Awards 2008
 

The One World Media Awards were presented by Jon Snow on 12th June at the New Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden. Click here to read the full winners' list. Notable winners included John Pilger, who took away the TV Documentary Award for 'War on Democracy'; double winners in the International Premiere category, where 'War/Dance' and 'End of the Rainbow' both picked up awards; and The Guardian, which picked up three awards: New Media, Press and Environment.

The Special Award for Development Media went to Urunana DC, the organisation behind the hugely popular Urunana radio soap opera in Rwanda. Managing Director Narcisse Kalisa, as well as Head Writer Samuel Kyagambiddwa, came over from Rwanda to pick up the award. In his speech, Narcisse Kalisa underlined the potential for radio to make a positive difference to people's lives - which was an especially poignant message, given the way radio was used in the 100-day genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Read more about Urunana.

The keynote speaker at the ceremony was the Most Reverend and Right Honourable John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York. In his speech he talked about the power of the media to do good and bad, saying: "As we gather here to celebrate the work of so many that fly in the face of such [negative] values, I would like to thank you all for the invaluable work you do in fighting back against the greed and self-centredness which pervades the media industry." Read a full transcript of his speech here.

There was also an impromptu musical performance (right) from presenter Jon Snow and the Archbishop, who sang the Ugandan national anthem to rapturous applause. As Jon explained, he volunteered with VSO in Uganda some years ago, and then met the Archbishop in Downing Street, where they first sang together!

For more information on this year's awards, you can download the official Call for Entries brochure (pdf file).