News

07/03/2008: Norwegian Documentary Filmmaker wins the Concentra 2008

This year's "The Concentra Award for Outstanding Video Journalism" has been won by a documentary filmmaker working for NRK in Norway. 34 year old Idar Edvin Krogstad was awarded the prize for his film "The Nightwatch" a touching story of two nurses dealing with life and death as they work the night shift at a home for the elderly.

Idar began reporting for NRK in 1997 and has produced a series of documentary films for Nordisk Film in Bergen. Accepting his award, Idar said: "I think the battle for video journalism is won now. Winning this award means a small story from a guy with a camera from anywhere in the world can move people. My story could not have been done in any other way".

At the Award ceremony in The Brussels Marriott Hotel Idar said: "I began taking my own pictures as a teenager and I found people would relax and ignore the camera. They just wanted to talk to me". He is the third winner of The Concentra prize taking home a cheque for ten thousand Euros, a statue of the famous Belgian journalist Tintin and an Avid software package.

The Concentra also awarded an additional prize for the best breaking news award shot, edited and broadcast in one day. This went to Tony Birtley a British journalist working for Al Jazeera International. Tony who has spent twenty years working as a foreign correspondent received the award for his coverage of the mass popular uprising and subsequent crackdown in Myanmar last September. He said: "I am extremely honoured and very proud to receive this tremendous recognition". Tony praised Al Jazeera for what he called their "pioneering approach to newsgathering and the role of the video journalist". He said "Al Jazeera allowed me the freedom to do my own thing and that’s why I won this award".

Speaking after the awards, Willy Lenaers, CEO of Concentra Media said: "We were extremely pleased with the exceptionally high quality of all the entries for this year's award which is given in recognition of journalistic excellence."

 

14/02/2008: Award Nominations 2008 Announced

The nominations for this year’s Concentra Award for outstanding video journalism, sponsored by Avid, have been announced.

“The subject matter and quality of this year’s entries are a clear indication that video journalism rapidly emerging as an increasingly important and valuable newsgathering tool for the world’s leading news organizations”  Michael Rosenblum, Chairman of the Jury

The competition received 97 entries from VJs in 23 countries from around the world. These Concentra Award entries were also considered for a special breaking news prize for VJ pieces created for news stories who have been shot, edited and broadcasted within 24 hours.

The initial round of judging created a long list of 17 entries, 5 of which could also qualify for the breaking news prize. The second round of judging produced the short list of 7 nominated pieces 2 of which are considered as breaking news. Final judging of the 7 nominated entries will take place on March 2nd in Brussels.

The Concentra Award 2008 and the breaking news prize will be presented at a ceremony at the Brussels Marriott Hotel on March 3rd, as part of the Digital News Affairs Conference (www.dna2008.com).

Nominations for the Concentra Award 2008, sponsored by Avid

• Afghan Heroin Addicts – Claire Billet – France 24, France
• Crisis in Darfour Expands – Travis Fox – The Washington Post, USA
• Demonstration Supporters of KSK Beveren – Stavros Van Halewijck, Belgium – TV Oost
• Foot Patrol Taliban – Raul Gallego Abellan – Associated Press USA
• Morning Tears – Miranda Gijsen, Belgium – TV Limburg
• Myanmar Crackdown - Tony Birtley UK – Al Jazeera International
• The Nightwatch – Idar Eduin Krogstad Norway – NRK

The jury for the 2008 award

• Host: Willy Lenaers (CEO, Concentra, Belgium)
• Chairman: Michael Rosenblum (CEO, Rosenblum TV, USA)
• Sue Phillips (London Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera, UK)
• Cristian Trippe (Brussels Bureau Chief, Deutsche Welle, Germany)
  
• Bas Broekhuizen (Editor, Volkskrant TV, Netherlands)
  
• Tone Kunst (Editor in Chief, NRK Nordland, Norway)
• Simon Bucks (Associate Editor, Sky News, UK)
• Steve Taschini (Editor, BBC, UK)
  
• Vicente Partal, (Board Member, ECJ, Director, Vilaweb, Spain)
  
• Leif Hedman (Director, SVT, Sweden)

The Concentra Award, sponsored by Avid

Established in 2004, the Concentra Award for outstanding video journalism is the world’s leading annual VJ prize. The award aims to highlight and promote video journalism with the aim of encouraging journalists to film and edit their own work. The award, which this year is sponsored by Avid, comes with 10.000 euro in prize money.

