Two shortlisted submissions from RFE/RL were commended at the 2015 Association for International Broadcasting Awards (AIBs), which recognize the best international broadcasting content across TV, radio, and online platforms.
Roya Karimi Majd, a journalist with RFE/RL’s Persian language service, Radio Farda, received a special commendation in the category Radio Current Affairs Documentary for Tradition Of The Blade, her report on female genital mutilation in Iran.
The Judges wrote, "A difficult subject was tackled with care and sensitivity by the producers, and the program made the listener sit up and pay attention." The same piece was recently awarded a gold medal at the New York Festivals Radio Program & Promotion Awards.
Daisy Sindelar’s My Ukraine was given a special commendation in the Online Factual Production category. My Ukraine presents a journey through the country’s recent history as portrayed through family photographs and the individual, personal stories they tell. Judges wrote, "The stories -- delivered through a simple concept yet clever online execution -- offered high impact to users."
Ukraine-related stories dominated this year’s list of finalists, with two other RFE/RL submissions making the shortlist.
Revealed: The Palaces Of Ukraine’s Energy Oligarchs, recognized in the TV Short News Report category, is Kyiv-based journalist Natalie Sedledska's investigative report on the opulent palaces belonging to two Yanukovych-era executives. Maksym Savchuk’s investigative report Questions Raised Over Poroshenko's Role In Valuable Kyiv Land Deal was shortlisted in the TV Domestic Investigative Documentary category.
The winners and special commendations were selected by an international panel of judges.CNN’s Hala Gorani hosted the awards ceremony at a gala evening in London on November 4.
Last year, RFE/RL’s multimedia project Sochi: Outside The Arena was shortlisted in the category Online Factual Production.