We are pleased to announce that World Have Your Say has topped the tables in this year’s ‘Listener Participation’ category at the Sony Radio Academy Awards. A huge thank you to all those who have contributed to the programme in the past. You continue to make WHYS what it is and we couldn’t have pulled it off without you.
Congrats to WHYS- I’ve always known you were award worthy- now everyone else will know too!
congrats to the show, staff, loyal listeners and the BBC. It is unlikely this award is a coincidence. now if I could just get Ros to buy me a pint all would be well.
TO ALL MY PRECIOUS FRIENDS WHO WORK OR USED TO WORK FOR WHYS : I AM CRYING RIGHT NOW WHILE WRITING THIS MESSAGE… BUT THOSE TEARS ARE THE TEARS OF TRUE HAPPINESS AND JOY… IT’S BEEN REALLY A VERY LONG TIME SINCE I FELT SOOOOOO HAPPY LIKE I AM RIGHT NOW… THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES GUYS… AND A VERY BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU GUYS ! TO ROS, MARK, ALAN, IAIN, PETER, MARTIN, LEO, JAMES, BEN, FIONA, RABIYA, KARNIE, VICKI, AND ALL THE GANG, I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH ! YOU’RE AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST GUYS… WITH MY LOVE… YOURS FOREVER, LUBNA…
Many congratulations I would like to congratuate the entire team. Personally I find your programme very interesting so thanks once again
thank yot guys! We’re all enjoying the moment down here in london! Couldn’t have done it without you all x
Many congratulations to the World Have Your Say team!!!!!
Dennis~Madrid, United States of America
Congratulations to all. In fact, this should be self-congratulation on the part of the team, the listeners and the contributors, via live participation, the blog, emails or text messages
This all should be the result of the ceaseless efforts of the WHYS team, including those of who have sadly departed like Anu Anand, Richard Bowen and Kevin Anderson. It is also the result of the thousands of contributions from all parts of the world.
I think Mr Ros, you should send tomorrow a special daily email with the pictures of the award. Needless, to say it will be a good idea if you include a video footage of the ceremony in which you appear in dinner jacket as an alternative to your customary T-shirts.
I hope the sweat of anxiety has dried and now you are sweetly seating in merriness.
My experience with WHYS is that it has never stopped evolving. The latest is the inclusion, of the Blank Page, a testimony of the mutual trust and appreciation between the WHYS team and its international contributors.
Once again, congratulations. May the glory of WHYS continue.
Abdelilah Boukili
Marrakesh, Morocco
Congratulations! Well deserved, Guys!
I knew you were going to win because I was sending good thoughts your way all day.
There is more to come as you continue to provide a place for the world to have its say.
🙂
selena
It’s me again. I hope you didn’t bribe the committee to get the award!
Of course I am joking. WHYS deserves its award. it was hard won considering the other programmes it had to compete with.
I still remember Maestro Mark Sandell was skeptical about winning this award when he said, “We’re up against some top shows – most of whom have won Sony gold awards in the past – so it’s a bit like West Ham being in the Champions League.” https://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/its-a-sony-day/
Now I think WHYS has all the potentials to compete with the Radio Champion League after this spectacular win.
Cheers to all, including WHYS detractors!
Abdelilah Boukili
Marrakesh, Morocco
A very large well done!!
Brilliant news. Great job, guys!
Ya can’t say that after Manchester United FC won the English Premier League – again.
I just can’t help rubbing it in! LOL
Mark – will you be watching the Champions League final? *Gets ready to be banned from blog*
Thank you all, I’d just like to say (and I’m sure everyone will weigh in later when they get in or get up) how very proud I am to be a part of this (listener participation) award with you all. Winning has still got to sink in a little bit (we’d hoped and dreamed but certainly not expected this) but if anyone wants to stop by Bush House and see the prize (seeing is believing after all) please do – there are a fair few other World Service awards on what was an incredible night for us and our colleagues. (One of us may have got a little carried away on declaring it “a rout”, but it was certainly a thrill to have been part of it.) Good night, sleep tight, see you all tomorrow.
