Tag: Royal Television Society

Royal Television Society U-Turns on Special Award for Palestinian Journalists

2 Comments

In response to a statement tonight by the Royal Television Society, UK Screen Industry has said:

“We welcome the Royal Television Society’s U-turn in reinstating the Special Award for the courageous Palestinian journalists of Gaza. However, the charity’s statement does little to address or allay our concerns.

“The RTS now claims the award was simply ‘paused’ due to unspecified ‘potential for controversy’ at its Television Journalism Awards on 5 March – a claim that has never previously been mentioned. It also refers to a ‘previously announced review process’ of which we are entirely unaware.

“It is clear to all that this award must be presented at the RTS Programme Awards on 25 March with the full recognition and honour these journalists deserve. Yet the RTS continues to prevaricate.

Continue reading →

Leading Broadcasters Demand Reinstatement of Special Award Recognising Gaza Journalists

Broadcasters Jonathan Dimbleby, Lindsey Hilsum, Sangita Myska, Matt Frei, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Alex Crawford, Fergal Keane and Orla Guerin are among more than 400 TV and journalism professionals who have sent a letter to the leadership of the Royal Television Society (RTS) demanding transparency around its decision-making after the charity abruptly cancelled its Special Award for journalists in Gaza last week. 

The letter (copied in full below) “strongly urges” the RTS to reinstate the Special Award at their forthcoming Television Awards ceremony on 25 March.  

The program-makers, who include Channel 4’s chief correspondent Alex Thompson, executive producer and former editor of Channel 4 News Ben de Pear, Oscar-winning directors Kevin MacDonald and Asif Kapadia, and RTS- and Emmy-winning director Ramita Navai, say the RTS’ cancellation of the award “reveals a concerning lack of independence, due process and accountability” . 

Continue reading →