BBC scoops seven accolades at RTS Television Journalism Awards

The awards, held in partnership with Dataminr, took place at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Across the 20 competitive categories, the BBC led the way with seven awards, including wins in both the Current Affairs – Home and Current Affairs – International categories, as well as Scoop of the Year for its Panorama investigation into the Metropolitan police. Sky News followed with five wins: Yalda Hakim won Network Presenter of the Year; Yousra Elbagir took home Network Television Journalist of the Year; and the channel was named News Channel of the Year. Channel 4 News also celebrated four wins, including Network Daily News Programme of the Year.

For 2026, the RTS Special Award recognised the BBC's Russia Editor, Steve Rosenberg, for his expertise and devotion to covering a country where he faces daily intimidation and danger. The Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to Channel 4 News' Lindsey Hilsum for her reporting over three decades from the front lines of the world's most challenging conflict zones, including Rwanda, Kosovo, Iraq, Syria, Mali, the Arab Spring, Ukraine, Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and many more.

Adrian Wells, Chair of the RTS Television Journalism Awards, said: ''It has been a momentous year for television journalism both in the UK and around the world, and tonight’s nominees and winners exemplify the bravery, dedication, and creativity utilised to deliver these groundbreaking stories to the public. We’re proud to be recognising and celebrating these incredible achievements with our awards and commend each journalist on their unrelenting commitment to their vital work.”

Full list of RTS Television Journalism Awards 2025 winners:

Breaking News

The Fall of Assad, Al Jazeera English

At the ceremony, the winner heard the panel’s thought process: “Despite strong competition in this category, the jurors all agreed that this winning entry was immediate and immersive from the get-go. Visually distinctive, this reporting gave viewers a real sense of what was happening in the moment, with strong analysis of the regional impact. Authentic and impactful storytelling, this was a superb blend of show and tell journalism, alongside powerful interviewing. As one juror put it – ‘you really felt you were there’.”

Camera Person of the Year

 Zaher Saleh, Channel 4 News  

“The judges felt the winning entry was the product of an amazing storyteller, who, through his personal bravery and mastery of his camera, brought a sense of humanity to his coverage of the war in Gaza. The risks these solo videographers take in bringing these stories to us were brought home when he was shot, seriously injured, and evacuated out of Gaza.”

Current Affairs – Home

Undercover in the Police, Panorama

“The judges said this was a staggeringly impressive piece of work. Secretly filming for seven months undetected required meticulous planning, skill, and nerve. This was public interest journalism of the highest order, and a film that deservedly had huge impact, forcing the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to make a public apology for the shocking comments made by some serving officers that exposed a culture of racism and misogyny.”

Current Affairs – International

Death in Dubai, BBC Eye Investigations / Africa Eye

“The winning entry took the mysterious death of a young woman and through painstaking and rigorous investigative journalism exposed an international web of prostitution and systematic exploitation. Judges commended the reporter, Runako Celina, who won the confidence of the victims’ families and those who had managed to escape, to bring the world's attention to the plight of young Ugandan women who are trafficked to Dubai.” 

Digital Journalism

24 Hours in the Kill Zone, Sky News

“The judges were blown away by this piece. As a YouTube strategy, this is perfect for the audience: the fantastic description of the control room like a gaming hub was totally relatable. But little touches of camera work, like a juddering knee or loud breathing, made it clear they're not playing a game. It was incredible how it portrayed the humanity of war. The pace got our hearts racing. This is a fresh angle on a story that's been told for four years, and it allowed you to feel part of the war. Very good multi-platform approach with an impressive TikTok performance.”  

Emerging Talent of the Year

Mollie Malone, Sky News

“In just a few years, our winner has made the crime and prisons beat their own. Their impressive contacts list has helped them deliver scoop after scoop. They showed patience and persistence in their report on drones delivering drugs into prisons, camping outside a prison to get their story. The jury was also impressed by the fact that their work has led to changes in government policy on the violence against women and girls’ strategy and on prison recall rules – a truly fantastic portfolio.”

Nations and Regions Factual

Proud, ITV Cymru Wales

“In a category which included a number of impressive investigations, the judges chose a programme they found gripping and authentic. The team was praised for the way this documentary had given a voice to individuals in the community, and one judge commented that it was a film everyone should find time to watch.”

Nations and Regions News

Bradford Fire 40 Years, ITV News Calendar

“This was a category with a number of potential winners, but in the end one programme stood out for the depth of research and the care and sensitivity taken by the team in dealing with a story that is still having a significant impact on the local community.”

Nations and Regions Reporter of the Year

James Vincent, BBC Look North

“The winning reporter was praised by the judges for being at the heart of the local community and delivering high-quality reporting that was compelling, while finding new and imaginative ways of engaging the audience in regional and local politics.”

Network Daily News Programme of the Year

Channel 4 News, Channel 4 News for Channel 4

“There were some strong contenders for Programme of the Year, but the judges felt that the winning programme stood apart for its combination of robust studio interviews, strong eye-witness reporting, and forensic analysis. Throughout the year, the programme demonstrated editorial confidence and a clear connection with its audience.”

