Media Releases
International Recognition for RNZ
Released at 11:37 am on 13 October 2021
Three RNZ podcasts have won awards at the prestigious New York Festivals Radio Awards, presented today in an online ceremony hosted from New York. The Unthinkable, hosted by Morning Report’s Susie Ferguson, takes out the coveted gold award for Personal Lives Podcast, Alison Ballance’s Voices from Antarctica receives a silver in the Environment & Ecology Documentary category, and William Ray adds to his successes at the 2020 Voyager Media Awards and New Zealand Radio Awards with a History Documentary bronze for Black Sheep.
RNZ CEO and Editor-in-Chief Paul Thompson says these awards celebrate the quality and breadth of content made by RNZ people.
“RNZ’s Podcast team has gone from strength to strength since it was created in 2016 and having three such different podcasts acknowledged in this top international radio competition is something we can be incredibly proud of,” he said.
“We’re in a great position as a multi-platform media organisation when we can have our audience listen to these stories on air, on our website or on whatever podcast platform they choose. Huge congratulations to Susie, Alison and William on this wonderful recognition of their compelling storytelling, and to all our finalists representing RNZ at these prestigious international awards.”
Susie Ferguson pays tribute to the family at the centre of her podcast The Unthinkable, Kate and Sam, and their first daughter Wren.
“The podcast wouldn't have been possible without their unflinching and generous sharing of their story. I am still amazed they agreed to it. If people ask what The Unthinkable is about, I tell them - but also say it's actually about unending love, for each other, for Wren, and for their whanau. I am enormously privileged to have been told the stories in The Unthinkable, to have been allowed into such personal, painful and private times, and craft them into the podcast series.
“I'm totally stoked and quite blown away the winning the gold. The acknowledgement from the international radio industry is immense.”
The Unthinkable – Gold, Personal Lives Podcast
What do you do when The Unthinkable happens? Presented by Morning Report’s Susie Ferguson and produced by Susie Ferguson and Liz Garton, The Unthinkable tells the story of one family’s experience with loss and heartbreak at the death of a child.
Voices from Antarctica – Silver, Environment & Ecology Documentary
From penguins and seals to upside-down underwater gardens, acclaimed broadcaster Alison Ballance’s Voices from Antarctica took us along for the ride to the southernmost part of the world.
Black Sheep – Bronze, History Documentary
Black Sheep deals with the shady, controversial and sometimes downright villainous characters of
New Zealand history, produced and presented by William Ray.
New York Festivals Radio Awards honors radio content in all lengths and formats and across all platforms from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from around the globe.
The NY Festival Radio Awards are judged by over 200 producers and creatives from around the world and feature entries from more than 30 countries.
The Unthinkable, Voices from Antarctica and Black Sheep are available at rnz.co.nz/series or on all the usual podcast platforms.
The full list of RNZ finalists for 2021
On-Air Talent
Best Talk Show Host – Jim Mora
Best Talk Show Host – Kathryn Ryan
Best Radio Personality: Network/Syndicated – Kim Hill
News Programmes
Best Coverage Of Ongoing News Story - Christchurch Mosque shooter sentencing
News Reports/Features
Best Investigative Reporting – Guyon Espiner
Documentary
History – Black Sheep - BRONZE
Environment & Ecology - Voices from Antarctica - SILVER
Craft
Best Live Sound - Toku Reo Waiata
Podcasts
Narrative/Documentary Podcast – The Service
Personal Lives Podcast – The Unthinkable - GOLD
Visit RNZ's awards page.