BBC News Online has won an award for integrating Internet and radio technologies.

Talking Point ON AIR - a multimedia 'phone-in' - carried off the 1999 Radio Academy British Telecom award for technical innovation at the annual radio festival in Cardiff.

The judges praised the programme for bringing together radio and the Internet to create global communities for its debates on topics of international interest.

Talking Point editor Jo Ross said the opportunity to air views from people all over the world had been exciting and rewarding.

Speaking at the award ceremony she said: "We've used technology to introduce the Internet audience to the delights of the World Service. At the same time, we've tried to encourage the radio audience to seek a further level of information and interaction online."

In April, the programme won a silver award in the weekend talk category at the Sony Radio Awards.

A new concept

Talking Point ON AIR (formerly Newstalk) was devised as the first truly interactive radio programme with the Internet at its heart.

The programme is broadcast simultaneously on BBC News Online and the BBC World Service - on Sundays at 1405GMT.

For details of this week's programme click here

For details on how to tune into the World Service click here

Those who follow the show on the News Online Website can watch the action in studio via a Web-cam. It is streamed in both real video and real audio.

The programme accepts contributions via e-mail (talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk) - before, during or after transmission - or by phone (44 171 379 7444) from 1200GMT on Sundays.