 

03/01/2008: Deadline extended

Concentra Award deadline extended by a few days

The organizers of the annual Concentra award have had a number of requests for some flexibility with the closing date of this year’s Concentra award. As a result, the decision has been made to accept any entry received next week i.e. entries will be accepted up until 5pm CET, Jan 11th.

For details of entry criteria, entry forms and so on visit www.theconcentra.org.

The Concentra Award is the world’s most prestigious award for outstanding video journalism. Now in its third year, the award is open to VJ pieces from broadcast TV, print and online news sites. The winner of the award, who will also receive 10.000 Euro in prize money, will be announced at the DNA2008 conference www.dna2008.com in Brussels on March 3rd.

 

18/12/2007: Award deadline nears

Closing date nears

With three weeks remaining until the final entry date for The Concentra award, the prize organizers are delighted to have already received numerous entries from regional and international media organizations. The entries for the 10.000 euro prize reflect the cross-media nature of the award and have been submitted by online newspapers sites as well as broadcasters. The closing date for the award is January 7th.

Final jury line-up confirmed with two new additions

This week the jury for the Concentra awards was finalized with the last two members confirmed for the 10-person team. Simon Bucks from Sky News, and Steve Taschini from the BBC complete the line-up of a very experienced and diverse group of news professionals from broadcast, print and online. While initial jury deliberations will be made individually, the group will meet to decide the final winners in Brussels at the beginning of March. The award will be presented on the evening of March 3rd at the Brussels Marriott as part of DNA2008.

DNA2008

The program for Digital News Affairs 2008 (DNA2008) again strengthened this week with the addition of some industry heavyweights from news, entertainment and publishing. The BBC’s Director of News, Helen Boaden, The President of the Travel Channel, Pat Younge and Adriaan Bouten a senior vice president at McGraw-Hill were all confirmed for the agenda in the last seven days. These organizations are all major users of video-journalism - a subject that is covered in depth as part of this international event. The conference, taking place in Brussels on March 3rd & 4th examines how news providers from print, broadcast and online are using technology, techniques and new business models to drive innovation and underpin new digital strategies. The event will also show-case the use of video journalism, VJ kit and new news production models. Participating organizations include: NOS, SVT, Sky, CNN, Al Jazeera, Vice, Monocle, Volkskrant, Telegraaf, Daily Telegraph, de Persgroep, GNN, ARD, DAG, BBC, NRK, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, IFRA, msnbc, VPRO, VRT etc. etc. For further details check out www.dna2008.com

 

13/12/2007: Jury announced

The jury for this year’s Concentra Award has been announced. The line-up of jury members has changed to reflect the growing variety of media in which video journalists operate. These changes are complemented by new entry criteria for this year’s award. For the first time, this year’s award is open to entries from outside Europe and to VJ news items broadcast or published on television or online news sites. The jury line up is as follows:

Host: Willy Lenaers (CEO, Concentra, Belgium)

Chairman: Michael Rosenblum (CEO, Rosenblum TV, USA)

Sue Phillips (London Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera, UK)

Cristian Trippe (Brussels Bureau Chief, Deutsche Welle, Germany)

Bas Broekhuizen (Editor, Volkskrant TV, Netherlands)

Tone Kunst (Editor in Chief, NRK Nordland, Norway)

Vicente Partal, (Board Member, ECJ, Director, Vilaweb, Spain)

Leif Hedman (Director, SVT, Sweden)

The closing date for submissions to this year’s award is January 7th 2008. For details of entry criteria, entry forms and so on visit www.theconcentra.org The winner of the award, who will also receive 10.000 Euro in prize money, will be announced at the DNA2008 conference (www.dna2008.com) in Brussels on March 3rd.

 

06/11/2007: THE CONCENTRA AWARD 2007 is now open for entries

The Concentra Award 2008 is now open for entries. This year we have expanded the award criteria and have added a second award. For the first time, we are accepting entries from around the world. Friends and colleagues from outside Europe can now compete for the world’s largest videojournalism prize of 10.000 euro. Secondly, the jury will now consider videojournalism from news websites, newspaper sites and IPTV news stations along with traditional news broadcasts. Thirdly, news piece entries can now be up to a maximum of ten minutes. On top of the above changes, we are also adding an additional award for breaking news. Stories which are shot, edited and broadcast in one day and last up to five minutes will be considered for The Breaking News Award. Breaking news pieces are now eligible for both The Concentra Award and have a chance of gaining extra acknowledgement for the fastest type of videojournalism with The Breaking News Award. For further details see the Rules and Regulations page on this website. Deadline for entries: Jan 7th 2008 12.00 am

The award ceremony will take place on March 3rd, 2008 at DNA2008, at the Brussels Marriot Hotel. For more information on this conference please check www.dna2008.com.

