Mohamed Amin Award presentation

Tony Donovan (managing director, Reuters TV): In 1997, one year after Mohamed Amin died in an aircraft hijacking near the Comoros Islands, this award was first introduced. Mo, throughout his career, had developed an extraordinary reputation. He was a pioneer of African TV news coverage and he produced a whole stream of exclusive stories, including, probably most famously, his images of the Ethiopian famine, which ultimately led to Live Aid.

The award that bears his name is awarded annually to probably an unsung hero of television news, somebody who has demonstrated courage, determination, initiative - attributes that we saw in Mo Amin himself. We're very grateful to News Xchange for continuing to host the award, and I'd like to pass over to Mo's son, Salim, who's going to announce the 2005 winner.

Salim Amin: Thanks again to News Xchange, to Jim [Gold], Tony [Donovan] and to Reuters, for continuing to honour my dad's memory. It's really appreciated. This is the citation for the award for this year.

Among the most memorable images of the past year have been the orange-clad protesters in the frozen streets of Kiev, demonstrating against allegations of fraud and corruption in the Ukrainian presidential election. Instrumental in the Orange Revolution was the ending of bias in the reporting by pro-government TV stations such as state-owned UT1.

In November of last year, Natalya Dimitruk was assigned to translate the afternoon news on UT1 into sign language. Instead of translating that government candidate Viktor Yanukovich had beaten Viktor Yushchenko, she signed: “Yushchenko is our president. Do not believe the Central Electoral Commission. They are lying.”

Following her stand, other journalists at UT1 followed her lead, saying they would no longer tell the government's lies. With the bias removed from news bulletins, the people made their own minds up, took to the streets and eventually Yushchenko was appointed president.

This single act of courage and integrity by Natalya helped to bring the truth to the people of Ukraine. It helped to change history. By demonstrating a commitment to truth and integrity, and having the bravery to do something about it, she helped to change history and also helped to remind all of us why we became journalists in the first place.

For an inspiring, courageous contribution from a previously unknown news heroine, the 2005 Mohamed Amin Award goes to Natalya Dimitruk. [Applause]

Natalya no longer works for UT1 but is still engaged as a sign-language translator on a commercial channel in Kiev. She cannot be with us today, but the prize, which is a travel bursary, was presented to her in Kiev earlier this week, as you'll see on this tape.

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[Videotape]

Natalya Dimitruk: I'm very touched by this. I didn't expect it. It is very, very gratifying to be awarded this honour. Let me wish everybody happiness, prosperity and good health - that is what matters most. Of course, it is always very difficult to take such decisions. Let me just wish everybody to be at one with their professional conscience.