BU’s BIRSt station scoops two wins at Student Radio Awards

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An online radio station run by Master’s radio students at Bournemouth University picked up two prestigious prizes at the Student Radio Awards (SRAs).

BIRSt is run by MA Radio Production students, with an innovative mix of music, drama, and features.

It won a Silver Award in the Best Station category, while Richard Spalding received Silver in the Kevin Greening Award, which recognises creativity and innovation, for his BIRSt feature Teabagging.

The BIRSt team at the station launch with BBC Radio 4 presenter Jane Garvey

The BIRSt team at the station launch with BBC Radio 4 presenter Jane Garvey

The Student Radio Awards are run by the Student Radio Association, and took place in London on November 7.

They celebrate the best of student radio nationwide, as well as launching the next generation of radio talent into the industry – with previous winners including Radio 1 DJs Greg James and Scott Mills.

Jo Tyler, Radio Production lecturer at BU, said: “It is an amazing achievement for BIRSt to win these awards at this level.

“Set up as an internet station since 2000, BIRSt has challenged students to consider different ways of broadcasting from the outset and is very much where the radio industry is heading now.”

She added: “The BIRSt 2013 team rose the challenge of producing interesting, creative and engaging content for an under-served younger audience globally and I pleased to say that many of the cohort have already secured jobs with the BBC and other broadcasters for their work.”

Bournemouth University students Charlotte Gay and Aoife Allen were also shortlisted for this year’s SRAs in the Best Female Presenter and Best Newcomer categories respectively.