The Finalists
This year’s entries brought footage from all over Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
As Richard Tait, Panel Chair for the Hard News Award says: "Freelancers are routinely where the action is and this year’s impressive entries for the Hard News Award underline the risks they are running and how directly involved they now are in the events they are trying to cover."
But the Rory Peck Awards are not only about courage - they are also about camera skills and editorial judgement. Sheena McDonald, Panel Chair for the Features Award explains
"What hallmarks these awards is their complexity: it's not enough to be able to use the equipment fast and well - you also need to bring a journalistic eye to the subject you're filming…"
The Sony International Impact Award was judged in Berlin by a group of European broadcasters and correspondents.
The Chair of this panel, Thomas Roth, admits to being worried before the screening. "We all know from our experience in the field of crisis areas and war zones what kind of footage will come up and what it exactly means to watch it.
Especially when we are dealing with footage which is handed in for the different categories of the Rory Peck Award. But then again, what kind of work is the work of a jury compared to the work of the cameramen out there?
No danger, no possibility of coming under fire as lots of our colleagues came in Iraq, in Africa, Asia or Afghanistan."
The Rory Peck Awards, sponsored by Sony, is the main fund raising event for The Rory Peck Trust.
The Trust is the only charity in the world dedicated to promoting the work, safety and security of freelancers working in news and current affairs broadcasting worldwide.
The Trust subsidises training in hostile environments for freelancers, advises them on insurance and provides financial support to the families of those killed or seriously injured during the course of their work.
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