdom. The brief was to produce a short radio feature that makes creative use of the medium of sound and demonstrates the entrant’s production skills.
The judges are looking for pieces that are well produced. Technically these takes into account editing, mixing, levels and the overall quality of recorded sound. Creative production is important and the use of music and sound effects should add to the piece. Presentation is vital – it should be lively, authoritative and tell the story.
The judges also look for strong
editorial content. The story should have a strong cue that grabs the
listener’s attention and puts the piece in context, and the
actual piece should have a hook at the beginning, a middle and a
conclusion. Interviewees should be relevant to the subject.
This Year’s Competition
This year’s entries covered
a wide range of topics. The judges felt that some key aspects of
radio journalism were not fully addressed. These include working out
the order for telling the story and expressing ideas concisely.
Some entries forget they were telling a story and others lost sight
of who might want to listen (target audience).
The judges thought that entrants were too quick to accept official lines or views. Others forgot the legal requirement of radio for balance and impartiality. Some entrants were not reporting a story on behalf of the listener but the official.
There was some well-researched material and pretty impressive technical standards.
The judges have chosen as the
winner of the Linda Gage Memorial Award this year – AGNES
KRUGER. Her entry “Bounce
Control” was a good story about the sports bra, well told with a
good variation of views. Technically it was very dynamic with
good use of music. The production was very pacey. It had plenty
of energy and humour but was free of clichés. It was well
mixed with no presenter links. A montage that actually works.
Nick Hirst/Angus Moorat
July 2001