Channel 4 News does the double at FPA awards

Channel 4 News has been recognised in the best television news and best environment story categories at the prestigious Foreign Press Association (FPA) awards.

Nick Martin won news story of the year for his investigation with Guillermo Galdos into the disappearance of hundreds of young Mexican women from Ciudad Juarez. The film prompted an investigation by US authorities after he passed them his interview with “Maria”, a girl who had escaped from her kidnappers and fled north of the border.

Both of these films shed new light on compelling stories from around the world. They couldn’t be more different. Jim Gray, Channel 4 News Editor

Nick was up against stiff competition in the TV news category from two other Channel 4 News investigations – Sarah Smith’s report on the US army’s use of drones, and Nick Paton Walsh’s report into the treatment of Afghan interpreters who had worked for the British army.

Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum won the environment story of the year for her piece on rare earth minerals in China.

With 95 per cent of the minerals required for low carbon technologies found in China, Lindsey travelled there to report on how the country could soon start restricting exportation of these minerals, and the ruinous process involved in extraction and processing.

The FPA Media Awards celebrate the best foreign news reporting by UK journalists and correspondents.

Jim Gray, editor of Channel 4 News, commented: “Both of these films shed new light on compelling stories from around the world. They couldn’t be more different – with Lindsey uncovering China’s stranglehold on these essential minerals, and Nick prompting a US investigation into child trafficking, but they both showcase the very best of Channel 4 News – hard to cover, but important stories told with passion, character and integrity. “