The Media School

BU Radio student wins prestigious Charles Parker Prize

5 April 2012

James Ewing becomes the second BA (Hons) Radio student in a row to win the Charles Parker Prize.

For the second year in the row a BA (Hons) Radio student has won the prestigious Charles Parker Prize. This year’s winner is James Ewing.

The Charles Parker Prize was created in April 2004 by BU’s Centre for Broadcasting History Research group in memory of the world famous radio features producer who originally hailed from Bournemouth. It is an annual award open to students studying Radio at Further or Higher Education establishments throughout the UK.

The prize seeks to award features that display the most creative use of radio. It also seeks to commend work which captures an essence of Charles Parker’s own work, such as story-led documentaries that bring life to the stories and concerns of everyday people via creative radio production.

James’ winning creation was entitled Ward 13, a 15 minute feature about ‘the working lives of staff that work with deceased patients at the Leeds General Infirmary’.

The piece is quite creepy and graphic, so perhaps not a listen for the faint hearted. However if you’re feeling brave you can listen to the brilliant audio doc online.

James said the inspiration for his winning piece came from the general intrigue around his job at a mortuary.

“I got a phone call from Jo Tyler and she asked me what I did for work, about how I got into the mortuary and she suggested making a programme about it. Also people in general always ask me about my job, and I realised it was quite a unique thing, and people are quite curious about what goes on inside there.”

Since winning the prize James has been interviewed by Charles Parker’s daughter, is soon to start an internship with national prison radio and has had his piece commissioned by Radio 4 extra, which will be played on April 21 at 2pm.