@ Rabiya:
thanks for the note on the blog….
Dennis ~Madrid, United States of America
@ Peter …..
We are PROUD of the WORLD HAVE YOUR SAY team for winning
the SONY RADIO ACADEMY AWARD……
I would like to see a picture of the AWARD…..
Dennis~Madrid, United States of America
What a great night for the team, and by that i mean the entire listenership and their friends that have contributed to this massive success. My photos will be with you all very soon. Great work peeps. Rich
@ Richard:::
I would love to see the pictures, when they become
available……
Thanks,
Dennis
Madrid, U.S.A.
Congratulations to the team! KInda makes that dinner jacket hire seem worthwhile, doesn’t it!
every well done things deserve appreciation and to no surprise thats why WHYS has clinched that gold..well done ..BRAVO! proud to be a part of WHYS as listener and all the good wishes.WHYS is on the top and thanx for talking on the issues from everthing to anything under the sun
Cheers,
sunyta
nepal
Fantastic…!
I would say ‘OUR’ programme has won what it deserved.
Subhashana Manaram
Colombo – Sri Lanka
Congratulations WHYS, effort brings results.
John in Germany
My God! Where are the Drinks????
Am personally overwhelmed. When the thought of the Sony awards was muted months ago, I could bet my last Dollar that WHYS was going to come out TOP and am thrilled to hear that the dream has been realized.
I cant wait to see the pictures and clips of the night and how events were unfolded. WELDONE GUYS!
Cup in hand, I raise mine to you guys. CHEERSsssss….
What a fantastic night and what a great achievement for everyone involved in WHYS. Participants, staff and – above all – listeners should be thrilled with this award. I feel proud to have been part of the team and know the programme will continue to go from strength to strength. Well done everybody…a great night had by all!
Well done to the entire WHYS team for a great achievement!
The first photos are on Flickr (courtesy of Cpl Tommy Vennard) – more to come…
And again, CONGRATS to you all. You do a wonderful job of putting on this programme and we are all incredibly appreciative of all the work you do.
We got our satellite BBC radio around six months ago, having given up tv as a bad habit. Now, of course, we’re addicted to BBC radio, and don’t feel bad about it because the information is so much more complete, the programs more interesting, and you can listen while you work away.
WHYS is a great concept in itself, both on radio and on blog. You’re so much more likely to get the ‘heart of the matter’ out of participants with nothing to lose than from spokespeople who have to tread lightly. It’s a great way, also, to get things said that otherwise might have to be left unsaid, although they need saying.
So, congratulations on an obviously deserved gold!
Congratulations… This was a truly deserved award as I dont think any other program has managed to generate the kind of participation that you guys do…
I actually have my slot for the time it airs as “Busy” till the end of the year…
hope no one at work finds out 🙂 ever…
Ros,
I was so glad to hear about the award yesterday.I think it is worth talking about on one of your edition of the program.There are lot of us that really love the program and I can imagine how others are feeling too.
Please continue doing what you do.
Congratulations!
Uzondu Esionye
Monrovia,Liberia
Congratulations on winning the Listener Participation Award. Wish you and the fantastic WHYS team greater success in the years ahead
Hi everyone. what a night! i feel so proud of what we have all done with whys. all the time you spend contributing to the show is really appreciated… not least by the sony judges. i am still in a state of shock to be honest. long may this lovely feeling continue!
CONGRATULATIONS Ros, Peter and, Chole and all….
I have learnt a lot from the particiapants’ arguments. It broadened my vision, to say the least. I think, s/he who comes and joins the WHYS will altogether be a different person once s/he had been in contact with you guys.
The WHYS is a service of humanity in its own style. It invites us to contemplate, ponder and meditate in the midnights. I had been thinking to collect enough citations to respond effectively to a few of the participants. That helped me learn to compose my ideas in a novel way….
Alongwith the Congrats, I must say, Thank YOU all….!
