MEDIA RELEASE
12.11.03
Media Peace Award Winners
The Peace Foundation’s 20th. Media Peace Awards ceremony took place in Auckland this evening and the Auckland University
of Technology, the NZ Herald and TV3 have good reason to be pleased with the results.
In the Rangatahi (student) category, which accounted for nearly one third of the 93 entries, 2 of the 3 winners came
from AUT. Olivia Kember won the Print section with the untold story about a 19 year old Tampa refugee, Hayatollah
Mohseni, whose application was denied along with his appeal, and whose legal aid and work permit were revoked. Chelsea
Winstanley, also from AUT, won the TV/Film section with her documentary about a tourist marae experience. Kristen Hill,
student of the NZ Broadcasting School, won the student radio award for ‘The Real War’ which took a courageous look at
the motivations behind the war in Iraq.
In the Advertising/Public Relations category, Brian van den Hurk of FCB NZ Ltd., won the Premier Award for the Like
Minds, Like Mine campaign, Phase two. The judges said it “sensitively disarms the stigma and discrimination surrounding
mental illness and succeeds in encouraging empathy and understanding. Its other great achievement is that it does so in
a way that is relevant for a multiplicity of cultures, age groups and experiences”.
In the general media professionals categories, the print finalists saw 3 out of five coming from the NZ Herald and the
Premier Award going to Graham Reid (NZH) for his two part series on the Solomon Islands.
The print judging panel, convened by Jim Tully of the Canterbury School of Journalism, described this year’s entries as
especially strong and said judges were delighted by the way in which entrants had exemplified the aims of the Awards in
their work by not only setting out the background and details of a conflict but in suggesting ways to move through it.
The radio category was taken by Ben Story of Mind’s Eye Productions for his radio drama, The Outsider, which told the
story of a group of New Zealanders who were forced to become refugees and take sanctuary in a Moslem country! The script
was based on the real-life experiences of recent political refugees living in Wellington. The judges said that “through
the daring use of electronic music and sound effects, together with powerful acting, the play succeeds in making real to
us the terrifying world of uprooted innocent people”.
The TV/Film Premier Award was won by Michele Fantl and Stewart Main for the TV3 Inside NZ programme ‘Make or Break’
which looked at the work of actor and stage director Jim Moriarty and the intensive drama therapy programme he provides
for troubled teenagers. Inside NZ accounted for two of the three finalists with Greenstone Pictures’ ‘The Hardest
Decision’ being highly commended.
Peace Foundation Director, Marion Hancock, says ‘The strength of many of the entries is extremely heartening and it’s
really good to see the rigorous and positive journalism that’s being practised by a growing number of people working in
the mainstream media. We’re also very encouraged by the steady growth in the number of student entries and the quality
of them”.
The ceremony had a celebratory air with Peace Foundation Patron, Sir Paul Reeves cutting the anniversary cake to the
accompaniment of Don McGlashan and friends. Marilyn Waring was the guest speaker and Carol Hirschfeld and John Campbell
the MCs.
FOUNDATION FOR PEACE STUDIES
2003 MEDIA PEACE AWARD WINNERS
Print
Premier Award:
Graham Reid Teetering on Edge of Precipice
Highly Commended:
Hannah Sperber An Asian at My Table
Finalists:
Bevan Rapson Out of Africa
Tim Watkin Trouble at Mill
Angela Gregory To the Third Degree
Radio
Premier Award
Ben Story The Outsider
Highly Commended
Colin Peacock A Clear Picture
Finalists:
Maureen Garing Christianity & Islam in Egypt & the War in Iraq
Trev Hill Everyday Communities - family violence
TV/Film
Premier Award:
Michele Fantl & Stewart Main, MF Films Make or Break
Highly Commended:
Rachel Stace & Felicity Morgan-Rhind The Hardest Decision
Adam Hollingworth & John Hudson It’s About Time
Advertising & Public Relations
Premier Award:
FCB NZ Ltd. Like Minds, Like Mine - Phase Two
Highly Commended
Ziena Jalil & Kim Garthwaite Sow the Seeds of Love
Student/Rangatahi
Print
Premier Award
Olivia Kember Untitled – the story of 19 year old Tampa refugee Hayatollah Mohseni
Highly Commended
Natasha Mitchell Muslim
Finalist
Ann Graham Voice For Teens With Cancer
Film/TV
Premier Award
Chelsea Winstanley Whakangahau
Highly Commended
Luke Wheeler Not Too Bad
Finalist
Abby Brown Bandannas
Radio
Premier Award
Kristen Hill The Real War