Sky News reporter Alex Crawford has been named television journalist of the year for a fifth time by the Royal Television Society.
The judges said: "For many months the news was dominated by the astonishing stories of refugees trying to reach Europe. There was outstanding reporting by many top correspondents but none matched the work of this year's winner.”
Other winners included BBC Newsnight, which won scoop of the year for its investigation into the Kids Company. Spectator editor Fraser Nelson has questioned whether Newsnight deserves credit for the scoop, arguing that the story followed an earlier report in his title by frelance Miles Goslett.
RTS Awards for Television Journalism 2016 winners
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Breaking News: Paris Terror Attacks
Broadcaster: CNN International
“There were many compelling entries on the Paris Terror Attacks, but the judges felt the winner set themselves apart with the clarity and confidence of their reporting and in particular some compelling exclusive interviews.”
Camera Operator of the Year: Mstyslav Chernov
Production Company: The Associated Press
“The judges thought the winner had an exceptional eye for detail and a full range of shots across his portfolio, capturing emotion and conveying the fear and sometimes panic that was at the heart of so many news events last year. No wonder one judge said ‘I could watch his stuff all day’. Given the range, volume and global distribution of his footage there may have been days last year when we probably did.”
Current Affairs – Home: Dispatches: Kids in Crisis
Production Company: Erica Starling Productions
Broadcaster: Channel 4
“In a very strong field the winning programme stood out for tackling an issue not often talked about. It was a hugely powerful film, with remarkable access to contributors, which was both intellectually and emotionally engaging. All in all, a gut wrenching watch.”
Current Affairs – International: Dispatches: Escape from ISIS
Production Company: An ITN Production – Ronachan Films co-production with Evan Williams Productions and Mediadante
Broadcaster: Channel 4
“The winning entry had a powerful combination of illuminating one of the most important issues of our time by reporting from areas of great danger – and finding the human story behind the headlines. In an area where brutality is sadly the norm, it found some hope; and it was also beautifully filmed.”
Daily News Programme of the Year: Sky News at Five
Broadcaster: Sky News
“The winning programme not only covered the major stories of the year in a typically compelling and timely way, but was commended for carving out a strong and distinct personality within a 24 hour news channel.”
Interview of the Year: Jeremy Bowen interviews President Assad
Production Company: BBC News
Broadcaster: BBC News Channel
“The winner secured an exclusive news-making interview with the key figure at the heart of one of the biggest stories of the year. The judges recognised the hard work that went into setting up the interview, negotiating terms, maintaining editorial independence and the cool-headed expertise which produced a compelling encounter.”
Nations and Regions Current Affairs: Life After April
Title: Week In Week Out
Broadcaster: BBC Wales
“This was a stunning, moving and powerful piece of filmmaking which revealed the continuing pain of a family where one of the daughters had been murdered. Although never intrusive, this film, beautifully written and perfectly paced, took us deep inside the trauma of a family who were still mourning the loss of their daughter. It was an outstanding piece of journalism.”
Nations and Regions News: BBC Points West
Title: The Becky Watts Murder Trial
Broadcaster: BBC One West
“A horrific murder which had shocked and saddened a city formed the tragic backdrop to this winning entry. The nature and details of the crime meant the programme had to get the tone just right. This Points West special, featuring an exclusive sensitive interview with the parents of the victim and the murderer, was a polished piece of regional journalism at its best.”
Network Presenter of the Year: Julie Etchingham
Title: ITV News At Ten; ITV Leaders' Debate; ITV Election 2015; The Tonight Programme; Exposure
Broadcaster: ITV
“The winner of this award demonstrated every aspect of the range of skills required from today's top news presenters – complete command of the studio, whether in the midst of a fast-breaking story or conducting an important interview; unflappable live presence on location; the ability to write and report well too; and in the case of this year's winner the all-round talent to make a bit of history as well… as the first woman to present a general election leaders’ debate in this country.”
News Channel of the Year: Sky News
“The winner was felt to have developed still further as a channel, completely professional as ever, covering news as it happened but now also breaking its own exclusive stories, offering more analysis, stand-out reporting and innovative coverage of special events.”
News Coverage – Home: Thomas Cook
Title: ITV News
Production Company: ITN
Broadcaster: ITV News
“The past year was heavily dominated by International News but there was very strong domestic coverage too. The winning entry was centred on a good old fashioned exclusive, built on a hunch and confirmed by top quality research and a classic doorstep.”
News Coverage – International: Tunisia
Title: Sky News Programming
Broadcaster: Sky News
“In a year where the competition between news organisations produced excellent coverage of major international stories, the winner of this category stood out as the best by far on one particular story. Excellent first use of eyewitness video, compelling story-telling, strong background analysis and follow-ups. This was all angles covered TV news.”
News Technology: The Care Calculator
Title: BBC News
Broadcaster: BBC
“The judges thought the winning entry was a superb piece of public interest journalism. It combined journalistic expertise and insight with technical innovation to produce a tool of value and interest to every family in the country.”
Regional Presenter of the Year: Stewart White
Title: BBC Look East (Norwich)
Broadcaster: BBC One
“A natural storyteller with a commanding presence on screen, his forensic interviewing techniques provide a masterclass for any aspiring TV journalist.”
Scoop of the Year: The Closure of Kids Company
Title: Newsnight
Broadcaster: BBC Two
“The winner produced a number of scoops on what became one of the stories of the summer. Originally working in collaboration with others, they dedicated resources and effort over a period of time to deliver original reporting and, ultimately, major revelations – undeterred by the involvement of one of their organisation's own executives.”
Specialist Journalist of the Year: Nima Elbagir
Broadcaster: CNN International
“The work of the Specialist Journalist of the Year took this person to some of the darkest and most difficult places to report on in the past twelve months. The judges thought the winner demonstrated great determination and bravery as well as deep humanity. She highlighted the plight of young people moving between continents and had the language skills to follow their journey in a way that no-one else could achieve.”
Television Journalist of the Year: Alex Crawford
Title: Sky News Programming
Broadcaster: Sky News
“To win the award of Journalist of the Year always requires something special and never more so than this year. For many months the news was dominated by the astonishing stories of refugees trying to reach Europe. There was outstanding reporting by many top correspondents but none matched the work of this year's winner.”
The Independent Award: Tracking down Macedonia's migrant kidnap gang
Title: Channel 4 News
Production Company: Ramita Navai Productions
Broadcaster: Channel 4
“The winning entry exposed an organised criminal network of people smugglers kidnapping and extorting money with virtual impunity from migrants crossing from Greece into Macedonia en route to Serbia. Reporter Ramita Navai found evidence of corruption by local police and customs officials turning a blind eye to the trade. The film had a significant impact in Macedonia and put pressure on the authorities to take action.”
Young Talent of the Year: Benjamin Zand
Title: The Victoria Derbyshire Programme
Broadcaster: BBC Two
“The judges liked everything about the winner, the stories he’d found, the way he filmed them – normally on his own – and the way he told them. They found him original, fresh, provocative, versatile, and, of course, creative.”
Judge's Award: Jackie Faulkner, Sky News
“This particular person has been in the business for almost forty years, mostly working for one broadcaster but often for the benefit of all broadcasters, persuading rival news organisations to co-operate yet still compete on their coverage of everything from the day-to-day to wars, revolutions, royal wedding and funerals.
"Those rivals have been happy for her to negotiate on their behalf with government departments, palace officials and church administrators knowing that she does it with professionalism, fairness, courtesy and generosity of spirit.
"In her main day job she has supported her own people in the field, overseen technical innovation, encouraged the careers of those in operational and engineering, all done with energy and dedication.”
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