Lindsey Hilsum
Channel 4 News international news editor Lindsey Hilsum has won the the 2011 Charles Wheeler Award for achievement in broadcast journalism.

The award, organised by the British Journalism Review and now in its third year, is named after renowned foreign correspondent Charles Wheeler, who died in 2008.

It was presented last night by his widow, Lady Wheeler, at the University of Westminster.

Hilsum began her career working with NGOs in Central America and Africa, before joining Channel 4 News in 1996.

She has since reported from Belgrade in 1999, when NATO bombed Serbia, from Baghdad during the 2003 US invasion, and covered the Fallujah assault in November 2004. She has also reported from Africa and the Middle East and was the Channel 4 News China correspondent between 2006 and 2008.

This year she has reported from the uprisings both in Egypt and Libya.

The judges praised her work as "story-telling at its best".

"This was a masterclass in challenging and provocative journalism. Her stories gave voice to the vulnerable and exposed the harm that comes from political spin and official corruption. Her work reinforces the notion of journalism as a force for progressive change."

Hilsum said last night that Wheeler was her "role model and hero".

"I have always aspired to report in his tradition, and that's why I'm overwhelmed and honoured to get this award.

"Charles once told me how much he liked our foreign reporting on Channel 4 News, so I also think it's a recognition for our efforts on Channel 4 News to report foreign news in a way that's serious but not solemn, as he did."

The first two Charles Wheeler Awards were given to Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, in 2009, and BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, in 2010.

In May, Hilsum was named the One World Journalist of the Year for her work reporting from Gaza, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In an all-female shortlist, she beat off competition for the One World award from Jill McGivering from the BBC World Service and Kathrin Hille of the Financial Times.

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