Al Jazeera English wins RTS TV Journalism Award for film ‘Rescue Mission Gaza’

Al Jazeera English has won a prestigious Royal Television Society (RTS) Television Journalism 2024 award in the Current Affairs – International for its Witness’ film Rescue Mission Gaza.
 
The judges’ decision was announced during the RTS annual award ceremony in London on 28th of February. Other nominees in the category included BBC and ITV.
 
Following a civil defence worker around Gaza City, Rescue Mission Gaza has the plight of civilians at its core. During one brutal day, the team accompanies this first responder on his rescue missions: dodging bombs, racing injured people to hospitals, digging children out of rubble – and then heading back to do it all again.
 
The team itself has borne the consequences of the war. At the time of the RTS ceremony, filmmaker Mohammed Sawwaf had been seriously injured and was unreachable, under siege in Gaza City. “I hope you will tell the world that the people of Gaza love life and hate war,” said cameraman Ibrahim Al-Otla in a video from Rafah.
 
Al Jazeera English was also nominated as News Channel of the Year for its 2023 coverage which focused largely on the war on Gaza. Since it started in October 2023, Al Jazeera English was one of two networks with staff in the area, who refused to stop working even after targeted attacks and open threats in a true display of the channel’s commitment to truth and accuracy.
 
The channel reporting last year also included the ongoing war in Ukraine; the earthquakes in Morocco, Turkey and Syria and immigration crisis in Tunisia and Panama.
 
“This accolade is a testament to the bravery of our teams around the world – especially to our truly incredible teams in Gaza, working under conditions almost impossible to comprehend,” said Fiona Lawson-Baker, EP of Documentaries, who accepted the award.
 
“We are delighted and honoured to win this prestigious award,” said Issa Ali, Deputy Managing Director of Al Jazeera English. “The great journalism that we do, and that done by our colleagues in other media organisations, is more important than ever in today’s world. This award is a wonderful recognition of the talent, dedication and hard work of our teams.”
 
Established in 1927, the RTS is one of the most prestigious journalism associations in the UK, and celebrates creative and excellent journalism in both British and international news.
 
Al Jazeera English has previously been recognised by the RTS with the award for Breaking News in 2021 for its coverage of the Beirut blast; the Interview of the Year award in 2019; and News Channel of the Year award in 2012.