Al Jazeera English’s documentary “A Crude Mistake” wins FPA award
Al Jazeera English’s People and Power strand has won the Foreign Press Award (FPA) Environment and Science Story of the Year for its documentary, “A Crude Mistake”.
The award was announced at the “Oscars of Journalism” event in London on 25 November. The Sunday Times Magazine and Channel 4 were the other nominees at an event that celebrates excellence in journalism.
Commenting on the win, Issa Ali, Acting Managing Director of Al Jazeera English stated, "We acknowledge and appreciate the recognition of our team's work by the Foreign Press Association for the investigative programme that uncovers the truth and provides an unbiased, unvarnished look into the oil industry in Uganda."
The documentary investigates what major new oil projects in Uganda mean for the country, its people and the environment.
"Through its award-winning programming, Al Jazeera English tells authentic stories about people everywhere, without geographical or cultural prejudice. What is happening in Uganda needs to be known." said Rafi Mustafa, Manager of Investigative Programmes at Al Jazeera English.
The 49-minute documentary by Callum McCrae and Mark Williams examines how Uganda is banking on major oil projects to create growth and prosperity, while facing criticism over the impact on the environment and human rights.
Al Jazeera was nominated in two other categories. Last year Al Jazeera English won the FPA award in the best TV Documentary/Feature Story of the Year for Fault Lines’ “The Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh”.