This Award is for the person who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of freelancers. The Award has been chosen by freelancers themselves entirely from their own nominations. Those nominated were:

Winner: Jan Van Benthem
- Commissioning Editor

"...for recognising the contribution of freelance television journalists"

As Chief Editor of 2 Vandaag in Holland, Jan is one of the world's biggest buyers of freelancers' work - and one of their greatest advocates. Although he alludes to himself as "the Dutch creep", he is aware of the pressures that less scrupulous editors can put on freelancers and promotes working together as protection against the various dangers faced by the lone cameraman or women. A freelancer speaks of his unique understanding of freelance issues "he instinctively understands their culture, and values their work like no other foreign editor in the business"

Lidija Zelovic - Fixer

"…for her unprecedented efforts prior, during, and her continuing efforts since the bombing ceased, in the Balkans…"

Lidija's work as a field producer/fixer in the Balkans demands immense dedication and professionalism. However it is her bravery and calm in the face of danger that inspired her nomination for this Award. In April, Lidija was with a BBC crew filming a simple piece to camera in Montenegro. The sound of an AK47 being loaded interrupted their work: a group of soldiers trained their guns on them as three hysterical women urged them to fire. It was only when they were marched into nearby army barracks that the cameraman realised that they had been inadvertently filming the same sensitive location that had recently got a French cameraman imprisoned. Separated from the crew, Lidija was interrogated, accused of espionage and threatened with violence. A colleague said of the event that "her unwavering support of us had a great deal to do with our release that day despite the threatening treatment she endured."

Jonathan Miller - Cameraman

"…for his passionate belief in telling the true story"

Jonathan combines exceptional talent and passion as a cameraman with a genuine commitment and love of the people he works with. He started his career as a radio journalist but it took just one day's training to prepare him for his first shoot and just six months for him to learn to edit. A fellow freelancer describes his films as "original and important". His recent story on 'Zambian Aids' draws attention to the dilemma faced by a country where Aids kills over 200 a day, but where the intermittant availability of treatment risks a lethal new strain of drug-resistant HIV.

Kareem Dergham - Driver

"…for keeping freelancers alive in Beirut for twenty years."

Kareem received unprecedented praise for his work as a driver for ABC News during the TWA Hijacking and the Israeli War. In April of this year, he came close to losing his life. Journalists had gathered just outside Arnoun, a town just four miles from the Israeli border that had been sealed off by soldiers. Troops tried to disperse them with smoke grenades and threats before opening fire. Kareem was shot in the back. A rubber coated metal bullet was removed in hospital - it was embedded just half an inch from his spine. " Amazingly, " says his nominator, "he was back in the office just a few weeks after coming so close to death."

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