Organised by the British Journalism Review (BJR) in conjunction with the University of Westminster, the annual presentation of the Charles Wheeler Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcast Journalism was awarded to Christiane Amanpour.
Now in its 15th year, the Charles Wheeler Award is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the journalism calendar. This year’s event on 8 November marked Charles Wheeler’s centenary, and was celebrated with a panel of distinguished journalists followed by a conversation with Charles Wheeler’s daughter Shirin about her new book Charles Wheeler – Witness to the Twentieth Century.
This year’s winner, Christiane Amanpour, is the chief international anchor of CNN’s global affairs programme Amanpour. She began her journalism career at CNN as an entry-level assistant on the international assignment desk in 1983 before becoming a reporter in the New York bureau. She is now the network’s leading international correspondent, having reported from multiple conflict zones around the world and interviewed many of the world’s leaders in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
In front of a full house at the Regent Street cinema, the event was chaired by Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at Westminster. After opening words from Professor Janet Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries, and Kim Fletcher, the Editor of the BJR, Professor Barnett introduced a panel comprising three of the UK’s most distinguished and experienced broadcast journalists: Martin Bell, James Naughtie and Robin Lustig. He thanked them for stepping in at short notice in place of the original panel, which had included Lyse Doucet, Clive Myrie and Katya Adler, who were now covering the Israel/Gaza conflict.
After a lively panel discussion around wide-ranging issues such as the language of war reporting, disinformation, AI and regulation of the media, Professor Barnett invited Shirin Wheeler to say a few words about her book and her father’s remarkable career.
Christian Amanpour was then presented with the award by Shirin and Marina, and the presentation was followed, as in previous years, by a reception in Fyvie Hall.
Professor Steven Barnett said: “It was fitting in Charles Wheeler’s centenary year that the award should go to such a brilliant international reporter. We are very grateful to the panel for their fascinating insights, and to the Wheeler sisters for their long-standing support for this award. We look forward to an equally successful event next year”.
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