RTS Announces Winners For Television Journalism Awards 2013
Winners
Young Journalist of the Year: Ciaran Jenkins
“…an impressive and entertaining story-teller who can uncover original stories as well as cover the on-the-day news. His personal touches in the report about unemployment in Merthyr Tydfil turned what could have been an ordinary report into something much more human and memorable.”
Nations and Regions Current Affairs and News Event
“The jury unanimously felt this was a superb piece of investigative reporting, presenting a complex story of financial chicanery, personal ambition and sporting hubris in a compelling and dramatic manner. The story, vividly told by reporter Mark Daly, captured the sense of loss and betrayal felt by Rangers fans and set the news agenda in the Scottish media for weeks.”
Nations and Regions News Programme
“The jury felt the winning entry captured the essence of community involvement and support for the London Olympics and was local reporting at its best. It also brought an international perspective to a long running story of child torture and witchcraft and showed how the team had built long term relationships with key witnesses who had been in the news over many years.”
Regional Presenter of the Year: Stewart White
“It was the strength of this broadcaster’s tape in last year’s national presenter award that helped persuade the RTS to introduce this new regional category. This submission was no less brilliant, displaying skill, versatility, fluency, warmth and a devastating interviewing technique with a smile from someone who’s been a household name in their region for decades.”
News Coverage - International
“The entries for International News Coverage included several examples of extraordinarily dramatic events that had clearly required great skill and exceptional courage to cover. The winning entry displayed outstanding courage in its eye-witness reporting from the front line but also great humanity in its portrayal of ordinary people caught up in the midst of a violent civil war.”
News Coverage - Home
“To remain consistently ahead of the competition in covering the UK’s most impactful news story of the year is a remarkable achievement. At the heart of this entry is Lucy Manning’s relentless journalistic determination as well as her compassion for all concerned. Revelation followed revelation, scoop followed scoop in this exemplary news coverage.”
Current Affairs – Home
“This was an outstandingly strong field of really well made impactful current affairs films. [The winner] broke one of the most important stories of the year – which even now shows few signs of receding from public view and which others had shied away from running”
Current Affairs – International
“In a year which saw more than its share of conflict around the world and much courageous and commended reporting from the frontline, this compelling epic tale stood out for the judges. The courage on display here came from the programme’s contributors. The story started with a natural disaster that in itself grabbed the world’s headlines, and then nearly turned into a global catastrophe.”
Innovative News
“The winning entry stood out for the novel way in which it helped to give a new look at one of the year's big stories. It built upon the strength of crowd sourcing and social media and then added the clout of a broadcaster to build up the channel's continued commitment to people with disabilities in the year of the Paralympics.”
Camera Operator of the Year: Darren Conway (DC
“The winner’s work in Syria was extraordinary, not just for its stunningly crafted images, but for the fact they were composed and shot in the heat of fierce fighting. He consistently displays bravery, quick-thinking and complete technical mastery.”
The Independent Award
“A moving and supremely honest film made by French photographer “Mani” who captured, over a period of several weeks, the reality of day-to-day life – and death – in the Syrian city of Homs. The Jury was unanimous in the view that Mani’s film pierced through all other coverage from the beleaguered City and defined the Syria conflict for millions of people.”
Daily News Programme of the Year
“The coverage in the winning entry shone with personality, vigour, robustness and cheekiness – demonstrating a programme with a fresh sense of confidence.”
Scoop of the Year
“Jury members thought the winner was a sensation without ever being sensationalist. They felt an investigative challenge which had defeated other media organisations over decades had been achieved with commitment, skill and sensitivity. The programme-makers had given a voice to victims who had always been denied one, with unprecedented impact across many British institutions. The RTS 'Scoop of the Year’ was the biggest UK news story of 2012 - 'The Other Side of Jimmy Savile' from ITV's Exposure.”
News Channel of the Year
“This was a strong year for the winner. The Jury praised the channel for its distinctive coverage and energetic and vivid reporting. They were ahead of the curve in Pakistan, interviewing Malala, the young woman who was later shot by the Taliban. Their interview with FIFA President Sepp Blatter became a major news story revealing racism in football at the highest level.”
Specialist Journalist of the Year: Jeremy Bowen - Middle East Editor
“An award-winning entry from a highly distinguished journalist who has shown total mastery of his brief in bringing to viewers superb story-telling coupled with insightful and nuanced analysis of one of the most turbulent and complex parts of the world. His excellent work across the region was topped this year by his authoritative and compelling reporting from both sides of the conflict in Syria.”
Television Journalist of the Year: Alex Thomason
“The winner is without question one of the UK's leading correspondents. With a portfolio of coverage from Syria to door stepping Kelvin Mackenzie over Hillsborough, to Glasgow Rangers, he displays great range and versatility with a knack for finding strong angles and compelling stories. He brings real authority and storytelling skills to whatever he covers.”
National Presenter of the Year: Jon Snow
“…consistently in a class of his own. Beautiful writing, unequalled versatility and the sense he is as enthusiastic, inquisitive and committed to quality journalism as ever in his long career.”
Judges’ Award: Susannah Schofield, John Schofield Trust
“The Award this year goes to someone who isn’t even a Journalist – but her contribution to journalism over the last year has been remarkable. At the beginning of [the] ceremony, Ciaran Jenkins was awarded a bursary by the John Schofield Trust to mark his winning of the Young Journalist Award. The Trust has been going since shortly after John’s death, but last year his widow Susie led an overhaul of its main purpose, and launched a pioneering mentoring scheme for young broadcast journalists. For the first time, seasoned and senior practitioners from across the industry agreed to mentor the leading lights of the future. Mentors include top correspondents, anchors, editors and producers. By the end of the second year, there will have been nearly seventy pairings – all designed to give those young journalists a real insight into the top levels of our trade. Here’s a short film, behind the scenes at the Trust.”
Lifetime Achievement: Richard Tait CBE
“The winner of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award has had a strong influence on British broadcast journalism across multiple channels and in many different capacities. He has been editor of BBC Newsnight, of Channel 4 News and Editor in Chief of ITN. He has been a stalwart defender of thoughtful independent journalism throughout his career. He is, we think, the only person to edit an election night programme for both the BBC and ITV. While at ITN he resolutely stood up for the organisation's journalism when - for example with the Serbian Camps - it came under attack. He recognised early the potential of digital technology - making ITN pioneers in desk top editing among other innovations. After retiring from editing and management he was called in by Michael Grade to join the BBC Governors as a wise editorial head on the Board of BBC Governors, surviving the arrival of the BBC Trust to become the lead Trustee on editorial issues until last year. He was a member of the Independent Review of Government Communications chaired by Bob Phillis in 2003 and was a member of the Hansard Society's Commission on Parliament in the Public Eye. In addition he has played a leading role with developing journalism safety around the world, has actively worked for media rights with the International Press Institute and has helped guide the next generation of journalists as Professor of Journalism at Cardiff University.
“Beyond all this, he has been a warm and supportive colleague and mentor to many generations of journalists across all organisations. He has also chaired the RTS Journalism Awards.”