 

26/04/2007: Concentra Award goes global

Videojournalism is rapidly growing worldwide. In every country videojournalists shoot interesting stories. That's why we're expanding our view, by scratching the limit on European news and going global. That's right, the next edition of the Concentra Award will be open to journalists all over the world. Spread the word to your colleagues over the European borders! Longer newsitems are also accepted from now on, giving all documentary makers a chance to compete for the award for outstanding videojournalism! In the next few weeks we'll be releasing more details about the next Concentra Award. Visit the website or subscribe to our newsletter to stay tuned.

 

25/04/2007: Blogging Concentra Award jury members

Two members of last years the Concentra Award jury are active bloggers. Sabine Streich and Michael Rosenblum support, each in their own way, videojournalism through blogging. We've been following their blogs for a while now, and they really deserve a place in your daily favorites. Streich posts new video regularly, all examples of good videojournalism. On Rosenblumtv, Michael Rosenblum promotes his fundamentals on videojournalism in his well-known style: convincing and confronting. Just take a look at this video shot during one of his latest debates: Burn it to the ground. You can find other interesting websites and blogs about videojournalism on our Links-page.

 

22/02/2007: Ohne Kohle filmfestival

Ohne Kohle is an Austrian festival for 'No and Low Budget'-films. The competitions enters the fourth round and now offers independent filmmakers to send in their experimental, narrative and animated short films, longplayers or documentaries. You can participate in Ohne Kohle by visiting their website. The entry deadline is March 31. The event takes place summer 2007 in Vienna, Austria.

 

21/02/2007: New profiles and new links to VJ-sites!

You'll see that we've added the profiles of three new VJ's in our 'VJ Storyteller'-series. Feel free to comment on their Q&A by filling in the form on the bottom of each Storyteller-page. You can find the interviews in our News-section. We'd love to hear your reactions! Also take a look at our 'Links'-page where we've put a list of very good websites and blogs about video journalism and digital video.

 

17/12/2006: New website launched

The Concentra Award takes a fresh online start with a brand new website. Tune in and watch the movies of all our past nominees, and get ready to participate in our next competition for video journalists! From now on, we'll keep in touch with a regular newsletter with VJ-news, interviews and the latest Concentra Award info. 2006 is winding down, and we're all very excited about the VJ-(r)evolution in 2007. Best wishes and a happy New Year!

 

13/06/2006: BBC VJ Ian Barmer wins The Concentra Award 2005-2006

The award giving ceremony of The Concentra Award for outstanding Video-journalism 2005-2006 was held on the 7th of June in the International Press Center, situated in the prestigious Résidence Palace in Brussels. The award was presented by Viviane Reding, European commissioner for information, society and media.

Ian Barmer, a British video-journalist from the BBC, won this year's edition with his enty 'Kidney Transplant'. The winning newsitem tells the story about a woman who receives a kidney from her husband in order to survive.

Ian Barmer could not attent the ceremony, as he himself is recovering from surgery. He was well represented by his colleague Johnny Rutherford, a fellow BBC VJ, who was nominated himself.

Viviane Reding, European commissioner for information, society and media, presented Johnny Rutherford, Ian Barmer's stand-in, with the cheque of 10 000 euro. Together with the cheque, Viviane Reding presented the winner also with a sculpture of Tintin, the most famous Belgian journalist of all time.

The shortlisted nominees from left to right: Michelle Lyons (BBC), Johnny Rutherford (BBC), also representing Ian Barmer (BBC), Sara Rainer (Hessischer Rundfunk) and John Lawrence (BBC), standing in for Andy Smithe.

