APJC fellows win UN media awards

Three APJC alumni have received awards for reporting on human rights issues at the United Nations Association of Australia’s Media Awards.

Former APJC fellow Ruth Pollard won best print feature for her story detailing the plight of Eritrean asylum seekers, published in Fairfax Media’s Good Weekend.

Former fellow Yalda Hakim and her production team won the best television documentary award for programs on the impact of US drone strikes on Yemen and the plight of migrant workers in Yemen.

Hakim travelled for BBC World News into remote communities for interviews with family members of those killed in drone attacks and to torture camps where criminal gangs hold migrants hostage for ransom.

“This is gutsy and heroic reporting,” the judges commented. “These films use local voices to tell a story that is both gripping and alarming.”

In the category for increasing awareness and understanding of women’s rights and issues, former APJC fellow Sacha Payne (pictured left) of SBS Radio and colleague Manpreet Kaur Singh won the award for a six-part radio documentary exploring family violence in the Australian Indian community.

For more information on the winners, visit the UNAA website.

Sacha Payne (from left) and Manpreet Kaur Singh from SBS receive a UN media award from Minister for Women’s Affairs Heidi Victoria.

Photo: Vinh Pham