Remember last year’s winners? Here’s a few to jog your memory.
Best On Air Team (FM) was won by WS FM101.7 Jonesy & Amanda (2014, 2012). Best On Air Team (AM) was won for the third year in a row by Melbourne 3AW breakfast presenters Ross Stevenson and John Burns (2014, 2013, 2011). Best Current Affairs was won by 3AW’s Neil Mitchell (2014, 2013, 2012) and Best Talk Presenter was won for the first time by 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
If you’d like a shot at one of those heavy little microphone shaped statuettes, entries are now open today for the 27th annual ACRAs. There’s 34 categories, which cover all areas of radio broadcasting including news, talk, sport, music and entertainment. The ACRAs are peer judged with judging panels comprised of industry members across networks and associated industries. Winners are announced in each category across three areas: metropolitan, provincial and country commercial radio stations.
This year’s event will return to the Gold Coast and be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, October 10.
Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner says, “This year promises to be another outstanding event, celebrating the wonderful talent within the radio industry. With the increase in competition, particularly between breakfast and drive teams around the country, we hope to receive record entries this year,” said Ms Warner.
Other winners from last year’s Awards included: Best Sports Presenter, Ray Warren (Triple M Sydney SCA), Best Newcomer on air, Melissa Doyle (smoothfm ) and Best News Presenter, Glenn Daniel (smoothfm).
Last year’s ACRAs were held in Melbourne and hosted by Shane Jacobson and more than 1200 people attended. The announcement of this year’s host, presenters and entertainment will follow in the coming months.
Ms Warner said a feature of the Awards is the Hall of Fame, which acknowledges a lifelong commitment to the Australian radio industry. Last year’s inductee was respected radio and media industry executive, Peter Harvie. Previous inductees have included Derryn Hinch, Neil Mitchell, John Laws, Tony Pilkington, Graham Mott, Frank Hyde, Rod Muir, Bob Rogers, Paul Thompson and Kevin Blyton. Hall of Fame recipients are nominated by industry colleagues and decided by an industry wide executive judging committee.
Entries for this year’s Awards close on 22 May 2015.
Information about entering the Awards, categories and conditions of entry can be found at the website: http://www.acras.com.au/