Sky News has been named News Channel of the Year for the seventh consecutive year at the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards.
- Channel praised for the “comprehensive way it’s covered the main news stories of the year in both the UK and around the world”.
- Sky’s news service has undergone major changes to its schedule as it faces competition from news and opinion channels
- BBC left awards ceremony almost empty handed.
The prestigious awards ceremony took place yesterday evening at the London Hilton on Park Lane, hosted by Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid.
For 2024, the RTS Special Award was presented to Martin Lewis CBE for his pivotal role in changing an entire genre of journalism as he continues to provide the British public with clear, actionable financial advice, as well as influencing policy and holding banking and utility industries to account. The Outstanding Contribution Award was given to Kirsty Wark, in recognition of her tenure presenting BBC Newsnight and delivering landmark interviews, while providing a formidable breadth of knowledge, mentorship and guidance to others in the industry.
Regarding the News Channel of the Year award, the jury said Sky was given the award for “the comprehensive way it covered the main news stories of the year both in the UK and around the world”.
Sky News has recently completed a complete overhaul of its evening schedule, with defined hours for political news, stories from across the UK and global news.
Responding to Sky News winning the award, David Rhodes, Executive Chairman for Sky News Group said:
“It’s been a momentous year for news and I couldn’t be more proud that Sky News has been recognised by winning News Channel of the Year for a phenomenal seventh year in a row. To provide audiences with the full story first, our 800 journalists around the world have told compelling human-interest stories, held those in power to account, have gone deep into the data and delivered powerful eyewitness reports from around the globe”.
The BBC, which made substantial changes to its news output in the last year walked away almost empty-handed. The broadcaster did secure a win for its coverage of the Ukraine conflict and for a BBC Wales investigation into Welsh Rugby.
Winners
Breaking News: Opening shots: The Gaza War – Reuters
Camera Operator of the Year: Fadi Shana – Reuters
Current Affairs – Home: Russell Brand: In Plain Sight – Dispatches Hardcash Productions for Channel 4
Current Affairs – International: Rescue Mission Gaza – Witness, Al Jazeera English
Emerging Young Talent of the Year: Joshua Stokes – Summerland The Forgotten Disaster – Granada Reports ITV News Granada for ITV1
Innovation Award: Westminster Accounts – Sky News & Tortoise Media
Nations and Regions Factual: Welsh Rugby Under the Spotlight – Wales Investigates BBC Wales for BBC One Wales
Nations and Regions News: The Nottingham Attacks – ITV News Central (East), ITV News Central for ITV1
Nations and Regions Reporter of the Year: Jonathan Brown – Knife Crime Investigation – ITV News Calendar, ITV Yorkshire for ITV1
Network Daily News Programme of the Year, Channel 4 News, ITN for Channel 4
Network Interview of the Year: Christiane Amanpour interviews Siamak Namazi, CNN
Network Presenter of the Year: Susanna Reid – Good Morning Britain, ITV Studios for ITV1
Network Television Journalist of the Year: Secunder Kermani – Channel 4 News, ITN for Channel 4
News Coverage – Home: Nowhere to Go: Britain’s Homeless Emergency – ITV News ITN/ITV News for ITV1
News Coverage – International: War in Ukraine: Hope, Death and Defiance – BBC News, BBC News for BBC One
On-Demand Journalism: Stealing Ukraine’s Children: Inside Russia’s Camps – VICE News VICE UK – YouTube/VICE News
Political Journalist of the Year: Beth Rigby, Political Editor Sky News
Scoop of the Year: Russell Brand: In Plain Sight – Dispatches, Hardcash Productions for Channel 4
Specialist Journalist of the Year: Daniel Hewitt, ITV News ITN/ITV News for ITV1
RTS News Channel of the Year: Sky News
RTS Special Award: Martin Lewis CBE
Outstanding Contribution: Kirsty Wark
[Source: RTS]