C4 News and Sri Lanka's Killing Fields receive One World Media Awards

Jon Snow with Zoe Sale and Callum Macrae

Channel 4 received three awards last night from One World Media, which recognises excellence in media coverage of the developing world. At the ceremony, hosted by Jon Snow, Jamal Osman was named Journalist of the Year for his reporting in the uplifting and heart-breaking film Somali Olympic Dreams for Channel 4 News. Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, an investigation of the devastating violence carried out during the final weeks of Sri Lanka's civil war, took home both the Television and Documentary Awards.

Somali-born Jamal Osman was recognized by One World Media for powerful reporting from his home country. In May 2011, Osman travelled to Mogadishu to meet with athletes training for the Olympics in a country crippled by famine and internal strife. He captured shocking footage of athletes running amidst gunfire and became the first journalist to enter the territory of al-Shabaab, the Islamist military group that controls large swathes of the south. "We were extremely impressed by Jamal Osman's ability to utilise the traditional reporter's craft to get across complex and important themes and stories," said the One World Media jury. 

Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, awarded both the Television and Documentary Awards last night, was described by the jury as: "An extraordinary, painstaking, well-crafted and important piece of television journalism that would stand the test of time." The documentary featured video and photo evidence of war crimes committed by Sri Lanka's ruling government against the secessionist Tamil Tigers - some of the most horrific footage Channel 4 has ever broadcast.

Sri Lanka's Killing Fields has now been watched by over 750,000 viewers in over 30 countries via 4oD, its video on demand service.  Two years on from the war's end, Sri Lanka's Killing Fields continues to have an international impact, spreading awareness of Sri Lanka's bloody civil war among the public and international governments, and calling into question the global community's continued failure to investigate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

The documentary generated intense media coverage and political scrutiny when it first aired.  UK Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said he was "shocked by the horrific scenes" in Sri Lanka's Killing Fields. Prime Minister David Cameron also commented on the film, saying that the Sri Lankan government "does need to be investigated" and "lessons need to be learned." The film was screened at the United Nations in New York, where it was viewed by diplomats from the US, India, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and East Timor and Sri Lanka. After viewing the film, former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumartaunga, condemned the Sri Lankan government for their "continued denial of proven facts."