Network Interview of the Year

Standing Strong: The John and Amy Hunt Interview, BBC Newsnight for BBC One

 “The jury was hugely impressed with the quality of entries in this category, but one stood out. Compelling, harrowing, and thoughtful, the jurors agreed this was an interviewer’s masterclass. Praise was given to the production of this interview, especially the way in which it was structured, surfacing the complexity and horror of the story that was being told. Handled with pure compassion and sensitivity, the interviewer got under the skin of this story. As one juror put it – ‘I can’t think of anyone better to do this interview’.”

Network Presenter of the Year

Yalda Hakim, Sky News

“Three outstanding presenters at the top of their game. But the jury thought one in particular had had an exceptional year – anchoring rolling news live from war zones, interviewing world leaders, and memorably reporting on atrocities from inside a Syrian prison. Calm, insightful, and with a dazzling screen presence.”

Network Television Journalist of the Year

Yousra Elbagir, Sky News

“Television Journalist of the Year is a blue-ribbon award given to those who have excelled in their craft against the strongest competition imaginable. It's often the case that the winner is deployed to the dominating stories of the year. But not this time. The winner tonight is someone who has dedicated themselves to reporting on a conflict that hasn't had enough headlines. The winner has woven in their own personal history and expertise to give a unique insight to the viewer.”

News Channel of the Year

Sky News

“The judges for this category praised the winning channel for its consistent ability to be in the right place at the right time, delivering strong, well-balanced and memorable coverage of the year’s big stories. Their output made for great TV, with some distinctive and impactful reporting.”

News Coverage – Home

Exposed: The Crime Gangs "Killing" UK High Streets, BBC News (BBC News for BBC One)

“Another strong year for domestic news with three agenda-setting investigations making the shortlist. The jury commended newsrooms for their commitment to investigative journalism and praised the teams for their painstaking and often dangerous work. The winner is an impressive example of how techniques such as undercover reporting and hidden cameras, combined with extensive research and good old-fashioned knocking on doors, can result in justice for criminals operating in plain sight. Exposing the network of gangs opening up mini-marts across the country was the BBC at its best.” 

News Coverage – International

The Fall of Assad, Channel 4 News

“The entries for this category were very diverse, including coverage from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Gaza, and Syria. The winner, the judges thought, brought great humanity to documenting the overturn of a much-hated regime. Their reporting of real-time developments was supplemented by excellent context and explanation.”

On-Demand Journalism

Blood Parliament, BBC Africa Eye

“‘This took our breath away,’ said the jury. The journalism and forensic analysis were exceptional. They did a great job in showing their workings, and the transparency made it unimpeachable. The reporter had a really engaging tone and used different narrative techniques to add suspense. Overall, there was a technical sophistication in the integration of graphics and sound editing.”

Political Journalist of the Year

Gary Gibbon, Channel 4 News  

“In a crowded field, our winner stands out as an exceptional journalist who produced a cracking entry this year. The jury enjoyed his engaging use of language – including his description of the Prime Minister’s ‘technicolour display of weakness.’ The range and depth of his knowledge were much in evidence this year, and he always challenges politicians robustly. He was the overwhelming choice for this year’s award.”

Scoop of the Year

Undercover in the Police, Panorama

“This was an outstanding example of brave, public-interest journalism, combining technically complex undercover reporting with compelling storytelling and major real-world impact; the investigation exposed shocking evidence of racism, misogyny and homophobia within the Metropolitan Police, showed how far the force still has to go to rebuild public trust despite promises of reform, and led directly to multiple dismissals, making it a powerful and deserving contender for Scoop of the Year.”

Specialist Journalist of the Year

Sarah Corker, ITV News

“Our winner uncovered one of the greatest medical scandals of all time. It’s an incredible piece of investigation by a dogged reporter who wouldn’t give up and pursued every angle in what became a mushrooming story. It revealed compelling life stories, a sense of occasion, and a sense of urgency. One judge said they were completely carried away by the reports.”

RTS Special Award

Steve Rosenberg 

“The RTS Special Award is given to someone who has shown an incredible contribution to the advancement of video journalism during the awards year. As it happens tonight's winner has demonstrated that outperformance over many years. Our media industry is often criticised for not sticking with stories, for moving on too quickly to the next breaking news. But not our winner of this award. He has demonstrated devotion to his patch and a depth of expertise that is unrivalled. He has chosen to base himself in a country that he loves but nevertheless places him under daily intimidation and danger. Just in the last months, he has been accused of being a British propagandist, an enemy of Russia, and even, in one outlandish accusation, a ‘defecating squirrel’. Of course, none of this is true – especially the squirrel part! He is, in fact, one of the finest journalists of his generation.”

Outstanding Contribution Award

Lindsey Hilsum

“This correspondent is one of Britain's most respected international journalists. For over three decades, she has reported from the front lines of the world's most challenging conflict zones, including Rwanda, Kosovo, Iraq, Syria, Mali, the Arab Spring, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and many more. She was also posted to China as a correspondent in the late Noughties. Her trophy cabinet is already pretty stacked, including an RTS Specialist Award, Charles Wheeler Award, Royal Geographical Society's Patron Medal, and commendations from One World, Amnesty, and BAFTA. She has written for the Sunday Times, TLS, Private Eye, and the New York Review of Books and authored a number of acclaimed books herself. She has also been one of the most recognizable and loved faces of her employer, Channel 4 News.