Glenn Kinsey's trainee, Saira Shah crowned Television Journalist of the Year

01 Mar 2002

Last night at the Royal Television Society's Journalism Awards, one of Glenn's trainees, Saira Shah was named Television Journalist of the Year.

In a double celebration at the prestigious ceremony - held at London's Park Lane Hilton - one of Saira's documentaries, C4's Dispatches: Beneath the Veil, was also named Programme of the Year.

It was a few weeks before the filming of this documentary - an undercover look at life in Afghanistan - that Saira came to us for help, after recommendations from several people in the industry.

Already an established and skilled journalist, she was looking for specific coaching to develop her on-screen "warmth" and "viewer connection" when dealing with such an emotive subject.

The programme and presenter went on to win a string of awards. In this instance, the judges felt that the work of Saira showed bravery, insight and humanity alongside journalistic skills of the highest order.

Saira travelled secretly, often within just a few hundred yards of Taliban troops, and literally risked her life to tell a story that the world needed to see and hear.

The documentary itself was also praised by the judges. It was variously described as "prescient", "chilling", and "the most incredible programme". In fact, the story of the year before anyone realised it.

Warmest congratulations to Saira from everyone on the team!