Sunday, 27 May 2007
John Robbie and Pheladi Gwangwa
at the awards ceremony
Photo from www.bbc.co.uk
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Talk Radio 702 won Station of the Year in the first ever BBC Africa Radio Awards in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, 26 May.
The Awards were held at the Safari Park Hotel, highlights of which can be seen and heard across Africa via the BBC's radio programmes in English and Swahili, the international news and information channel BBC World and the music channel MTV base (Africa).
702's station manager, Pheladi Gwangwa, speaking from Nairobi, said: "We are thrilled...This is a great achievement for the station and the talented people who work for it. It's a team effort."
"We will continue to serve the community with dedication and passion. Our listeners always come first.
"Our listeners have told us all along that we are the best radio station on the continent and this award is confirmation of that. We wish to thank our listeners for their loyal support over the past 27 years, " said Gwangwa.
Since the station first started broadcasting on 28 June 1980, 702 received a number a number of awards. "In this case, we were competing against the best on the continent. I wish to also congratulate all the other category winners," Gwangwa added.
Primedia Broadcasting's Group Head of News and Talk Programming, Yusuf Abramjee, said: "Everyone at the station is ecstatic. There is a celebratory mood. This recognition means a lot to 702's management, staff and our listeners."
The judges praised 702 as "a confident and professional station which uses its immense resources to change people's lives through broadcasting and community activities." They said that they were "especially impressed with the range of on-air initiatives including hosting a live debate with political parties before elections, hosting and organising the press conference to quiz Vice President Jacob Zuma the day after his acquittal on rape charges, hosting a celebrity party for the Oscar-winning film, "Tsotsi", and unveiling the FIFA World Cup at a special ceremony."
Abramjee said "these were but only some of the many successful events 702 had hosted. We bring our listeners news, talk and information 'as it happens, when it happens'. We will continue with this proud heritage."
The BBC launched its Africa-wide search for the very best radio talent in autumn 2006. It wanted to recognise and celebrate the exceptional broadcasting talents of those working in the continent's vibrant radio scene.
Expert judges from throughout Africa, including Ferial Haffajee, editor of South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper, listened to hundreds of hours of radio to finalise the prize winners and reward excellence - including representatives of the audience who won their coveted places on the judging panels through a competition.
BBC radio coverage of the Awards has included live coverage on the BBC Swahili and BBC English language services, and highlights from the awards will be broadcast on a wide range of programmes including African Perspective, Africa Have Your Say, Focus on Africa, Weekend Network Africa and World Have Your Say.
There is also full coverage of the Awards on the BBC's website: bbcworldservice.com/africaradioawards
Click here for 702 Station Manager
Pheladi Gwangwa's acceptance speech
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