Foreign Press Association Media Awards 2009 Winners

With comments from the Judges

TV News Story of the Year
Jamal Osman, Jonathan Rugman, Nick Sturdee: “Somalia: UN World Food Programme: Theft and Corruption” Channel 4 News

This was a heart-wrenching expose of the problems facing food programs in Africa where thousands of bags of wheat are diverted by corruption. The evasive denials of senior aid bureaucrats sit beside the sight of dying children in refugee camps.

TV Feature Story of the Year
Sam Bagnall, Liviu Tipurita, Lucy Hetherington: “Gipsy Child Thieves” BBC This World

In the end, the judges have given the Award to a documentary they consider an example of truly excellent TV story- telling, brilliant camera work & fabulous visuals resulting in a film that unfolds and develops beautifully to shine a powerful light on a gripping story.

Environment Story of the Year
Martin Hickman: “Palm Oil” The Independent

The winner was considered by the judges to be a truly important story, the result of hard graft, investigative reporting. It was well researched, highly relevant to the reader and with a real impact that would make people think about its subject.

Financial/Economic Story of the Year
David Evans: “The Hidden Pension Fiasco” Bloomberg Markets

The Financial story of the Year is awarded to a report that stood out for its fine investigative detail about the huge pensions time bomb ticking away in the US. It was a well-researched and original story, clearly written so that not only financial experts but also ordinary pension holders could understand what was happening.

Sports Story of the Year
David Goldblatt, Rob Walker, Bridget Harney: “The Rise of Mathare United FC” BBC World Service

The judges were unanimous in selecting this wonderful and hugely charming piece of radio that showed one reason why sport is so important: it can change peoples’ lives.

Travel & Tourism Story of the Year
Mick Brown: “Hey Dude Texas” Conde Nast Traveller

Again a unanimous choice by the judges for a travel piece about Texas that actually made them want to go there!

Radio Story of the Year
Lucy Ash, Nick Sturdee: “Chechnya: The Fate of Women” Crossing Continents, BBC Radio 4

The judges chose - with difficulty - as the winner, a radio documentary they considered a brilliant example of how great radio gives you not just a picture but a whole movie in your mind – it was beautifully put together, exciting and absolutely gripping from beginning to end.

Print/Web News Story of the Year
Robert Winnett and Team: “The Truth about Cabinet Expenses” The Daily Telegraph

A far reaching and exhaustive exposé on the mass abuse of ministerial expenses at the highest level; an issue which must ensure a rethink about political transparency in this country. The series was explosive and riveting while at all times being accurate and even-handed.

Print/Web Feature Story of the Year
Miles Amoore: “Blood Brothers Scarred by War” The Sunday Times

The judges agreed that anyone with a brother or sister would feel a powerful connection with this gripping account that turns from a war story to a devastating human interest story

Story of the Year by a member of the FPA
Aaron Patrick: “EMI Deal hits sour note” Wall St Journal Europe

The inside story of the troubles of one of the world’s great music labels EMI, burrowing in behind the public relations facade to expose the reality of its financial problems.

Journalist of the Year (Winner of Winners)
Martin Hickman: “Palm Oil” The Independent

While acknowledging the importance of the Telegraph story on expenses, and the brilliant work of the team of journalists who put the stories together, the judges felt the Award should go to an outstanding individual journalist whose work they considered both important and revelatory.

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