Month: November 2024

The best of Community Radio has been celebrated at the Cardiff City Football Club for the 2024 Community Radio Awards.
Hosted by last year’s male and female presenter of the year winners, Priya Matharu from Switch Radio and Ste Greenall from Black Cat Radio, the evening celebrated the hard work of recipients from up and down the country, from the Isle of Wight to the Isle of Skye, and Chelmsford to Cardiff.
Martin Steers, awards chair, said: “What another fantastic year for community radio. It’s been a pleasure coming to Cardiff and working with the Welsh Community Radio Network alongside the UK Community Radio Network, to help deliver both the awards and conference earlier in the day.
“Well done to all the winners, as well as all the finalists for the awards. Watch this space for 2025, where we celebrate the 10th Community Radio Awards, and 20 years of community radio.”
Honours went to Tony Wyn Jones, founding member of MônFM in Anglesey, and Chris Tibbles, from PCR FM in Peterborough.
The winners are as follows:

Special Award: 2024 General Election Coverage
Gold Wycombe Sound General Election Coverage 2024 
Silver Vote24 Radio Programme – NLive Radio
Bronze General Election History for the Isle of Wight – Vectis Radio

Newcomer of the Year
Sponsored by The Radio Hub
Gold Paul “Babz” Plumb – Sheppey FM 92.2
Silver Joshua Jones – Academy fm Thanet
Bronze Olivia Giovanna Goodman – Radio Cardiff

Sage Person of the Year
Gold Tony Gillham – Black Cat Radio
Silver Ronald Leleux – Vectis Radio
Bronze Catriona Maclean – Radio Skye

Young Person of the Year
Sponsored by The Radio Hub
Gold Olly Hilton – BFBS Catterick
Silver Theo Oakley – Radio Folkestone
Bronze Luke McNamara – Radio Woking

Volunteer of the Year
Sponsored by Wales Community Radio Network
Gold Robin Zhang – Radio Cardiff
Silver Josh Holmes-Bright – Caroline Coastal FM
Bronze Dave Dallard – Erewash Sound

Sports Show of the Year
Gold Richard Wyeth – BFBS Aldershot
Silver Live Local Sports Commentary   – Mix 92.6
Bronze The Rapha Report – Radio Skye

Arts & Creative Radio of the Year
Sponsored by Devaweb
Gold A Christmas Carol – Cambridge 105 Radio
Silver Together – Warminster Community Radio
Bronze Unplugged with Ashlee – Switch Radio

News, Journalism & Factual Storytelling of the Year
Sponsored by RadioToday
Gold The Agony and The Ecstacy – Saving Oldham Coliseum – Oldham Community Radio
Silver Hayley Hammond – BFBS Brize Norton
Bronze Natasha Reneaux – BFBS Aldershot

Specialist Content Show of the Year
Sponsored by PRS for Music
Gold Hooray 4 Musicals – A Christmas Carol – Maritime Radio
Silver A ‘Sky Tonight’ Special Report – HCR104fm
Bronze Martin Lunn – The Astronomy Show – Drystone Radio

Specialist Music Show of the Year
Sponsored by PPL
Gold Crossover Country – Radio Skye
Silver The Indie Club – Spark
Bronze Currently Country – K107FM

Entertainment Show of the Year
Sponsored by CopMedia
Gold Hayley Hammond – BFBS Brize Norton
Silver Ryan Galpin – BFBS Salisbury Plain
Bronze Lunchtime with Tristan B – BCfm

Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year
Sponsored by Vibrant Colour
Gold St Neots Festival – Black Cat Radio
Silver Bro Radio’s Community Awards – Bro Radio
Bronze Radio LaB at Radio 1’s Big Weekend – Radio LaB 97.1FM

Female Presenter of the Year 
Sponsored by Autopod
Gold Steffi Callister – Cambridge 105 Radio
Silver Suzy Lee – Radio Skye
Bronze Amy Gray – Cambridge 105 Radio

Male Presenter of the Year 
Sponsored by Autopod
Gold Stephen Higgs – Switch Radio
Silver Ryan Galpin – BFBS Salisbury Plain
Bronze Luke Wallwork – Liverpool Community Radio

Community Show of the Year 
Sponsored by Radioplayer
Gold Rhondda Heritage Hour – Rhondda Radio
Silver In Conversation with Indiraa – Nu Sound Radio 92FM
Bronze Ampthill Past Memories – Radio LaB 97.1FM

Community Impact Project of the Year
Sponsored by UK Community Radio Network
Gold YouthSPACE – Radio Skye
Silver The 4PS Radio Vectis Radio Training School is 10 years old – Vectis Radio
Bronze River Radio Toy Appeal – River Radio

Station of the Yearsponsored by Aiir
Gold ALL FM
Silver Academy fm Thanet
Bronze Vectis Radio

