Channel 4 News win two Amnesty awards
Updated on 22 September 2005
Channel 4 News won Amnesty International's prestigious media for both TV News and the Gaby Rado Memorial Award
The winners of Amnesty International's prestigious media awards were announced last night in a ceremony at London's Banqueting House with Channel 4 News' Independents Fund coming away with awards for both TV News and the Gaby Rado memorial award.
The awards recognise excellence in human rights reporting and acknowledge journalism's significant contribution to the UK public's awareness and understanding of human rights issues.
In the TV News category Tara Sutton won the Amnesty Television News award for her film on the aftermath of the Fallujah siege. Tara was working for Guardian Films, commissioned by the Channel Four News Indy Fund.
Her piece was the only film that sought to piece together the events inside Fallujah during the siege and to contrast the statements made by the US military with the experience of the people of the city. Many people at Channel Four News must be thanked for their work on this story.
The film was executive produced by Teresa Smith; Lizzy Amanpour researcher and assistant producer, Ian Searcey who handled all film research, Pete Everest and the team from C4N graphics, Sarah Corp -line producer, Julie Hulme - programme editor and Debs Rayner - commissioning editor.
Gaby Rado Memorial Award
Channel 4 News also scooped the Gaby Rado Memorial Award an award that is given to a journalist at the start of their career. Dr. Ali won the Gaby Award for his two films from Iraq - The aftermath of the Battle of Fallujah when Dr. Ali went back into the city to find much of it levelled - and his Sadr City film - a fly-on the wall account of Fatteh al-Sheikh, a Shi'ite candidate campaigning in the first elections since the end of Saddam's Sunni dominated rule.
Both of Dr. Ali's films were commissioned by Debs Rayner from Guardian Films for the Channel 4 News Indy Fund. Many thanks to Fiona Campbell who exec produced Ali's Fallujah film. Ali also wrote articles for the Guardian alongside both films and these were included in his entry portfolio. Ali's entire family came over from Iraq for last night's ceremony (their first trip to UK).
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:"The media has a vital part to play in mobilising public opinion on human rights issues. It is a role it needs to play well if we are to prompt governments and international organisations to act.
The Amnesty International Media Awards celebrate the skills and dedication of those journalists who have increased public awareness and understanding of these crucial issues, often placing their own lives at risk to do so."
Channel 4 News has a strong history with Amnesty wins. Lindsey Hilsum and Soren Munk received the TV News award last year for their film from Equatorial Guinea.
