BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen and the group of journalists who exposed a culture of misogyny and sexism in the Welsh Rugby Union were last night (10th November) honoured in the Journalists’ Charity’s Wales Media Awards 2023.
Jeremy Bowen won the headline Outstanding Contribution to Journalism award in recognition of his 40-year career reporting on conflicts from around the world.
Current affairs programme BBC Wales Investigates and freelance print and online journalist Liz Perkins were the joint recipients of the Journalism of the Year award for their separate investigations into the WRU scandal.
Announcing Jeremy Bowen as winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Journalism trophy, James Brindle, CEO of the Journalists’ Charity, said: “For nearly 40 years, Jeremy has been telling powerful stories that shape the way the world understands conflict.
“Tonight, like so many nights during his career, he is in a war zone, sacrificing a normal life to be in Israel taking risks to report the truth. During his career, he has shown all the hallmarks of great journalism: objectivity, trustworthiness, empathy and courage. He is quite simply a legend.”
In his pre-recorded video message, Cardiff-born Jeremy said: “I would like to thank you all for this fantastic award. It’s a great honour and I’m disappointed not to be with you.”
He added: “April next year will be 40 years since I signed on the dotted line with the BBC to become a journalist. I’m very fortunate that I have had a part in some of the biggest stories around the world since the Eighties and it’s been an incredible privilege to be able to report on those major events.”
Coverage of the scandal that engulfed the WRU earlier this year led to the Journalist of the Year category being re-named Journalism of the Year in recognition of the group of journalists which broke and developed this important story.
In making the award to BBC Wales Investigates: Welsh Rugby Under the Spotlight and to Liz Perkins, the judges said: “At its best, journalism holds power to account and gives a voice to those who have been forced to remain silent. This story was Welsh journalism at its best. Its brilliant execution showed the power of print, online and broadcast news, and produced a story that shocked Wales and then went around the world.”
There were double honours for the two recipients. In addition to their shared Journalism of the Year award, BBC Wales Investigates was voted Video News and Current Affairs Programme of the Year and Liz Perkins was named Sports Journalist of the Year – again for the WRU story.
Around 200 guests from the Welsh media and sponsor organisations attended the event at Cardiff’s Parkgate Hotel which was hosted by the BBC’s Lucy Owen and ITV’s Jonathan Hill. The awards’ headline sponsor was Camelot with support sponsor Creative Wales as well as a number of other sponsor companies.
A highly experience panel of Judges, under the chairmanship of Jonathan Grun, chose the winners from more than 200 entries – a record for the awards, now in their ninth year.
Both Welsh and English language entries were received from across broadcast, print and online publications.
Among other winners were ITV Wales’ Hannah Thomas, voted Specialist Journalist of the Year; Wales Online’s Will Hayward, Political Journalist of the Year; and Nation Cymru’s Delyth Hughes, Feature Writer/Columnist of the Year.
The Western Mail was named Daily/Sunday Newspaper of the Year and the Cambrian News was the winner of the Weekly Newspaper of the Year. The trophy for Online News Site of the Year went to BBC Cymru Fyw.
ITV Cymru Wales’ Hamish Auskerry was voted Young Journalist of the Year.
Clonc 360 was the winner of the Community Journalism of the Year award – recognition of the important role played by Welsh language community publications known as Papurau Bro, some titles celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
Pictures from the night HERE. Courtesy of Natasha Hirst Photography
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
News Writer of the Year
Awdur Newyddion y Flwyddyn
Gwyn Loader (BBC Cymru /Wales)
Video News Journalist of the Year
Newyddiadurwr Newyddion Fideo y Flwyddyn
Andy Davies (Channel 4 news)
Audio News Journalist of the Year
Newyddiadurwr Newyddion Sain y Flwyddyn
Jenny Rees (BBC Cymru/Wales)
Stills Photographer of the Year
Ffotograffydd Llonydd y Flwyddyn
Joann Randles
Shoot/Edit Journalist of the Year
Newyddiadurwr Saethu/Golygu y Flwyddyn
Greg Davies (BBC Cymru/Wales)
Political Journalist of the Year
Newyddiadurwr Gwleidyddol y Flwyddyn
Will Hayward (Western Mail/Wales Online)
Sports Journalist of the Year
Newyddiadurwr Chwaraeon y Flwyddyn
Liz Perkins
Feature Writer/Columnist of the Year
Awdur Nodwedd/Colofnydd y Flwyddyn
Delyth Hughes (Nation Cymru)
Specialist Journalist of the Year
Newyddiadurwr Arbenigol y Flwyddyn
Hannah Thomas (ITV Cymru Wales)
Ed Townsend Student Journalist of the Year
Myfyriwr Newyddiadurwr y Flwyddyn Ed Townsend
Robert Burke (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
Young Journalist of the Year
Newyddiadurwr Ifanc y Flwyddyn
Hamish Auskerry (ITV Cymru/Wales)
Daily /Sunday Newspaper of the Year
Papur Dyddiol/Sul y Flwyddyn
Western Mail
Weekly Newspaper of the Year
Papur Newydd Wythnosol y Flwyddyn
Cambrian News
Video Camera Operator of the Year
Gweithredwr Camera Fideo y Flwyddyn
Dai Baker (Channel 4 News)
Online News Site of the Year
Safle Newyddion Ar-lein y Flwyddyn
Cymru Fyw (BBC Cymru /Wales)
Video News and Current Affairs Programme of the Year
Rhaglen Fideo Newyddion a Materion Cyfoes y Flwyddyn
BBC Wales Investigates: Welsh Rugby Under The Spotlight (BBC Cymru/Wales)
Audio News and Current Affairs Programme of the Year
Rhaglen Newyddion a Materion Cyfoes Sain y Flwyddyn
Drowned: Flooding of a Village (BBC Cymru/Wales)
Community Journalism of the Year
Newyddiaduraeth Gymunedol y Flwyddyn
Clonc 360
Journalism of the Year
Newyddiaduraeth y Flwyddyn
BBC Wales Investigates: Welsh Rugby Under the Spotlight
Liz Perkins
Outstanding Contribution to Journalism
Cyfraniad Eithriadol i Newyddiaduraeth
Jeremy Bowen
