The awards were named after their sponsor, W. & R. Jacob & Co. Ltd., a biscuit manufacturer, and recipients were selected by Ireland's national newspaper television and radio critics.

For instance, in 1962, Telefís Éireann's Sports Department won an award for its general coverage during the station's first year of broadcasting.

In 1965, a limit of eight annual awards was set, and the critics also decided not to confine themselves to fixed categories in making their selections.

A separate panel of national newspaper radio critics was formed to choose recipients of the new award, a highly polished, white metal cylinder designed by Robert Costelloe.

This was replaced in 1981 by a trophy comprising a painted canvas mounted on a stainless steel background, designed by Theo McNab.

In the 30 years of its existence, compères of the annual Jacob's Awards event included Hilton Edwards and Frank Hall.

Also in 1970, guests arriving at the awards ceremony were confronted by a picket of 50 female employees of W. & R. Jacob who were protesting against the cost of the banquet.

[10] In 1990, RTÉ threatened to pull out of its longstanding practice of broadcasting the awards ceremony because of the involvement of Tánaiste, Brian Lenihan.

RTÉ claimed that going ahead with its planned broadcast would give unfair additional publicity to Lenihan, leaving the station in breach of its own guidelines on election coverage.