The Middle East remains the focus of attention of
many broadcasters with a wealth of stories to be told
about the region. A brave and astonishing
documentary recounting how the civil war is
destroying lives in rural Syria is our winner.
Documentary maker Olly Lambert produced Syria:
Across the Lines for Channel 4. This production
compelled viewers to face the awful truth of civil war
through the eyes of the people living through the
conflict.
Lambert bore witness to both sides of the conflict -
Assad loyalists and the rebels - around two villages in
east Syria. He convinced people to talk, such as a
former Syrian policeman who had defected to the
Free Syrian Army, growing a beard that was forbidden
in his previous life.
This was brave, sensitive and comprehensive film-
making, said our judges, telling the untold stories of
every day life in a country that is slowly but steadily
being destroyed.
Middle East
documentary
Channel 4
AIBs
2013
Investigative television reporting has the power to
uncover the worst secrets and scandals in our society.
The entries in this award category covered a wide
range of subjects that each stood out for telling the
stories that some people would rather keep hidden.
The judges chose as the winner in this category
Channel 4 for Dispatches: The Hunt for Britain’s Sex
Gangs. In 2010, police in the English Midlands allowed
cameras to start filming what was to become one of
the biggest child sex abuse cases in the UK. The
documentary followed, with unprecedented access, a
live police investigation, demonstrating how difficult it
is to secure justice for victims of sexual abuse.
Our judges said that this was an outstanding piece
of television. It was a brave examination of a complex
subject that never flinches from searching for the
truth. The programme was compelling and
maintained interest and tension throughout.
Highly commended
Channel NewsAsia
Get Rea! - Bangladesh Brothel Secret
In Bangladesh, farmers feed their cows a pill to beef
them up. It is also taken by girls in the country’s
largest brothel to make them more attractive to their
male clients - big is sexy. Our judges were impressed
by this thought-provoking and insightful programme.
TVC News
TVC News Investigates - The Accused
Investigating the hidden crime of ritualistic child
abuse being practised by a small number of African
immigrants in the UK, this was a very brave piece on a
difficult subject. Our judges commended the reporting
team for getting to the truth.
Investigative
documentary - TV
Channel 4