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

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Radio broadcaster, journalist and podcaster Howard Hughes has died.
The news was shared by his webmaster on social media, confirming he died a week ago, but no other information is available currently.
Adam Cornwell said: “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Howard Hughes, the beloved and respected creator of The Unexplained With Howard Hughes and a dear friend who sadly died a week ago.”
Howard has been on the radio for decades, and was well known for working with Chris Tarrant on the Capital FM Breakfast Show.
He worked at many radio stations including Radio City in his native Liverpool, Radio Wyvern, Talk Radio, Smooth, BBC local radio, and many more, along with IRN.
He also hosted and produced The Unexplained With Howard Hughes podcast.
Keep reading for many tributes paid by his colleagues and friends.

Such sad news about Howard Hughes, he was a wonderful broadcaster and a nice man, I will always remember Howard with great affection, many laughs, special memories.That voice #RIPHowardHughes pic.twitter.com/V7WH8s14fK
— Steve Penk (@StevePenk) November 16, 2024

such sad news to hear of the loss of #HowardHughes – my career overlapped with his countless times and I remember chatting with him when he was taking over from me as Chris Tarrant’s news reader – such a lovely lovely man and a HUGE voice — thoughts with everyone who knew him
— sandywarr (@sandywarr) November 16, 2024

Gutted to hear @HughesOnAir has passed away.
Enjoyed his “The Unexplained” show for years
— That UFO Podcast (@ufouapam) November 16, 2024

Farewell to Howard Hughes. So, so sad to hear the news today of this huge figure in commercial radio. What a voice – and he knew how to command an audience with it. Here’s an hour in his company, telling his story – alone: https://t.co/x4EFHnxWl1
— 📻 David Lloyd (@DavidLloydRADIO) November 16, 2024

So sad to hear about @HughesOnAir was a real gentleman and a pleasure to work with, during Covid when we were allowed back out. I spent the day with him and it was great fun. R.I.P Howard pic.twitter.com/Kmn7OLaAFJ
— Stuart Armour (@StuartArmour) November 16, 2024

I am so sad to hear that my friend Howard Hughes has died. Howie was proud to have been @bbcberkshire’s first breakfast presenter in 92 but I was prouder when he came back to be part of my show. He made every word – every syllable – count and was the master of morning bulletins.. pic.twitter.com/sPp2YrFKeo
— Andrew Peach (@andrewpeach) November 16, 2024

I am in shock hearing about the passing of Howard Hughes . He had such a powerful voice and I will treasure all our phone calls dissecting the radio industry of the past sixty years. Always a great education. It was a joy to work with him at @TalkTV for seven years pic.twitter.com/sD92FxlzPx
— Johnny Seifert (@JohnnySeifert) November 16, 2024

I helped train Howard Hughes when he joined Radio City + later worked with him at IRN. He was a natural broadcaster who truly loved radio. When he read a bulletin you stopped to listen. Clear + authoritative but also warm + accessible. Modern-day newsreaders take note. RIP Howie pic.twitter.com/Ecl1snxNya
— Paul Rowley (@PaulRowleyRadio) November 16, 2024

We’re sorry to learn of the passing of iconic radio newsreader and presenter HowardHughes @HughesOnAir A defining voice of radio news. A man passionate about radio and getting a story to air. To see him in action was a joy. RIP Howard. pic.twitter.com/qVvORVmYOq
— BJTC – Industry Accredited Journalism Courses (@BJTC_UK) November 16, 2024

Very sad to hear about the death of radio legend Howard Hughes. He was incredibly encouraging during my early newsreader years, and made my dream come true when he asked me to start reporting on Capital Breakfast (also his off-air gossip was truly outrageous!) RIP Howie 😔 pic.twitter.com/JpYtNXmrEy
— Andrew Bailey (@bailsbails) November 16, 2024

I am very sorry to hear about the death of Howard Hughes. I first met Howard 40 years ago at @BBCNottingham when he briefly presented Morning Report. Then, when I read the IRN national news bulletins in the early 1980s, I ran into him again. A great guy. https://t.co/2iePAqy2DY
— jonathan charles (@JCharlesLondon) November 16, 2024

Sad tonight to hear the great Howard Hughes @HughesOnAir has died 😢
Howard was so kind and helpful to me in 2006 when I came back to radio after a couple of years away and we worked together at Smooth FM.
— Stuart Clarkson (@stuartclarkson) November 16, 2024

We would like to say how sad and sorry we are to hear of the passing of Howard Hughes.
Howard was a staple of Sunday night on talkRADIO and latterly @TalkTV for many years in his 10pm slot and will be missed
We aim to put a “Best of” package together on our Youtube soon pic.twitter.com/JsBWaaEk1C
— Talk UPDATES (@talkupdatesuk) November 16, 2024

