The Linda Gage Memorial Award - 2002

For the sixth year, 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 Richard Russell, a student from Farnborough College of Technology in Hampshire.

The award attracted a record number of entries from radio students from all parts of the United Kingdom. In making the award to Richard Russell, the judges commented that his entry "Remembering War" demonstrated an imaginative use of audio that would find an audience. 

Click here for the judges comments in full.

The award was presented to Richard at the Radio Festival in Cambridge on the 2nd July.

Richard accepting his prize at the Radio Festival in Cambridge.

We are grateful to Independent Radio News, Broadcast Training Ltd, The Radio Magazine
and the Radio Academy for supporting this year's prizes.


The Linda Gage Memorial Award 2002

Judges Comments

This is the sixth year the competition has run and has attracted a record number of entries from colleges and universities around the United Kingdom. It was pleasing to note this year that entries were received from colleges who had not participated in previous years.

Whilst attracting a record number of entries, the overall quality was not as good as in previous years.  Indeed a number of entries submitted by one particular college were particularly poor - technically they fell far short of the required standard, the editorial had no balance and it seemed to judges that the tutor/s had little or no knowledge of radio production.

Against this, one entry stood out, this being the one submitted by this year's winner, Richard Russell. Technically it was very confident with a good use of stereo and archive material. The piece was well conceived and executed with strong sound bites and good use of appropriate music.  It was well researched and scripted with good presentation.

The Brief

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 this 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.

 

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