 

09/06/2006: Brit wint Concentra Award 'videojournalistiek'

De Brit Ian Barmer heeft woensdag de tweede Concentra Award voor videojournalistiek gewonnen. Barmer, die voor de BBC werkt, kreeg de onderscheiding voor zijn item "Kidney Transplant 1 and 2" ("Niertranplantatie 1 en 2"). Aan de prijs hangt een bedrag van 10.000 euro en een handgemaakt beeldje met de beeltenis van Kuifje. De prijs gaat uit van Concentra, het bedrijf achter onder meer de regionale zenders TV Limburg, ATV en Kanaal 3. De Award bekroont een journalist die een nieuwsitem heeft gemaakt dat werd gedraaid tijdens een nieuwsuitzending van een Europese zender. Voorwaarde is dat het gaat om videojournalistiek, met andere woorden dat de journalist zelf de camera hanteert en de stukken zelf monteert. "Kidney Transplant 1 and 2" is een item van ongeveer vijf minuten over een vrouw met nierproblemen die al jaren nierdialyse volgt. "Het item brengt in beeld hoe haar echtgenoot haar een van zijn nieren afstaat", zegt Koen Mondelaers, woordvoerder van Concentra Media. De negenkoppige jury, voorgezeten door de Amerikaanse videojournalist Michael Rosenblum, kreeg 89 inzendingen voorgeschoteld. Daaruit koos ze negen genomineerden. De prijs werd uitgereikt door onder meer Vlaams minister van Media Geert Bourgeois en de Europese commissaris voor Informatie, Maatschappij en Media, Viviane Reding.

Bron: Gazet van Antwerpen

 

07/06/2006: Balmer wint prijs voor videojournalistiek

wo 07/06/06 - De Brit Ian Barmer heeft vandaag de Concentra Award gewonnen voor videojournalistiek. Het is de tweede keer dat deze prijs wordt uitgereikt. Barmer werkt voor de Britse openbare omroep BBC en krijgt de prijs voor zijn stuk "Kidney Transplant 1 and 2", vertaald "Niertransplantatie 1 en 2". De reportage gaat over een koppel waarbij de man zijn nier afstaat om het leven van zijn echtgenote te redden. De award voor videojournalistiek bekroont een journalist die zelf zijn nieuwsitem heeft gefilmd en gemonteerd. Het item moet uitgezonden zijn op een Europese zender. Een jury van negen journalisten moest in totaal 89 inzendingen beoordelen. Juryvoorzitter was de Amerikaanse videojournalist Michael Rosenblum. De prijs is een initiatief van Concentra, het bedrijf achter de streekkranten Gazet van Antwerpen en Belang van Limburg, en de regionale zenders TV Limburg, ATV en Kanaal 3.

Bron : vrtnieuws.net

 

03/06/2006: Jury announces final shortlist of 5 nominees

Yesterday, the jury of The Concentra Award announced a shortlist of 5 nominees to win the Concentra Award 2005-2006 and the prizemoney of 10.000 euro. You can watch these nominated newsitems on www.theconcentra.org.

Title	Journalist	Broadcaster
Das vergessene Dorf	Sara Rainer	Hessischer (Germany)
Kidney Transplant	Ian Barmer	BBC Look East (UK)
Living with HIV	Michelle Lyons	BBC Local TV (UK)
Padstow Lifeboat	Johnny Rutherford	BBC South West (UK)
Somme	Andy Smythe	BBC (UK)

From this shortlist, the jury picks the ultimate winner during next weeks final jurysession on June 7th in Brussels. The ceremony will take place at the Résidence Palace in Brussels and starts at 16.00 hours. The Award will be presented by Ms Viviane Reding, the European Commissoner for Information Society and Media.

If you would like to attend the award ceremony, don't hesitate to contact us at press@theconcentra.org or call +32 473/78 07 03

 

01/06/2006: The past days, we processed all the scores of the jury and today we are proud to present the 9 nominees of The Concentra Award 2005-2006.

To watch the nominated items, check www.theconcentra.org.

Title	Journalist	Broadcaster
Das vergessene Dorf	Sara Rainer	Hessischer (Germany)
Kidney Transplant Packages 1 & 2	Ian Barmer	BBC Look East (Norfolk)
Living with HIV	Michelle Lyons	BBC Local TV (UK)
Padston Lifeboat	Johnny Rutherford	BBC South West (UK)
Postcard from Brekkestoe	Line Oftedal	NRK Sörlandet (Norway)
Rabbits	Janine Jansen	BBC Southwest (UK)
Return to Japan	Mark Worthington	BBC Northern Ireland (UK)
Somme	Andy Smythe	BBC (UK)
The Funeral Agency	Robert Schinkel	NOS (The Netherlands)

Out of these 9 items, the jury will select a shortlist of 5 items. On Saturday June 3th, we will announce this shortlist on www.theconcentra.org. The ultimate winner of The Concentra Award 2005-2006 will be selected during the final jurysession on Wednesday June 7th in Brussels. The award giving ceremony will take place immediately after this session at 16:00 PM in The Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155 in Brussels.

 

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