RTS Launches Television Journalism Awards 2014/15

The Royal Television Society (RTS) has launched the RTS Television Journalism Awards 2014–2015.

The awards, for news and current affairs, aim to recognise creative and high-quality journalism by organisations whose broadcasts are transmitted on a UK-based platform and – for the first time – those who create online video content from a UK production base.

This year, following a review and extensive discussions with the news organisations, a number of changes have been made to the awards criteria. This includes the addition of two new categories; Breaking News – which recognises the speed with which news organisations can react to unexpected events – and Interview of the Year.

Commenting on the changes, Stewart Purvis, Professor of Television Journalism, City University and Chair of the Awards, said: "Significant changes have been made in many of the RTS Television Journalism Awards categories this year and extra opportunities have been opened up for newer news organisations and independent producers – for example in the Current Affairs categories, an extra entry has been granted to all broadcasters provided that extra entry is an independent production."

All entries must have been first transmitted on any platform in the UK, or been made available through a website between 16 November 2014 and 15 November 2015. They must be submitted using the RTS Online Awards Entry System. The closing date for entries is 4 December 2015.

The Award categories are:

News Awards
• News Coverage – Home recognises the best coverage of a major news story in the UK.

• News Coverage – International recognises the best coverage of a major news story outside the UK.

• Daily News Programme of the Year recognises the programme which has consistently demonstrated journalistic excellence throughout the year.

• News Channel of the Year

• Breaking News

• News Technology recognises the way in which news organisations utilise technology to support and enhance journalism and the delivery of news.

Current Affairs Awards
• Current Affairs – Home

• Current Affairs – International

Nations and Regions Awards
• Nations and Regions News recognises the best coverage either of a single major news story or of a series of stories over the course of the year.

• Nations and Regions Current Affairs recognises the best piece of current affairs journalism commissioned, made and first transmitted in a region.

• Regional Presenter of the Year

Other Awards
• Scoop of the Year recognises exclusive, original journalism in either news or current affairs by a broadcaster or agency.

• Specialist Journalist of the Year recognises specialist reporting of genres such as arts, entertainment, science, health, education, business, economics, politics and defence.

• Young Talent of the Year recognises the best work during the year by an on or off-screen journalist, editor, video journalist, camera operator or technician involved in the production of broadcast news.

• Television Journalist of the Year

• Camera Operator of the Year

• Network Presenter of the Year recognises the best news or current affairs presenter whose skills may include interviewing, responding to breaking news and presenting on location as well as studio presentation.

• The Independent Award recognises the best original video journalism by an independent production company.

• Interview of the Year

• Judges' Award. This award is presented to an individual or a production team in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Television Journalism, either specifically in the past year, or, in the case of an individual, over the course of their career. This Award is in the gift of the panel and entries are not requested; however, suggestions are welcome.

The Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday 17 February 2016 at the London Hilton, Park Lane.

www.rts.org.uk

(JP/LM)