MUMBAI: Radio One Vice President, National Director Programming Vehrnon Ibrahim has also been chosen to judge the New York Festivals 2009 Radio Programming & Promotion Awards 

The  radio programming executives who have joined the 2009 jury from India are  Radio City Executive Vice President and National Head of Programming and Marketing Rana Barua, Big FM Vice President, Programming and On-Air Promotions  Nirupam Sonu, and Vehrnon Ibrahim.

According to an official release from the NYF, the 'three iconic executives represent India's emerging Radio presence and will join international jurors from five continents and over 30 countries worldwide to select The World's Best Radio... from entries submitted from around the globe.

Vehrnon Ibrahim rounds out the trio of premier Indian judges with over 25 years in the entertainment industry and is the front man for Millennium..., one of India's best-known rock bands  Says Ibrahim, I don't believe creativity at any level to be a competitive sport but in the sphere of competitive radio there is a sense that something creative will work... and that's what I am looking for, something that will work  Creative ideas, production, presentation and problem solving will always be at the heart of anything that is broadcast radio   I am looking for something that I have not heard before that I believe would grab the listener's attention, something that is truly original, fresh and sparkling...  

Says NYF Radio Programming & Promotion Awards Executive Director Leslie Rasimas, As New York Festivals continues to spread our global footprint, it is rewarding to have esteemed radio professionals from India on our Grand Jury  Their innovative ideas, quality work and depth of knowledge of the industry ensure the 2009 competition will have the best judges from India....

According to Barua, Indian creativity has been accepted worldwide across the realm of media, advertising and communications  With cross cultural boundaries making way for a global marketplace, more and more Indians are getting into the fray. While radio makes its mark in India, it will be particularly interesting to observe how brands worldwide are leveraging the medium to optimize on the power of aural suggestion!...

Says Sonu, The radio category is poised for growth, which will see more consumers come into the category, making it more powerful in terms of advertisers  We will see more exciting content which is both relevant and exciting   Phase III will help spread networks and multiple frequencies will see a huge development in the sector with new formats of radio coming in....

The NYF has also roped in KV Sridhar, NCD, Leo Burnett; Agnello Dias, partner TapRoots India; and Kamlesh Mehta, senior creative director, RMG Connect, as jury members for the Television and Cinema Advertising, Print and Digital and Interactive categories respectively. Nitesh Tiwari, executive creative director, Leo Burnett has also been selected to be on the judging panel of the radio category.

New York Festivals Radio Programming & Promotion Awards was established in 1982  The competition honors the most original and innovative work in radio broadcasting with entries from radio stations, networks and independent producers from around the globe.

Entry categories include: News Programs, News Inserts, Information/Documentary, Entertainment, Talk Programs and On-air Talent, as well as Craft & Technique, Programming Format, Promotion Spots and IDs along with Audio Podcast and Student categories  New categories created for the 2009 competition include:  Best Online Radio Station, Best Online Music Program, Best Online Talk Program and Best Radio Network Website 

The final deadline for entering the 2009 Radio Programming & Promotion Award competition is 31 March and judging will begin the first week of April.