Publishers’ local news audio collaboration up for awards

Podcasts from the GNI-funded Laudable project have been shortlisted in 10 categories of Publisher Podcast Awards

Laudable, the JPI Media and Reach plc collaboration to create unique audio content in local news, has been shortlisted in 10 categories in the the Publisher Podcast Awards.

The Google GNI-funded collaboration between the two publishers was launched in 2019 with the remit to create podcasts based around local news and communities, and provide platforms for content and individuals who may not readily find an audience.

The podcasts nominated are:

• Scran (Best Commercial Strategy, Best Food & Drink Podcast)
  Scran is the Scottish food and drink focused podcast hosted by Rosalind Erskine, a food and drink writer for The Scotsman, who is joined by guests and experts to discuss all things involving eating, drinking and Scotland. It has also branched into virtual live events with an audience. It is produced by Morven McIntyre.
• Alone Together: A coronavirus podcast (Best Coronavirus Podcast)
  The Laudable producers launched Alone Together at the start of the coronavirus outbreak to highlight positive stories of local heroes doing their bit to help keep communities going, and also experts offering tips, advice and answers to your FAQs about the pandemic. It is presented and produced by Morven McIntyre, Dan McLaughlin and Matt Millard, and edited by Matt.
• Liminal (Best Local & Community Podcast)
  Liverpool Echo’s audience editor and arts editor Laura Davis created a podcast inviting listeners to join her for a walk along Britain’s windswept coastline with the people who have made their lives at the edge. Laura and co-host Ellen Kirwan also have their non-Laudable Beatles City pod nominated in the Best Entertainment Podcast category.
• The Menopod (Best Health & Wellbeing Podcast)
  The Liverpool Echo’s Menopod’s USP is that it “tackles puberty’s evil older sister one gin and tonic at a time”. Hosted by Susan Lee, Editor of the Reach Wire, and journalist Dawn Collinson it covers the world of the menopause — from fashion to sex, brain fog to the workplace. It’s hosted a virtual live audience event and is produced by Dan McLaughlin.
• The Brink (Best Limited Series)
  Conceived and created by Liverpool Echo regional editor Julia Rampen, and produced by Dan McLaughlin, this short series tells the story of how Militant captured power in Liverpool and took on Margaret Thatcher, and promises tales of skulduggery, taxis and… missing orchids.
• Weekend Bigots (Best Limited Series)
  Scotsman journalist Kevan Christie, produced by Morven McIntyre, investigates the murky world of sectarianism in Scottish football, from the 1970s up to the present day, talking to people who have been involved at the sharp end of the game. It examines why the divide still exists in Scotland to this day, and asks what can be done to change attitudes.
• The Edinburgh Briefing (Best Local & Community Podcast)
  The inside story of Edinburgh’s news beat from the team at the Edinburgh Evening News.
• The North In Numbers (Best Local & Community Podcast)
  Annie Gouk and Mark Magill, of the Reach Data Unit, tell the human stories behind the stats, looking at figures that particularly affect the north of the country. It returns for series 2 very soon.
• The North Poll (Best Political Podcast)
  Political journalists from JPI and Reach, along with expert guests, scrutinised the issues impacting the North of England at the last general election.

In its first year, Laudable recruited three podcast producers — Morven McIntyre, Dan McLaughlin and Matt Millard — and built recording studios at the Manchester Evening News and Edinburgh Evening News premises.

Work started on podcasts spanning a variety of topics, from the impact of HS2 on communities to Scottish food and drink; by early 2020 a host of new shows had been launched — and then Covid-19 and lockdown struck.

Without their recording studios, Dan, Morven and Matt have been finding innovative ways to continue training journalists and recording quality audio that meets the brand’s high standards, as well as launching their own podcast Alone Together.

Laudable publisher Alison Gow, of Reach, said: “I’m thrilled to see so many of Laudable’s shows have been nominated in the Publisher Podcast Awards, not least because some of these continue to be launched and run throughout lockdown, in unprecedented circumstances.

“For the hosts, being involved in these podcasts often come on top of their day job expectations, and so finding the time to script, interview, host, or event run live events, is a real challenge. So it’s a testament to their efforts to have this sort of recognition”.

Director of Digital Content Martin Little, of JPIMedia, said: “What a wonderful start to the year for our Laudable team. They have worked so hard to keep the podcasts coming, setting up studios in their home kitchens and running live virtual events from their living rooms.

“The nominations are great recognition for the efforts of the team and shows the benefit of publishers collaborating through projects like Laudable.”

Other shows shortlisted include: Energy Voice Out Loud, The Dirt — Grow Your Own, Author In Your Classroom, The Global Franchise Podcast, The Bunkered Golf Podcast, and The Stooshie, all from DC Thomson Media, Unfinished — Shoebury’s Lost Boys — Archant Northern Goal — The Press & Journal and Evening Express and Twa Teams, One Street — The Evening Telegraph.

The winners will be revealed in a virtual celebration on Wednesday 21st April 2021.