Whale podcast wins local radio award

A Dunedin radio programme garnered top awards for an episode of its podcast series on wildlife around Dunedin environs.

The winning episode, entitled Whale-come home, explored the prospect of increased visits to Otago Harbour by southern right whales.

The wildlife programme won top honours at Otago Access Radio FM Dunedin’s Air Awards held at Burns Hall, First Church, on Saturday night.  More than 80 people attended to celebrate the station’s 240 volunteer broadcasters.

The Wild Dunedin Podcast was the brainchild of Otago Museum science communicator Dr Claire Concannon and University of Otago conservation biologist Jamie McAulay.

Dr Concannon said the podcast series, complementing the Wild Dunedin Festival, was designed to encourage locals to better appreciate the "huge diversity at our doorstep".

"The idea was to get the local community to fully embrace this incredible wildlife that’s around us, and also to understand what the wildlife needs from us so that we can share this space," she said.

Otago University researchers and local wildlife experts had contributed to conversations and had assisted with sourcing soundbites, such as bird and animal calls.

Public Service Association local organiser Jon Henning presented the PSA Supreme Award trophy and $250 prize to Dr Concannon, whose programme judges described as a perfect example of New Zealand podcast storytelling.

Dunedin musician and educator Molly Devine composed instrumental pieces as a backdrop to stories of the natural world.

Full results: Youth: Project Rioteer (Ashley King); Arts and Literature (joint winners): Dark Dunedin (Emily Duncan and HJ Kilkelly), Write On (Vanda Symon); Community Information and Services: NoteAble Radio (Chris Ford); Science, Sustainability and the Environment: Wild Dunedin Podcast (Dr Claire Concannon and Jamie McAulay); Music, Community Supported: A Kaleidoscope of Music (Justine Schep); Music: Fine Tune (Alistair Addis); Health and Wellbeing: Bringing Wellbeing to Life (Dr Denise Quinlan); Connecting Cultures: Indigenous Encounters (Pia Kahn); Special Interest: Let’s Talk Sport (Liam Wilson); Most Popular Podcast (joint winners): Jazz Café (Lou McConnell) and Say Me Viet Nam (Lien Trinh); Listeners’ Choice: Radius Fulton Residents’ Show; Volunteer of the Year: Tim McMullen; PSA Supreme Award: Wild Dunedin Podcast; Otago Community Broadcasters Society Lifetime Membership: Vanda Symon and Chanel O’Brien.

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement