by GERARD DUIGNAN
CHRISTCHURCH — A labour of love and high standards in radio production have won Sounds Catholic the prestigious 2012 NZ Radio Industry Award for best spoken programme in the Community and Access category.
The magazine-style weekly programme is produced and hosted by Ken Joblin of the Catholic Tertiary Chaplaincy in Christchurch, and can be heard on Sundays at noon, repeated at 10pm, and via an online podcast.
The winning episode featured highlights from a year of challenges faced by Christchurch diocese. At times the sound of an aftershock can be heard during a recording.

According to the Plains FM website, Mr Joblin, who is blind, needs no help from anyone when it comes to digital editing and multi-tracking.
He did an introductory course in radio in Wellington several years ago, but, with the advent of digital technology for blind people, Mr Joblin has recently learned how to do his own editing at home, often at night.
He feels a “quiet satisfaction” at the award success.
“It is great to know that something I put a lot of personal creativity into has received this recognition. Also, that a clearly religious progamme received an award from a secular organisation,” Mr Joblin said.
Celebrations are ongoing, he added.
A recent programme features Mr Joblin’s recounting of the death of his treasured guide dog, Tiger, which offers insights into Christian ways of dealing with grief. It can be heard online at http://www.chch.catholic.org.nz/radio
The programme, funded by Bishop Barry Jones, took over from Catholics on Air, which broadcast for more than a decade.
The award recognises the best among 12 community access stations throughout the country partly funded by New Zealand on Air. Hundreds of programmes are broadcast daily, produced by community groups and individuals, especially for women, children and young people, ethnic groups and other minorities.