The coverage was praised for its collaboration between local and national BBC News teams to create a multimedia report.
"The winner aggressively pushed at every new, available technology using national regions and local news resources and sorting through masses of user generated content. It was BBC News at its most brilliant best," the RTS said in a statement.
Over 11,000 images and 200 videos were submitted to the BBC during the project, Vicky Taylor, the BBC's editor of interactivity, told Journalism.co.uk.
"The RTS award is a fantastic credit to the UGC [user generated content] hub who produce such compelling content with this material, but also to the public for sharing their experiences with the BBC," said Taylor.
Also celebrating at last night's ceremony was Sky News, which picked up the innovation award for its integration of web and TV audiences and 'because it lets the public rather than the news editor set the agenda.'
A full list of the award winners can be viewed on the RTS website.
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