Congratulations certainly to everyone there; but mostly just sincere thanks and a “please continue” doing your job so well…maybe the next one will be a Nobel.
g
Ros, Peter, Chole and Mark:
Please send us your photographs of the Award ceremony.
I wonder if you could send to all the participants through your daily mail…
Ros, Congratulations to you and your crew!! I’m not surprised – I love your show and this award is well-deserved!!
Yay! Happy to hear you won! Congratulations. Post more pictures and the speeches.
Hi Again Everybody,
and Yes Big congratulations this is a wonderful idea. It wouldn’t work thoguh without the many interesting contributions. I’ve enjoyed “meeting” all these wonderful people.
Donovan Roebert. Do you find the pictures are clearer on radio? I do. I still call it the wireless though cos I’m old!
Thanks to all of you.
Congratulations WHYS! I will not single any name out for two reasons: 1) I do not know all the names and, 2) it would just be too much to list all the people, including the bloggers and guests, producers, etc! A most deserving award! Be good!…and on to the next one in 2009! All the best!
Woooot big ups for you guys you deserved it as a matter of fact your show is the reason i started listening to public radio at all
Hi lovers of WHYS.
I have finally laid my hands on some of the Sony Gold night awards. All here http://www.flickr.com/photos/90154596@N00 . Check them out and catch some of the feeling…… Only wish each of the clips had a narration for each. EXCELLENT pixs though for an EXCELLENT night.
……CHEERSsssss..
Well done WHYS! Now I know why I reserve my lunch hour for WHYS! 🙂 The award is trully well-deserevd.
Listening and reading WHYS always inspire me to think about the bigger picture, and lift my spirits: that there are people from everywhere who are concerned about what’s going on and where we’re going, and actively learning about other cultures. I have learned a lot from everyone. A big thank you!
I am just waiting for BBC America to air Sony Award ceremony. Does anyone know the time?
We haven’t stopped grinning here all day. It is a lovely feeling and entirely down to you lot. From Lubna to Victork from Selena to Abdelillah, your imagination, ideas and opinions have won this award, so thank you….
Congratulations!
You are simply the best. Keep the world informative for it safes problems and trouble
Mohammed Swaray
Liberia
Congratulations. Well-done, laddies and lassies.
I SAW THE PICTURES FROM MONDAY’S [SONY RADIO ACADEMY
AWARD] CEREMONY…..
FOR THOSE OF OUR FRIENDS, THAT DID NOT GET ROS’

DAILY EMAIL, I COPY THE LINK FOR YOU….
Dennis~Madrid, U.S.A.
@ Jade:
BBC AMERICA MAY AIR THE AWARDS SHOW MAYBE DOWN THE
ROAD….
DATE UNKNOWN…..
~~Dennis in Madrid, U.S.A.
Congratulations BBC WHYS for winning the Sony Radio Academy Award [Gold]. You deserved it.
WHYS team, congratulations!
From many people of different nations.
You do your work so well, should say,
That’s why you have this special day,
When you’ve received the great award…
I’m so happy, oh, my God!
You just unite all people here with different views
And simply cheer.
The problems, which we all discuss,
Are vital, interesting, whereas
We contemplate and learn much here.
Your team is wonderful, it’s clear.
Good luck to you, World Have You Say,
With every new and coming day!
Congrats. I love listening to WHYS!
Bravo! You’ve got a great format and I am following it very closely. Just goes to show you creating new media formats is careful steady work!
Best regards,
Brett
Congrats! You have given us access to each other from all over the world and done it with such intelligence, style and grace! So glad u all received the recognition for the tremendous work u do and it’s good to get awarded for making us fellow citizens in the world feel connected to each other in a way we have never been able to before. Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kay in Lusaka
I wish to congratulate the World Have Your Say team for winning the Sony Gold award. Keep up the good work. Thank you for letting us have our say.
Congrats! You have given us access to each other from all over the world and done it with such intelligence,
Congratulation world have your say team. You Guys deserve it.
Keep up the good work. Thanks