Channel Four News Independents' Fund by Sue Inglish, Deputy Editor, Channel Four News.
The Freelancer Today by Nik Gowing.
Thoughts from a freelancer by Sue Lloyd-Roberts.
Awards page
Judging the 1996 Rory Peck Award
Rory Peck was most people's ideal of the freelance cameraman. Nothing was too dangerous or difficult for him to attempt, and he was never interested in going about things the obvious way. For Rory, arriving there fast and either getting closer to the action or finding different, better things to film was his trade-mark.The winning entry for the Rory Peck Award is likely therefore, to show the kind of lateral thinking he did, both in the nature of the story and in the way it is shot. Like so much of Rory's material, it will demonstrate the kind of detailed, close-up action which never appears in run-of-the-mill news coverage. Rory's camerawork could sometimes be a little eccentric, like the man himself, but he knew what made good pictures, and he went for them with a courage and a single mindedness which was his trademark.
The winning entry will have these attributes: nothing else would be acceptable for the Award which carries his name. It will also have a distinguishing touch of humanity. Rory was interested in so much more than mere violence; he had a sympathetic eye for the people who were caught up in the war. Finally, and most difficult to define, it will have a real feeling of style. Rory was one of the most stylish men one could ever meet, and his pictures, like the stories he pursued, always reflected that.
The judges had to choose from nearly forty entries from cameramen and women of sixteen different nationalities. The stories included coverage of conflicts and human rights stories from across the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, North Africa, Central and South America and Central and Southern Africa.
The stories submitted were all of high quality and demonstrated the boldness, intelligence, imagination and sheer tenacity in keeping the camera running which distinguishes the best kind of television journalism. The runners-up and winner's entries were all wonderfully well-observed pieces which personalised conflicts through the lives of individuals.
The winning entry was chosen because it was the best example of the courage and single-mindedness which were Rory's trademark. Most important, like Rory's coverage, it illustrated a distinguishing touch of humanity and sympathy for people caught up in a harrowing situation.
The Panel Of Judges for 1996 Rory Peck Award were:
- Tira Shubart - Chairman
- Norma Johnston - Amnesty International
- Nigel Hancock - Associated Press TV
- Lucian Hudson - BBC World Service TV
- Philip Turner - CNN
- Vicky Knighton - ITN
- Tony Davenport - Reuters TV
by Tira Shubart, Chairman of Judges