The winners of this year's IRN Awards sponsored by Sky News HD will have a double reason to celebrate.

They will become part of a long history of celebrated journalism as IRN reaches a very special milestone.

2013 is the 40^th anniversary of IRN and this year's ceremony in London on March 27^th will pay tribute to that remarkable record.

Ahead of the awards, a panel of distinguished journalists whose careers began at IRN, will share with guests the biggest moments of their IRN reporting lives, and how working for the news service shaped their journalism and honed their editorial skills.

Between them they covered hundreds of stories from the Falklands War to the Cromwell Street murders, and led ground-breaking campaigns against Crown Court reporting bans and closed hearings.

IRN editor Louise Hastings said: "The quality of the journalism at IRN over the past four decades is extraordinary and inspiring. The names of past IRN staff reads like a roll call of the best of British journalism.  The current news team based at Sky News strives to continue that tradition of excellence."

The awards ceremony at the Century Club on Shaftesbury Avenue will be hosted by Sky News and Sky Sports presenter Sarah-Jane Mee and this year has seen a record number of entries.

IRN managing director Tim Molloy said: "The IRN awards have become the place for commercial radio news teams to showcase their finest journalism.  We have also added a new Rising Star category for student journalists keen to make their mark on the industry.  Across the board, the standard of entries has been extremely high and the judges have had their work cut out deciding who takes home the prizes."

The judging panel includes Sky News presenter Kay Burley, the BBC's Jon Sopel, Coronation Street actress Michelle Collins, former England international footballer Danny Mills and talent manager Andy Hipkiss.

The nominees are:

Best News Team or Newsroom under 750,000 TSA

Radio Aire

Jack FM Hertfordshire

Mix 96

Best News Team or Newsroom over 750,000 TSA

Real Radio Scotland

Wave 105

Capital East Midlands

Best News Special or Feature

Don't Bet On It - Radio City 96.7

Gangs - Capital East Midlands

Ciaran's Cause - Real Radio North West

Best Sports Story

Rangers In Crisis: The Demise Of An Institution - Clyde 1 and Clyde 2

Memories of 1948: What Was It Like Last Time? - Glide FM

If Yorkshire Was A Country: Olympics 2012 - Yorkshire Radio

Newsreader of the Year

Simon Conway - Metro Radio

Paula Hughes - Real Radio Wales

Aileen O'Sullivan - Kiss/The Hits

Reporter of the Year

Dan Freedman - LBC 97.3

Natalie Glanvill-Rose - Real Radio Yorkshire News

Rebecca Dixon - Metro Radio

Rising Star Award

Yasmin Khan - London College of Communication

Dave Rhodes - Sheffield University/Mansfield 103.2

Hannah Smith - University Radio York

And Finally Award

Olympic Uniform Battle - Absolute Radio

The Love Plane - Real Radio Yorkshire

Eat For Free - Metro Radio

The judges will also honour one individual with the prestigious Gold Award which recognises outstanding contribution to the commercial radio industry.

Coverage will once again be provided by www.radiotoday.co.uk

ENDS