Thursday, December 15, 2005
CNN Earns Prestigious duPont Award for Tsunami Coverage
Source: CNN Press Room CNN received an Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Award for its distinguishing coverage of the South Asia tsunami disaster, it was announced by Columbia University on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The judges cited CNN for its ability to provide in-depth reports about a major natural disaster while under considerable deadline and logistical pressures.
“We are thrilled that the duPont panelists determined that our coverage of the tsunami disaster merited their prestigious award,” said Jim Walton, president of CNN. “We certainly believe that our reports were nothing short of extraordinary in their scope, effectiveness and reach. Because of the cooperation among CNN/U.S., CNN International and our other networks, our journalists were empowered to go far beyond basic reporting to tell the full story of the disaster.”
In a demonstration as the leading international news network, CNN offered unprecedented round-the-clock coverage of the disaster, having deployed to the region more than 80 of its top anchors, correspondents and producers as well as state-of-the-art broadcasting technology including two satellite dishes. As a result, CNN’s reports came from all coasts of the Indian Ocean.
Within days of the tsunami hitting coastlines, CNN aired in-depth prime-time specials titled “Turning the Tide” and a heart-rending documentary “Saving the Children,” anchored by Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper. CNN.com featured timely and in-depth reports and provided a survivor locator service that reunited more than 100 families and friends.
CNN’s 10th duPont Award was among 13 chosen from a pool of 628 radio and television news entries that aired in the United States between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005. The winners will be presented with silver batons, the symbol for excellence in television and radio journalism, at an awards ceremony on Jan.18, 2006, at Columbia University.
“We are thrilled that the duPont panelists determined that our coverage of the tsunami disaster merited their prestigious award,” said Jim Walton, president of CNN. “We certainly believe that our reports were nothing short of extraordinary in their scope, effectiveness and reach. Because of the cooperation among CNN/U.S., CNN International and our other networks, our journalists were empowered to go far beyond basic reporting to tell the full story of the disaster.”
In a demonstration as the leading international news network, CNN offered unprecedented round-the-clock coverage of the disaster, having deployed to the region more than 80 of its top anchors, correspondents and producers as well as state-of-the-art broadcasting technology including two satellite dishes. As a result, CNN’s reports came from all coasts of the Indian Ocean.
Within days of the tsunami hitting coastlines, CNN aired in-depth prime-time specials titled “Turning the Tide” and a heart-rending documentary “Saving the Children,” anchored by Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper. CNN.com featured timely and in-depth reports and provided a survivor locator service that reunited more than 100 families and friends.
CNN’s 10th duPont Award was among 13 chosen from a pool of 628 radio and television news entries that aired in the United States between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005. The winners will be presented with silver batons, the symbol for excellence in television and radio journalism, at an awards ceremony on Jan.18, 2006, at Columbia University.
# posted by ATN @ 3:49 PM 
