First
winners of the Ruby Television Awards announced
Look
East has won the top award at the first ever Ruby Television
Awards to honour the achievements of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ regional news programmes
across the United Kingdom.
In
addition to winning the prestigious Best Six Thirty Programme award,
Look East's Rachel Dane scooped the Best Exclusive Story
title.
The
awards were presented by the Director-General of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, Greg Dyke,
at a special dinner hosted by Pat Loughrey, Director of Nations
& Regions, and held at Birmingham's International Convention
Centre last night (13 February 2003).
Speaking
at the awards, Pat Loughrey said: "The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ first introduced
regional news programmes 40 years ago.
"It
was a bold and brave step at the time - but today these programmes
have become not only a cornerstone of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ONE schedule but also
the most watched news programmes on British television."
South
Today and North West Tonight also picked up two Ruby
awards each.
South
Today's Andy Stone was named Best Director and Mark Sanders
won the Best News Reporter category.
For
North West Tonight, Gordon Burns was awarded Best Presenter
and Ian Wagdin, Best Editor.
 A
Special Award was presented to Bruce Parker for his services
to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and regional broadcasting.
Bruce
retires in March after 38 years with the organisation - 35 of them
at ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ South.
Congratulating
Bruce, Pat Loughrey said: "He's made an immense contribution
to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ South in particular, both as the long-serving anchor presenter
of South Today and more recently as Political Editor and presenter
of South of Westminster.
"He's
remained relentlessly enthusiastic about his work and is an inspiration
to many new young members of staff who have benefited from his advice
and experience."
There
were eight different categories in the competition, and the judges
included past and present local television broadcasters, along with
leading producers, managers and regulators from both public service
and commercial television.
The
Rubys have been created to coincide with the 40th anniversary of
the start of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s regional news programmes across the United
Kingdom.
Their
aim is to recognise and celebrate the achievements and encourage
excellence in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½Â’s regional news programmes.
Notes
to Editors
A
full list of this yearÂ’s winners:
Best
Broadcast of Diversity Issues - Look
North, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Best
Video Journalist - Johnny
Rutherford, Spotlight, South West
Best
News Reporter - Mark
Sanders, South Today
Best
Exclusive Story - Rachel
Dane, Look East
Best
Specialist Correspondent - Richard
Smith, South East Today
Best
Presenter - Gordon
Burns, North West Tonight
Best
Six Thirty Programme - Look
East
The
Director's Special Award - Bruce
Parker
Outstanding
Craft Skills:
Best
Camera Operator - Ben
Leete, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ London News
Best
Director - Andy
Stone, South Today
Best
Graphics Designer - Andrew
Davidson, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Newsline, Northern Ireland
Best
Editor - Ian
Wagdin, North West Tonight
Notes
to Editors
Birmingham
hosts regional TV awards ceremony (12.02.03)
All the
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s digital services are now available on ,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s eight television channels - including ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ THREE
- as well as six ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ radio networks.
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