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March 26, 2025 – Palestine/Israel/UK –
In March 2025, the UK’s Royal Television Society (RTS) reversed its decision to cancel a special award recognizing the work of Palestinian journalists covering the Gaza conflict. The initial cancellation, announced just before the RTS Television Journalism Awards on March 5, sparked widespread criticism from media professionals and press freedom advocates. Critics accused the RTS of political bias and censorship, arguing that the decision undermined the sacrifices made by journalists reporting under perilous conditions in Gaza.
The controversy was further fueled by the RTS’s concern that the award could be overshadowed by a BBC documentary, “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone,” which faced backlash due to its narrator’s familial ties to a Hamas official. Despite the documentary’s issues, many argued that it was unrelated to the journalists’ work being honored.
In response to the backlash, over 300 media figures signed an open letter demanding the reinstatement of the award. Prominent journalists, including Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Sky News’s Alex Crawford, expressed their disapproval of the RTS’s decision. On March 15, the RTS announced it would present the Special Award for Journalists in Gaza at its Programme Awards on March 25, acknowledging the exceptional coverage provided by journalists under extreme conditions.
The reinstatement of the award was seen as a significant step in recognizing the vital role of journalists in conflict zones. It also highlighted the importance of press freedom and the need to support journalists who risk their lives to report the truth.
Reference –
https://variety.com/2025/tv/global/rtsr-prize-recognizing-journalists-in-gaza-1236340335/
https://www.newarab.com/news/palestinian-journalists-honoured-rts-win-gaza-coverage
