The Charles Parker Prize is open to all students currently studying UG and PG courses in the United Kingdom. Former students, who recently graduated from UK institutions (within the last year), can also enter. Submissions from those who attended accredited UK based media training courses are also welcome. The competition is not open to employees from major national or other professional broadcasters and/or if you supply material to these companies. There is no age limit to submissions. If you’re unsure about any of these requirements, then please contact us to confirm: prize@cpatrust.org.uk

The Charles Parker Prize is not open to paid employees of audio production companies or radio stations, or if you provide these sorts of organisations with audio content.  It’s ok to have had a short-term placement or internship, but not full paid employment (this helps us to avoid possible rights issues). 

Yes, if your shift work does not include the production of creative features or working alongside a professional features producer. 

You can seek advice from a tutor, or the person who provided you with audio training, to help improve work you’ve made earlier - but the final submission still needs to be your own production.  We aim to celebrate student work – so don’t worry too much if your audio sounds a little ‘rough’.  If the idea is strong, we’d still love to hear it. 

No.  Each submission must be completed by the person who made the audio, via their tutor (who will ‘sign off’ all entries).  Please don’t enter any work that’s not your own, or that doesn’t have the consent of the people featured in it.

Nothing! It’s completely free to enter.  You can submit up to 2 entries, but make sure you check with your tutor first (as each organisation can only submit a maximum of ten entries).

Although we welcome a wide range of audio submissions, the prize is awarded for crafted factual documentary / feature work.  Scripted monologues, audio fiction (drama), news reports, simple music playlist shows, straight interviews and conversational podcast episodes will not be considered.  The Judges are looking for originality and the development of your concept.  ‘Listenability’ and the overall impression of your work will also be taken into consideration.  Technical ability can be important too – but it’s the idea that really counts.  Originality and creativity are key!

If you’d like to hear examples of Charles Parker’s work and past student entries, please visit these links.

The Ballad of John Axon - the first Radio Ballad

https://tinyurl.com/34vc5srh

The Ballad of the Blade - a contemporary take on the Radio Ballad format https://tinyurl.com/y3ts97ej

New Storytellers  - previous winners of the Charles Parker Prize https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001smv7

No.  The overall duration must be between 10 to 15 minutes, so you may need to edit down longer form content.  But make sure that the story is still told fully and in a creative way.  Online audio or podcasts can potentially be ‘repurposed’ but try to stay focused on content that tells a story.

Each year we select our Judges from across the radio / audio production industry.  This changes from year to year, but we publish all Judges’ names and positions as soon as they are confirmed.  The Judges are chosen from a diverse group of professionals, who have no conflict of interest.

No, your piece needs to be professional, but we love originality!  Winning entries may be part of a mentoring/adaptation process to make them suitable for broadcast on BBC Radio 4.  If a potential broadcast on BBC Radio 4 might present issues - eg legal, or personal, say, for contributors - you can still be recognised as a finalist/winner of the Charles Parker Prize.  Please indicate on the entry that it is not suitable for transmission on that network.

Entries should be in English – but we will accept entries featuring different languages as long there is a clear, understandable story being told. 

Your work must not have been featured on a major UK radio station (BBC or Commercial), or as part of a recognised, professional podcast / audio production company.  Student Radio, Community Radio, and Hospital Radio stations are fine.  We may consider exceptions to this if you have an exceptional circumstance, but again, please contact us to clarify. 

Yes, but you need to let us know as soon as possible!  If you intend withdraw your submission from the competition, then please formally notify the Charles Parker Archive Trust no later than 30 days prior to the Charles Parker Day ( prize@cpatrust.org.uk ).  The Trust also reserves the right to withdraw entries if they fail to comply with any terms and conditions.

Finalists will be notified by phone/text/email at least 10 days before the Charles Parker Day.  Each year the overall Gold winner and the other finalists selected by BBC Radio 4 for broadcast will be announced on the day itself (hopefully you can join us!).

Yes!  Please ensure all the content featured in your work is your own, and make sure you have the consent of all contributors featured.  All entrants will retain the copyright for their entries but, by submitting your work to the Charles Parker Prize, you grant the Charles Parker Trust/Soundscape Radio Productions Limited a perpetual non-exclusive royalty-free licence to publish, broadcast (across all media) and post the entry online and on any other platforms yet to be envisaged. 

Yes, that’s fine (and well done!).  If the audio meets all the Charles Parker Prize terms and conditions, you are welcome to submit it.  However, you can only enter the work once (and not in subsequent years).  But, otherwise, we welcome audio that’s been recognised in other audio competitions. 

Yes, but if you are selected as a Charles Parker Prize finalist, please make us aware of any other competitions you may have entered (and good luck!).

If you have any further questions or require more clarity – then email us via prize@cpatrust.org.uk