BBC News wins Bayeux Awards

BBC News correspondents won three top international prizes at the Prix Bayeux awards for coverage of the conflict in Gaza.  Tim Franks won the international radio category for his reports on Dr Izzadin Abu Alaish, who lost three daughters in the conflict last winter.

Christian Fraser was awarded third prize in the same category for his reports on the high numbers of child casualties in the same conflict.

Jeremy Bowen took the first prize in the long-form television category for his Panorama, Gaza: Out of The Ruins.

The BBC Head of Newsgathering, Francesca Unsworth, said: "I'm delighted that our journalism – and the great courage of our correspondents – has been recognised on the international stage. The whole BBC News Jerusalem bureau – and being the only western broadcaster to have a bureau in Gaza – were key to this success."

BBC News highlighted the contribution of Rushdi Abualouf and Hamada Abuqammar who reported extensively on radio, television and online, during the 23 day conflict, while their BBC News colleagues were prevented from entering Gaza by the Israeli authorities.

The awards were presented at a ceremony yesterday in in Bayeux, France. The awards were launched in 1994 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the landing of allied troops on nearby Normandy beaches.  The Bayeax Jury was led by Patrick Chauvel, a veteran war photographer, and comprised more than 50 leading correspondents and editors from around the world.