The Rory Peck Awards 2003
Sponsored by Sony

The Freelancers’ Choice Award

This Award is for the person who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of freelancers - the unsung hero or heroine in the field or at base. The Award has been chosen by the freelancers themselves entirely from their own nominations.

WINNER: James Brabazon
Freelance cameraman/producer

In 2002, no journalists had filmed the LURD, travelled with them, met their leaders or even been able to prove their existence. James Brabazon worked alone, travelling with the rebels through 300 miles of jungle. He recorded a unique, uncensored record of human rights abuses and atrocities, the conditions that civilians endure in Liberia and their relationship to both the rebels and the Liberian government’s armed forces. He proved beyond doubt that President Charles Taylor was breaking the arms embargo. Despite great personal risk, he returned to film the rebels’ second - and doomed - attempt to overthrow Taylor.

“Brabazon’s courage and determination have allowed him to achieve feats unattainable by any other person, without which the world would be blind to the LURD rebel situation in Liberia.”

NOMINATED: Azmi Keshawi
Freelance fixer/field producer

On the film The Killing Zone, a Dispatches for Channel 4, Azmi Keshawi played an integral role as field producer in Gaza, helping the production team with good humour and at a great risk to himself, not just during the filming but also after they had left. Azmi saved Sandra Jordan from direct gunfire, led the team to a safe house on the frontline and guided Sandra and Rodrigo Vazquez to a safe place for filming. His interpreting and persuasive role sped the evacuation of injured Tom Hurndall to an Israeli hospital and he accompanied the ambulance through the military checkpoint. Azmi Keshawi lives in Gaza with his wife and three children.

“Without Azmi, we would not have been able to make the film at all and if we had tried we would have been dead. It was with Azmi’s humour, advice and expert knowledge that we were able to film near the frontline and in no-man’s land and along sniper alleys. He guided us through the Green Line and through military checkpoints. He kept us alive.

NOMINATED: The Emergency Team for James Miller

When on 2 May 2003 highly respected freelance director and cameraman James Miller was killed in the Gaza strip, the team at Channel 4 News - Caroline Bannock, Dorothy Byrne, Jim Gray, Guy Ker, Andrew MacDonald and Deborah Rayner - immediately assembled to help in any way they could. They provided invaluable support to Saira Shah and her colleagues at Frostbite Productions. Together with other former colleagues, including Deborah Davies and David Henshaw, they helped to represent James’ family, dealing with the flood of media enquiries, offering services and travelling to Israel.

“The team that spontaneously came together in the immediate aftermath of this tragedy was invaluable to the family, friends and colleagues of James Miller. In their response to the death of a freelancer, Channel 4 and ITN have been a shining example to broadcasters all over the world. No one could have asked for more.”

NOMINATED: Craig Summers
Security and safety official

Craig Summers was security adviser for the BBC News Team in Northern Iraq when, on 6 April, they were the unintended victims of a US airstrike. Twenty-two men were killed and about fifty injured. In the chaos and panic after the explosion, Summers remained calm. After calling London, he went in search of his colleagues and found their translator, Kamaran Abdurazaq Mohammed, lying in the grass and semi-conscious. Around him were burning vehicles, exploding ammunition and screaming soldiers. Craig administered first aid, but was unable to save Kamaran. After rescuing the crew’s vital equipment and somehow starting a BBC landcruiser, Summers got the team out.

“I nominate Craig for his courage and determination in looking after the BBC team of nine people in a situation that was about as terrifying as can be imagined.”

• Winners
• Finalists
• The Freelancers' Choice 2003
• Judging Panels
• List of Entrants
• Awards brochure 2003

  
  

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