At the Sandford St Martin Trust we believe that broadcasters have a key role to play when it comes to the public understanding and tolerance of difference. In an increasingly multi-cultural, multi-faith and complex world, broadcasting – because of its reach – can be at the forefront of helping us understand other people’s perspectives, their values and how these inform how they react and respond to the world around them and the decisions they make. If there is one theme that unites this year’s finalists it is “representation”. All the finalists for this year’s awards have contributed in their own way to helping us recognise and appreciate others and deserve celebration with particular kudos to this year’s winners.
Click here to see all the entries shortlisted for a 2022 Award or meet our 2022 Judges here.
Journalism Award: PANORAMA: IS THE CHURCH RACIST?
BBC Panorama for BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Panorama investigates allegations of racism in the Church of England. A year after the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, admitted that the Church was still ‘deeply institutionally racist’, and that he was ‘ashamed’ of its record, reporter Clive Myrie met vicars, curates and theological trainees to understand the scale of the problem. He heard stories of racist abuse and claims of a culture that creates a hostile environment for Christians of colour. Some say they have been told to ‘turn the other cheek’ when they have raised complaints, others say they have suffered in silence for fear of further discrimination or losing their jobs.
Radio/Audio Award: A UYGHUR RAMADAN
CTVC for ‘Things Unseen’ podcast
Rahima Mahmut is a Uyghur singer and human rights activist living in London. She came to the UK from her homeland, the Xinjiang province of China, which Uyghurs call East Turkestan. As Ramadan gets underway, she tells the story of her people; their distinctive cultural and Islamic traditions and the oppression they face from the Chinese government, including – in previous years – bans on fasting and keeping the usual Ramadan customs.
Young Audience Award: THIS GIRL’S CHANGED
ClockWork Films for BBC iPlayer/BBC Three
Growing up in Yorkshire, Persephone Rizvi was a self-professed party girl. She lived for the weekend nightlife: drink, boys and fun – in any order. But it all got too much and something needed to change. Five years ago, Persephone embraced Islam, finding a solution to her problems. But in leaving her old life behind – swapping parties for a life of reflection and her stud-pressed stilettos for a headscarf – she also cut off ties with the close friends she grew up with, disappearing without so much as a word. Seven years on, Persephone’s settled into her new life as a Muslim and is back in her hometown of Huddersfield. But while she and her friends may have moved on – can they still get on?
Radio Times Readers’ Award: ‘TIME’ by Jimmy McGovern
Jimmy McGovern’s powerful prison drama starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham revolved around wrongdoing and redemption, revealing the torment of guilt – and the power of forgiveness. Eric is a prison officer who tries to protect those in his charge. When one of the most dangerous inmates identifies his weakness, Eric faces an impossible choice between his principles and his love for his family.
Read the Radio Times interview with ‘Time’s creator Jimmy McGovern here.
2022 Runners Up
TV/Video: HELP
This moving and very topical drama written by Jack Thorne is set in a Liverpudlian care home and is the story of newly qualified carer Sarah (Jodie Comer), her friendship wit Tony (Stephen Graham) who has young onset Alzheimer’s and how she responds when put to the test by horrific circumstances as the Covid-19 pandemic hits.
Radio/Audio: THINGS FELL APART
BBC Audio for BBC Radio 4/BBC Sounds
The acclaimed writer and podcaster Jon Ronson does a deep-dive into the worlds of social media, cancel-culture and the acrimonious social divisions that have resulted. Curious to learn how things fell apart, he goes back into the history of the culture wars to find some of the origin stories: the pebbles thrown in the pond, creating the ripples that led us to where we are today. He had no idea what he’d find, but he’s uncovered some extraordinary people and the strangest, yet most consequential tales.
Young Audience: WHAT’S ON YOUR HEAD?
What’s on Your Head? explores the things that men and women wear on their head or face in different cultures, jobs and sports around the world. While considerably older than the target audience, our judges loved it and thought this was a great example of what Cbeebies does best.
Journalism Joint Runners Up:
POPE FRANCIS IN IRAQ: The historic pilgrimage
BBC Audio: Heart and Soul for BBC World Service / BBC Sounds
Colm Flynn travels on the papal flight to Iraq to talk to Iraqi Christians and Muslims who have come out to welcome Pope Francis as he embarked on what he called a pilgrimage to the Middle East. Despite worries of the Covid pandemic and the real threat of a terrorist attack, Pope Francis became the first pontiff in history to visit Iraq. Standing among rubble and ruins in the devastated city of Mosul where ISIS took root and threatened to behead him, Pope Francis proclaimed “hope is more powerful than hatred, that peace more powerful than war.
WITNESS: THE WOMEN OF STANDING ROCK
Red Queen Media and Playart Productions for Al Jazeera English
On September 2, 2016, five female members of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe file evidence in federal court documenting that a portion of the proposed route for the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline cuts through multiple ancient burial and prayer sites. Early the next morning, Dakota Access bulldozes the sites anyway, which are miles from where construction is taking place. Hundreds rush to the scene. Guards attack with dogs and pepper spray. It is the anniversary of the 1863 Whitestone Massacre that took place on the same lands. The women issue a call for help, and within a week, their camp’s population exceeds 10,000. Now at the center of the largest gathering of Native Americans in 225 years, the women unwittingly find themselves the leaders of an ongoing global movement. In the process, they must face the personal costs of leadership, even as their own lives and identities are transformed.
In 2022 the Trustees have decided to recognise two recipients whose work demonstrates the instrumental role broadcasting plays in influencing how we see ourselves and how we see others. Lenny Henry and Rukhshana Media have each made the case for more accurate, authentic representations and the breaking down of barriers in the media.
For more information about them and all our Trustees’ Award winners click here.
