On May 28th, the Association of Television Professionals from Romania (ATPR) presented their yearly awards. The MARELE PREMIU AL JURIULUI, or Grand Jury Prize, was awarded to ANTENA 3 for overall journalistic excellence.
When announcing the winner, Mircea Diaconu, the Minister of Culture, stated that the jury’s unanimous decision was based on ANTENA 3’s compelling reports, investigations and incisive analysis that made it “the TV station that held our interest all year long.”
In addition to the grand jury prize, ANTENA 3 received awards in 4 separate categories:
GRAND JURY PRIZE: ANTENA 3 (Hosts and programs cited): Mihai Gadea; Daily Summary, Alessandra Stoicescu; 100 Minutes, Radu Tudor; The Meeting Point, Oana Stancu and Adrian Ursu; Power & Position, Razvan Dumitrescu; Subjective, Adriana Ursu; Sequential. (This was the second year in a row that Mihai Gadea & Daily Summary was awarded APTR’s top prize.)
Jean Louis Calderon Award – Named in honor of the French Journalist who died in Bucharest during the 1989 revolution; this prestigious & special recognition was awarded to the team of reporters – Petre Nechita, Simona Botog and Carmina Othman – for their LIVE coverage of the demonstrations from Piata Universitatii (University Square) during January. (Although Petre Nechita was attacked and sustained a head injury he continued his broadcast until an ambulance arrived and took him to hospital.)
INVESTIGATIVE AWARD – Political reporter Ionut Cristache’s uncovered corruption that was happening in the General Secretary’s office. By the time Cristache had finished his reports, a corruption case was launched against Daniela Andreescu, Chief of the Government’s Secretary. Due in large part to the amount of press attention garnered from these reports, the Secretary was dismissed from her post by the Prime Minister.
IMAGE AWARD –Cristian Tamas, cameraman at In Premiera, for his unique camera work on “Pe un picior de iad” (“On the foot of hell).
BEST REPORTING AWARD – In Premiera; Romania’s most diverse, compelling and totally unique investigative show signed a light on everything from the trials of Romanians living abroad and struggling to find work, to the age-old customs of the Royal family, to an interview with a Romanian who owns ½ of an African country.