Gutted to hear Howard Hughes has died. He was a radio legend, and such a sweet man.
He was truly a joy to work with, loved being on the radio, and embodied everything that is brilliant about it. He was so warm, with a child-like curiosity about the world. Rest well, my friend.
— Darryl Morris (@darrylmorris) November 16, 2024

Oh no! Not Howard Hughes? Watching Howie read coherent, attention grabbing, authoritative news bulletins with that glorious voice of his from nothing but scribbled notes on various pieces of paper was really something to behold. #RIP @HughesOnAir
— Nick Pitts (@nickpitts) November 16, 2024

I’m gutted to hear of the death of #Howard Hughes. We worked together at Capital – what a broadcaster! He lived and breathed radio. Do listen to this radio conversation with @DavidLloydRADIO https://t.co/SsXlNMZNPY
— Andy Ivy (@andyivy) November 16, 2024

I’m truly sorry to hear of the passing of the greatest radio news voice of a generation
It was an honour earlier this year to have him read the news on my programme on Mi-Soul Radio@HughesOnAir was a wonderful, humble man and without doubt the very best news reader of our time pic.twitter.com/FSRj2Vs1EQ
— Mike Vitti (@michaelvitti) November 16, 2024

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

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WorldDAB Summit 2024 saw public and private broadcasters actively collaborate and engage in dialogue to ensure radio’s digital future.

It was hosted by Aradhna Tayal Leach, Managing Director of the UK Radio Academy, and Director of Radio TechCon.
WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst, joined by Edita Kudláčová, the EBU’s Head of Radio, and Luka Đurić, Vice President of the Association of European Radios (AER), celebrated the enduring strengths and benefits of broadcast radio.
Bierhorst stated that WorldDAB’s work with global organisations is unifying the broadcast radio ecosystem through initiatives such as its Working Groups and events.
She emphasised the importance of maintaining a balanced broadcast sector integrating traditional and digital elements, without relying solely on IP solutions. Complementing this, the EBU’s Connected Car Playbook was highlighted as a key initiative aligning with WorldDAB’s goals, providing critical guidelines for broadcast, apps, and voice in digital environments.
The Summit, held in Zagreb and attended by nearly 200 delegates, marked significant global advancements in digital radio. In her opening address, Bierhorst said, “Securing radio’s digital future is critical and fundamental for listeners, broadcasters, and society.”
Jasna Vaniček-Fila from Croatia’s Directorate for Media underscored the Ministry of Culture’s backing for digital radio, citing opportunities for innovation, and environmental benefits such as reduced power consumption.
“The Minister of Culture and Media supports the further development of digital radio, and the wide range of opportunities it offers,” she said. Meanwhile, Mate Botica from Croatian network operator OIV announced that nine new DAB+ transmitters had been brought into service since August, bringing coverage to 97%.
The event was held just six weeks before Switzerland’s public broadcaster, SRG SSR switches off its FM transmitters. Adriano Pitteri set out the rationale including cost savings, alongside the extensive work being done to publicise the change to listeners. Meanwhile, Dirk Schrödter, Minister of Digitisation of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, shared its plan to make the transition to DAB+ digital radio by 2031.
He described radio as “truly a wonderful medium,” but urged that linear radio must be transformed for the digital future. “With DAB+ we are creating more media diversity, which is extremely important in an era where deepfakes and fake news are on the rise.” he added.
At a time of flooding across Europe and other disasters around the world, Carsten Zorger from Digitalradio Büro Deutschland highlighted the development of new life-saving Automatic Safety Alerts via DAB+, and the successful “Warntag” [warning day] tests in Germany, which included the system for the first time.
The innovation in DAB+ digital radio technology aims to protect the public during emergencies by delivering reliable safety alerts without requiring an internet connection.
Elsewhere at the event, Javier Sánchez from Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE spoke about this year’s rapid rollout of DAB+. Since its launch in February, DAB+ services from RTVE can now be received in 13 cities across the country. On the 100th anniversary of radio in Spain, Sánchez revealed that Ràdio 4, the Catalonian radio station of RNE, was now broadcasting on DAB+ in Barcelona, becoming the first legal DAB+ station in Catalonia.
At the organisation’s General Assembly, held prior to the Summit, the WorldDAB Award for Outstanding Service was presented to Lindsay Cornell of the BBC and Chair of WorldDAB’s Technical Committee, for his work on the development of new ETSI standards for the Automatic Safety Alert system. The award noted that Cornell’s “technical expertise and exceptional project management and people skills have undoubtedly had a huge impact on the industry.”
Closing the event, it was announced that the next WorldDAB Automotive event will take place in Madrid, Spain, on 19 June 2025.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

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