NEWS: RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES FROM UK COMMERCIAL RADIO FOR PRIX ITALIA BROADCASTING AWARDS by GRANT GODDARD

www.grantgoddard.co.uk September 1992

A record number of entries have been submitted from Independent Radio for this year's Prix Italia broadcasting awards, organised by Italian public broadcaster RAI in Parma later this month. Each of the four programme categories fiction/drama, music, documentary and title sequences has attracted a British entrant, including one from newly opened national station 'Classic FM'. 'LBC Radio's half-hour documentary entry, 'The Environment: Think Globally, Act Locally', was produced by the station's Public Affairs Forum and broadcast prior to the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. It emphasises the need for recycling and energy efficiency, and it promotes the need for individual action. The fiction entry 'Lotus Blossom' was produced by Independent Radio Drama Productions for 'LBC' as part of the annual New London Radio Playwrights' Festival. The play follows the experiences of a half-Chinese working class schoolgirl evacuated from London's East End in the 1940s. 'West Sound Radio's documentary 'The Captive Heart' explains how Robert Burns' poetry brought comfort to Beirut hostage Tom Sutherland during his six years' captivity. And 'BRMB FM's music programme 'Sounds Like Birmingham' promotes the second city as the UK's 'City Of Music 1992'. 'Classic FM's title theme, performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and produced by David Arnold, is entered for the title sequences category. Variations on the theme are used to introduce the station's news and weather bulletins. At last year's Prix Italia, Special Commendations were awarded to two British commercial radio entries a play by Independent Radio Drama Productions and the title theme of London's 'Spectrum Radio International'. The Radio Authority's Chief Executive, Peter Baldwin, says he is "very pleased" that Independent Radio has submitted five entries on this occasion.

[First published in 'Broadcast' magazine as 'Indies Flood Prix Italia', 11 September 1992]

Grant Goddard is a media analyst / radio specialist / radio consultant with thirty years of experience in the broadcasting industry, having held senior management and consultancy roles within the commercial media sector in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Details at http://www.grantgoddard.co.uk

News: Record Number Of Entries From UK Commercial Radio For Prix Italia Broadcasting Awards 1992 Grant Goddard

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