Here are the details of the recordings we entered
which got us the nomination for the Sony "Interactive Programme Award, along with the text that accompanied them.
1. Text interaction 22/11/2006. Duration 1'31"
PM receives hundreds of texts and emails during the programme. Eddie Mair reads out many of the pithier ones. This contains a selection on the same topic
2. Birdsong. 06/06/2006. Duration 3'38"
Big Ben's chimes - which usually signal the end of PM - fall silent for repairs. Listeners write, email and text the programme to offer suggestions on how to replace them. One reader suggests bird song. The idea is taken up.
3. The announcement that Eddie Mair is starting a PM blog. 17/08/2006. Duration 37"
From small beginnings, the PM Blog rapidly expands and is soon the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s most visited blog. By mid December 2006, there had been 15,000 hits.
4. Letters. 24/11/2006. Duration 6'59.
Every Friday, a selection of listeners' letters, texts, emails and phone calls are broadcast.
5. Window on Your World. Duration 54"
PM asks listeners to take a photo of what they can see at 5pm on December 5th and to send in their photos so they can be put up for all to see. Eventually, more than 4,000 are sent in.
6. Window on Your World. 16"
Another request for pictures.
7. Wood Pigeon. 22/06/2006. Duration 3'49"
A listener complains that, in our birdsong slot, we have badly edited the Wood Pigeon's call and it ruined his enjoyment. He is right.
8. Trail. Frequent use. Duration: 13"
A trail from a former PM presenter, Clare English, mentioning the Blog.
9. Probation interview. 07/11/2006. Duration 7'08"
In response to a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ story about criticism of the Probation Service, a mother emails to say her drug addict son is due in court and she wants him in jail, not on probation. PM contacts her and she agrees to be interviewed.
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I'm guessing the text-only version wouldn't win it for you, Eric. It's s tad dry.
Molly - your strapline is showing!
Okay, Eddie. We give in. It wasn't just the Blog. But perhaps we're the 'enduring'* bit, which might give us the edge?
Incidentally, I couldn't resist looking at the Sony Awards website last night after your news. I simply couldn't believe Paddy's spoon would have made it - but you're right, it's there!
(*I suspect, for you, we're sometimes a bit 'unendurable', though!)
Eddie & the team;
Any chance of making these various clips available via links on the Blog for a short period of time?
I can remember the Probabtion interview one. It was both harrowing yet and immaculately handled by Eddie. Surely one of his finest moments?
I understand that you couldn't leave them as enduring links. Perhaps the lady in the Probation one wouldn't want it posted up? But it would serve to jog our memories of your finest moments.
Just a thought.
Si.
Congratulations to all the PM team. Eddie's list is superb, and so typical of the programme we know and love.
Gah! You'll be thinking that the birdsong should come back after this then? Oh dear.
And "frequent use of trails"! That's good is it? Clearly the Sony Awards people don't listen to "Feedback"!
Oh, how negative of me, I must add, for the rest of it, "Very well done!" ;-)
[Can you see me behind this sofa? No? Good.]
I never could see why TV and radio programmes should be 'interactive'. All that "press the red button and tell us what YOU think of the News" only seemed to result in inane texts from the Great Unwashed.
[Ducks to avoid a hail of BH jam spoons]
And then there was the Frog. Opinion reversed.
OTHER radio and TV progs are still doing it wrong of course, but PM has hit the right formula.
[Peeps out between cushions. Not convinced. Hides again.]
If there is any additional good luck to be had by entering the Letters from my meaning-of-life birthday, then PM will win hands-down.
[Emerges, hands-up, from behind sofa]
And I'm thrilled that you entered the Probation interview. The combination of light-and-shade, both handled with style and professionalism, is what makes PM unique.
[Does little dance around room]
Good luck! When are winners announced?
Fifi
I for one would certainly welcome the return of the birdsong. The bongs get on my nerves just like the noise of a vaccuum cleaner does.
This dosen't belong here.But why have all the MPs ,well most ,left the Commons before Margaret Beckett made her statement about the capture of our Royal Navy people.It seems awfully callous. Am I missing something?
Acceptance speech... (?)
In the great wealth, the great firmament of your companies generosities this particular choice of award may perhaps be found by future generations as a trifle eccentric, but the mere fact of it . . . the prodigal, pure, human kindness of it . . . must be seen as a beautiful star in that firmament which shines upon me (Eddie Mair) and all the PM froggers at this special moment in our history. Dazzling us a little certainly, but filling us with warmth of the extraordinary elation, the euphoria that happens to so many of us at the first breath of the majestic glow of a new tomorrow afternoon (at 5 pm). So I say big thank you to you the Academy and to all the red carpet fitters. Mwah! Mwah! Mwah! {see you on the ice}
And although Eddie hasn't mentioned it his name appears in the shortlist of 25 names for 'Broadcasters Broadcaster'. This is a one-off category to celebrate 25 years of the Sony Awards.
Regrettably only broadcasters can vote in this category. That way they avoid the Froggers whipping up an irresistible campaign sweeping our master to the award.
Sneaky.
And congratulations Eddie. It's quite an achievement when you see some of the other names on the list. Although I'd have my doubts about appearing next to Noel Edmonds...
Si.
Susan Orty-Boyden (9)
That's just beautiful! Do you think he should have a tear in his eye at the end?
Eddie:
Haven't you got enough Sonys on your mantlepiece yet?
Soon there'll be a new category:
"The Eddie Mair Award for Eddie Mair So That He Doesn't Clog Up All The Other Award Nomination Categories... Award"
Seriously, well done, and good luck!
I've had that old John Cleese ad line in my head all day since seeing this thread:
"Who's a clever little Sony then?"
My dear RJD @ (11)
Yes I'm sure he will. :-)
Re: Susan Orty-Boyden (9)
Eddie,
Thank you too in advance.
Aperitif (13)
:-)
Great to see the entries posted. I heard the woodpigeon one on today's PM, and it was splendidly interactive.
Must rush off to the Sony Awards website. Oh, this is like the old days! Well, a bit.
Appy, Red - giggles!
I remember that I was parking my car outside my flat whilst Eddie was interviewing that woman about her son and I was crying. Radio rarely whips up that sort of feeling for me, and rarely a news programme.
If there was any justice in the world (and I should know that there is precious little) Eddie would win all the awards along with his great team at PM.
Mary
It was thrilling to be nominated until I looked at the Sony Awards website and saw just how many categories there are! At least we have been spared the humiliation of being nominated for the best comp. award (poor, poor Paddy - I expect you, Eddie, to rub his nose in it tomorrow, please). And how many nominations did J. Humphreys and his crew get? I see they're up against Radio Suffolk for the Breakfast show award - no contest - Radio Suffolk's in-depth analysis of the problem of sugar beet loose on the A14 will surely triumph.
Glad to see "Fighting to be Normal" gets a nod too - hope it wins.
Rachel (19)
Along with their "Spot the broken down tractor" competition. And their traffic reports that give only the vaguest idea of what is happening or where.
I was once stuck behind an accident for an hour and a half (behind a pig lorry - what a sight at 7.15am!) with Radio Suffolk breakfast telling me that the A14 was flowing well in both directions... That was the point at which I decided the "traffic update" setting on my radio really wasn't worth the effort.
Well done to Eddie and all the PM team!!
Good luck for the announcements.
nikki