A COMPELLING programme about the young inmates of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp has won gold at the 2015 Association of International Broadcasters (AIB) Awards.
Children of Belsen, produced and presented by BFBS Germany’s Dave Roberts and Misty McCready, took top spot in the Radio Creative Feature category.
Dave said: “Without a doubt, this is the highest point in my broadcasting career. Putting this documentary together was a challenge and an emotional roller coaster – even now I still find it hard to imagine the conditions and struggles that those who were at Belsen lived through.”
For Misty, the award was an extraordinary achievement as she has been working in broadcasting for less than a year. She said: “I was so lucky to meet these survivors and hear their about their experiences first hand. Each interview was heart wrenching, and truly humbling.”
The documentary was first broadcast in April 2015, to coincide with commemorations marking 70 years since the liberation of Bergen-Belsen by British troops.
The judges commented that it was a “compelling anniversary story that deserved to be told and to reach a wider audience.”
Survivors Rudi Oppenheimer and Miryam Sommerfeld are among the interviewees that are featured, together with Bernard Levy, a British soldier who arrived about a week after the liberation. Their stories bring intensely personal first-hand accounts and views to the documentary.
Nicky Ness, controller of BFBS Radio said: “Once again the small team from BFBS show they have world class skills when it comes to making unique programmes.”
“This was the first documentary Dave and Misty had ever made and they came back with an extremely moving, poignant and well-made piece. I am so proud of what they’ve achieved, humbled by the stories we were given access to and delighted that the AIB judges recognised the extraordinary care that was taken with this programme.”
Catch the full documentary online via the BFBS Radio website at www.bfbs.com/radio/listen-again/8691
BFBS Radio is available on DAB digital radio in the UK, on FM in the UK, on FM across the Forces world, on Sky channel 0211, Freesat channel 786, online at www.bfbs.com and via the free BFBS smartphone app.