Celebrations for Isca College Radio and Devon Libraries

The Isca College Radio Crew are celebrating once again, having won an unprecedented third Sony Radio Award.

Following victories in 2010 and 2011, last year saw Isca Radio awarded a unique Arqiva prize in recognition of the sustained quality of their radio output.  This year, their news feature ‘Why are we here’ was judged by the Sony panel to be of winning quality once again.

The feature saw students interviewing a careers advisor, the Isca school nurse, and even Devon’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, all in an attempt to explore the meaning of life through their radio documentary.
25 budding radio journalists, editors, and producers worked on Isca’s entry, dedicating every spare minute during lunchtimes and after school to finalising their programme.

This year’s Sony Radio Awards for Schools saw a record number of entries but judges felt that Isca’s programme demonstrated the very best level of interviewing skills in addition to extremely professional editing and sound mixing.
Dan Smith, Music and Visual Arts Technician at Isca College, said: ‘I am extremely proud of the students who have worked so hard to win this award.  They have given up their lunchtimes and afternoons to make this documentary and they are definitely worthy winners.’

A spokesperson for Sony added: ‘Many congratulations to everyone involved in this production. Making radio in schools has never been stronger.’

http://www.iscacollege.co.uk/coming-to-isca/media-arts

Meanwhile, Devon Libraries was also crowned joint winners of the Library of the Year Award, alongside Dundee Library services, at yesterday evening's Bookseller Industry Awards 2013. At the glittering black-tie event in London's Park Lane Hilton, Devon Libraries was praised for the huge range of services it offered beyond books as well as managing to shrug off budget cuts to increase visitor numbers and loan figures. Dundee Library services jointly won the award for launching an impressive digital participation programme.

Full report to follow tomorrow.

http://www.devon.gov.uk/community/libraries.htm