Mediacorp’s CNA bags honours at The AIBs 2024

Singapore, 26 November 2024 – CNA has been conferred two awards at the 20th AIB Awards, organised by the London-based Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) to recognise excellence in international journalism and factual television, radio, audio and digital productions.

The first was for CNA’s Israel-Hamas Conflict Explained: The Occupation of West Bank, which edged out entries from other major news networks Al Jazeera, Bloomberg and CNN in the “News Explainer” category. The third episode of an eight-part series on the Israel-Hamas war, the winning entry looks at the impact of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and examines who these settlers are, why they are considered illegal by the international community yet encouraged by Israel, and why their presence has been a source of contention for over 50 years.

Walter Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief and Chief Sustainability Officer, Mediacorp, said, “The eight-part video series on the Israel-Hamas war which CNA published on YouTube is the most important and challenging news explainer that we have ever done. It took a team of 10 producers and experienced senior editors more than three months to do the research, source footage, produce graphics as well as edit the scripts and videos.” He added, “This explainer series helped CNA's local, regional and global audiences better understand the historical and geopolitical context leading up to the horrific attack by Hamas and Israel's retaliation. Explainers such as this one – done professionally and objectively – are testament to the continued relevance and value of public service media such as CNA."

Additionally, AIB’s judges were impressed by the footage and effective use of maps in Israel-Hamas Conflict Explained: The Occupation of West Bank, and added that the production examined in great depth the situation in the West Bank.

The second win was in the “Investigative” category for CNA’s Undercover Asia - Tainted Medicine Scandal. Produced by Blue Petal Films, the documentary takes a closer look at Asia’s tainted medicine scandal, which resulted in the deaths of 300 children in 2022 and 2023 after they consumed cough syrup. Tests revealed toxic ingredients, with the trail leading to India and Indonesia. The investigative series, which picked up a Gold at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards earlier this year, beat competition from news outlets including the BBC, Deutsche Welle and the Financial Times.

Viewers can catch Israel-Hamas Conflict Explained: The Occupation of West Bank here and Undercover Asia - Tainted Medicine Scandal here.