Having your work work entered into a competition – and better, still, winning – is a great way to get your work noticed. Here’s some information on a number of prestigious competitions and awards – let us know if you are aware of others.
Remember that in most cases, you will need the agreement of the broadcaster to enter your programme. The broadcaster may also enter your programme with your agreement. Check your contract for any specific requirements.
If you miss this year’s deadline, don’t forget that you’ll have another chance next year.
NEW YORK FESTIVALS
International competition open to programmes broadcast anywhere.
ELIGIBLE PROGRAMMES: All professional radio programmes, features and spots. Must conform to the competition formats and categories.
WHO CAN ENTER: Broadcaster or producer
ENTRY FEE: For a single programme or insert $199 USD, series $299 USD
DEADLINE: 30 June 2010 (for programmes produced or first broadcast in any country and in any language after 1 Jan 2009 and before the deadline)
DETAILED INFORMATION AT: www.newyorkfestivals.com
PPI AWARDS
Irish awards.
ELIGIBLE PROGRAMMES: Wide range of programme types. Must conform to the competition formats and categories.
WHO CAN ENTER: Commercial and public service radio stations operating on the island of Ireland. Independent producers are eligible to enter and must present proof of transmission by the relevant qualifying station.
ENTRY FEE: €100 per entry. Third entry is free.
DEADLINE: 4 pm, 23 July 2010 (online entries); 4 pm, 27 July 2010 (entries on CD) For the 2010 awards, the programmes must have been broadcast in Ireland between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010.
DETAILED INFORMATION AT: www.ppiradioawards.com
PRIX ITALIA
Prix Italia’s members are public and private radio and television companies from five continents. Only Prix members can enter programmes into the competition. RTE is a member.
TYPE OF PROGRAMME: Wide range, including music, drama, documentaries.
WHO CAN ENTER: Any radio station which is a member of Prix Italia.
ENTRY FEE:
DEADLINE: 30 April 2010 (for entry form). 30 May 2010 (for CD and other materials). Deadline for 2010 has passed. If you have a programme broadcast on RTE which you would like entered for the 2011 competition, you will need to ask RTE if they are willing to do so.
WEBSITE: http://www.prixitalia.rai.it/2010/En/Default.aspx
PRIX EUROPA RADIO
One of the few competitions with a financial prize (€6000 per prize) in addition to a trophy. If you attend the Festival (Berlin, 16-23 October 2010), you may become an ‘observer’ or take part in Jury Group sessions.
TYPE OF PROGRAMME: Radio fiction (single radio drama or episode from series and serials), radio documentary (single radio feature programme, but also episodes from documentary series and serials). There is also a category for emerging media for entries which may have a direct connection to a television or radio programme or may be stand-alone online projects.
WHO CAN ENTER: Open to all radio organisations and independent producers based in Europe, provided that they hold the rights for the entered production.
ENTRY FEE: No entry fee
DEADLINE: 1 July 2010 (for online registration), 20 July 2010 (for CD and other materials). 2010 awards are for entries produced or broadcast for the first time after 1 January 2009.
WEBSITE: www.prix-europa.de/en/
SONY RADIO ACADEMY AWARDS
Awards for programmes broadcast in the UK.
TYPE OF PROGRAMME: Wide range of programme types. Primarily intended for UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man listeners.
WHO CAN ENTER: Broadcaster or independent producer, including a letter from the broadcaster as proof of transmission.
ENTRY FEE: £99.88 per entry
DEADLINE: Deadline for 2010 has passed. (Entries for the Sony Radio Academy Awards 2010 must have been broadcast on FM, AM, digital terrestrial, satellite or cable, streamed or made available for download between 01 January 2009 and 31 December 2009.) Deadline for 2011 will probably be in late January 2011.
WEBSITE: www.radioawards.org
ONE WORLD MEDIA AWARDS
Awards mainly for programmes broadcast in the UK, but with some categories open to broadcasts elsewhere and to new media. May be of particular interest to producers who receive funding from the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund.
TYPE OF PROGRAMME: Radio documentary covering issues affecting the developing world. There are also specific categories, such as the as ‘local media award’, ‘children’s rights award’, ‘environment award’, and ‘MDGs award’. Some categories are open to programmes broadcast in the UK only. Others are open to ‘outstanding broadcast, print or new media coverage, within and outside the UK’, so check your category carefully.
WHO CAN ENTER: Producers, journalists, broadcasters
ENTRY FEE: £66 per entry
DEADLINE: Deadline for 2010 has passed (12 March 2010). Deadline for 2011 will probably be in March 2011 for programmes broadcast between March 2010 and March 2011. Check the website for details and watch out for the fact that some individual awards have different deadlines.
WEBSITE: http://oneworldmedia.org.uk/awards
THIRD COAST FESTIVAL
Awards for broadcasts in English anywhere in the world. Prizes range from $1500 to $6000. Note that you must sign a release and license agreement when you enter a programme. (Look out also for the ‘Shortdocs Challenge’ to produce a three-minute audio story.)
TYPE OF PROGRAMME: Best documentary, radio impact, best news feature. Also category for best new artist.
WHO CAN ENTER: Entries are usually submitted by the producer
ENTRY FEE: $70 per entry (lower fee for student or early entries)
DEADLINE: 14 July 2010 (for work produced and presented publicly for the first time on the radio, internet (including podcasts) or in a public setting between July 2009 and July 2010.
WEBSITE: www.thirdcoastfestival.org/competitions