Business News
Atex sponsors Martin Adler Prize for freelance journalists and newsgatherers
Monday 30. November 2009 - ¡ The Martin Adler Prize is given annually at The Rory Peck Awards and honors a freelancer who has told, or played a vital part in telling, a significant news story; ¡ The winners this year are three freelancers from Gaza: Talal Abu Rahma, Raed Athamneh and Ashraf Mashharawi
Atex is proud to announce its sponsorship for the Martin Adler Prize at The Rory Peck Awards 2009. The Prize recognizes the work of freelance newsgatherers in reporting and producing important news stories. It was awarded on Thursday, November 19 in London and acknowledges the pivotal role of three freelancers who worked under dangerous circumstances reporting the news from the Gaza Strip.
The 2009 Martin Adler Prize recipients are:
§ Talal Abu Rahma a freelance reporter, producer and cameraman who works regularly for CNN and France 2. Rahma was present during the Israeli offensive, reporting and shooting pictures from the Gaza Strip.
§ Raed Athamneh a freelance fixer, driver and field producers who has worked alongside freelancers and international news crews from the BBC, ARD and Al Jazeera English. Stories Rahma has helped produce have been featured on the front pages of The New York Times and International Herald Tribune.
§ Ashraf Mashharawi a freelance cameraman, producer and director worked for Channel 4 News inside Gaza when it was first bombed and then invaded in December 2008 and January 2009.
This is the second consecutive year that Atex has sponsored the Martin Adler Prize and recognizes the enormous contribution freelancers make in bringing critical news to the mainstream media.
“As a partner to the media industry for more 37 years, we understand how important these unheralded individuals are in reporting news stories,” said John Hawkins, Atex Group CEO. “At Atex, we strive to provide our customers with tools and products to help them reduce cost and efficiently produce the news, but we value and respect the effort it takes to collect the news. Awards like the Martin Adler Prize demonstrate that without people on the ground working directly in harms way, some of the globes most influential news stories would never see the light of day.”
Established in 2007 in honor of the late award-winning freelance journalist, photographer and filmmaker Martin Adler, the Martin Adler Prize is given annually to a deserving freelance cameraman or camerawoman, local journalist, producer, fixer or driver, who in many cases risks his or her life in the reporting of an important news story. The Prize is intended to raise awareness of the value of the recipients work and helps in career progression.
The Martin Adler Prize is awarded as part of The Rory Peck Awards, an international competition that celebrates the work of freelance cameramen and camerawoman in broadcast news and current affairs. The awards ceremony is the main fundraiser for The Rory Peck Trust, which supports freelance newsgatherers and their families worldwide in times of need and promotes their welfare and safety.
“We are delighted that Atex, who are in the forefront of digital technology, are sponsoring the Martin Adler Prize and understand the important role that freelancers play in newsgathering,” said Tina Carr, Director, The Rory Peck Trust. “We are grateful for their commitment.”
Continued Mr. Hawkins: “We are pleased to partner with the Rory Peck Trust in awarding the Martin Adler Prize. Supporting the hard work and families of these courageous individuals is an honor Atex does not take lightly and it is a relationship we hope to carry on for years to come.”