Sky News has taken home six awards at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Television Journalism Awards including Channel of the Year.
Head of Sky News, John Ryley was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement award with the judges saying he had “effected genuine change in our business”.
Like all broadcasters, Sky News has faced production and personnel challenges, as it handled the Covid-19 response.
Sky News collected six awards at the only ceremony including Channel of the Year for a fourth year running, News Coverage – International, News Coverage – Home and Specialist Journalist of the Year was awarded to Nick Martin. Further recognition through the Judges Choice Award was given to all Technical Teams from all broadcasters for ‘keeping news on the air’ throughout 2020 with unprecedented challenges. Finally, the Outstanding Achievement Award was awarded to Head of Sky News, John Ryley for his contribution to news for over 30 years.
In his acceptance speech Ryley touched on the importance of challenging the status quo, saying: “I hope that Sky News is today living proof that the proper role of any serious news organisation is to not only report the news but to analyse it as well.”
He also used the opportunity to highlight the need for the news industry to change to reflect modern Britain. “The biggest lesson that I have learned is, it’s not the strongest or the most intelligent that succeeds but those prepared to adapt and change.?We all have more work still to do.
“Luck, in television journalism still too often favours the white and middle class.?Young people from ethnic minorities need far more than only luck to succeed. They need advice, support and opportunity to get on in our trade.?And they need our respect for the new ideas and new skills they can offer us.”
Television Journalist of the Year was awarded to Clive Myrie of BBC News, as well as Network Presenter of the Year for his versatile, measured and compelling style.
BBC News Arabic picked up the International News award for The Schools that Chain Boys that detailed the abuse of young boys in Islamic schools in Sudan, featuring the eyewitness accounts of two of the boys.
