Channel 4, BBC, NFB honored at One World Media Awards

May 11, 2011 by Kelly Anderson

The One World Media Awards were handed out yesterday (May 10), recognizing excellence in media coverage of the developing world. The ceremony was hosted by Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow, in an event set to broadcast on BBC World News on May 14 and 15.

Channel 4 picked up two awards for its international current affairs strand, “Unreported World.” The Television Award went to Unreported World: Philippines – The City with Too Many People, produced by Quicksilver Media, while the Environment Award, sponsored by the International Institute for Environment and Development, went to Unreported World: Pakistan – After the Floods, also from Quicksilver Media.

The Children’s Rights Award, sponsored by UNICEF UK, and determined by a youth jury, was awarded to Dispatches – Children of Gaza from True Vision Productions for Channel 4.

The BBC also picked up a number of awards across TV and radio. The Documentary Award, sponsored by Malaria Consortium, went to Welcome to Lagos, produced by KEO Films for BBC2 while the Popular Features Award went to Blood, Sweat & Luxuries: Gold and E-Waste from Ricochet for BBC3.

The New Media Award, sponsored by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, went to the National Film Board of Canada for Highrise – Out My Window. The feature-length web documentary tells stories of  people across the globe who look out on the world from highrise windows.

One World Media Awards’ new award, the Student Award, which recognizes excellence and encourages an international outlook in upcoming media professionals, was won by Ling Lee for Miles Apart, a doc about migrant workers in China. Lee, pictured, is a student at the National Film and Television School.

Marion Bowman, One World Media director, said in a statement, “In a year like this, it’s great to recognise the outstanding work that so many journalists, filmmakers and broadcasters do in the developing world. They often put themselves in harm’s way, but they are true internationalists and, importantly, help the rest of us understand what is going on in the world and how we are all connected.”

Tags: BBC, Channel 4, Highrise, NFB, One World Media Awards