{"id":256,"date":"2019-12-09T15:10:28","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T15:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/ata\/?p=256"},"modified":"2019-12-09T15:10:28","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T15:10:28","slug":"reflections-on-our-first-ever-active-travel-media-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/ata\/reflections-on-our-first-ever-active-travel-media-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections on our first ever Active Travel Media Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Journalism can change the world. It can illuminate and inspire, or it can muddy the waters.<\/p>

The Active Travel Academy\u2019s goal is to bring together all disciplines to tackle issues around car dominance \u2013 and a healthy public discourse, led by a well-informed and mature media landscape, is crucial to that. Ultimately, good reporting on active travel can challenge perceptions about where our problems lie and how we can solve them as a society.<\/p>

“Celebrating excellence”<\/strong><\/p>

That\u2019s why we decided to launch the Active Travel Media Awards, to celebrate excellence in reporting on cycling and walking, and showcase best practice. To recognise great reporters, broadcasters and others dedicated to their craft \u2013 often despite the financial challenges inherent in the modern media landscape.<\/p>

After a call for nominations in September we shortlisted entries from which our panel of judges chose winners across six categories (below). We were delighted by the quality of work on display across a variety of disciplines, some using innovative approaches, some tried and tested methods of reporting.<\/p>

The event<\/strong><\/p>

The awards event was held on 25 November 2019, at the University of Westminster\u2019s historic Fyvie Hall in Regent Street, central London. Winners and highly commended authors in each category received a quirky medal made from recycled bicycle chains and tyres. Sustrans’ Xavier Brice presented his thoughts and mentioned some recent research by the charity that found 60% of news coverage of active travel was negative.<\/p>

It was the event\u2019s first year, with just two of us, journalist Laura Laker and ATA director, Dr Rachel Aldred, organising it on a shoestring over a fairly short period of time, so we were delighted to have so many people there to support and toast good journalism with us.<\/p>

Nominees and those working in the field of active travel had the chance to meet face to face, some for the first time. There was much positivity and enthusiasm in the room for what we are seeking to achieve, and we left on a high. We can\u2019t wait to host an even bigger celebration of great journalism next year \u2013 with, we hope, even more entries across more categories.<\/p>

Thank you – here’s to next year!<\/strong><\/p>

Thank you to everyone who contributed, thank you to our judges, to all of those who nominated, and to nominees for your work in this field. Journalists, broadcasters and bloggers who go out of their way to understand the issues and report on these in an honest, responsible way \u2013 we thank you and your work, and all those working in the field to make our streets safer and more pleasant, for everyone. Here\u2019s to next year!<\/p>

Our shortlist, and the winners, are below:<\/p>

  1. News (written word)
    Carlton Reid,\u00a0Historic And Wonderful Cyclist And Pedestrian Tunnel Under River Tyne Re-Opens<\/a>, Forbes
    Feargus O\u2019Sullivan,\u00a0    In Car-Choked Brussels, the Pedestrians Are Winning<\/a>, CityLab\u00a0\u2013 Winner<\/strong>
    Kali Lindsay,\u00a0    Why parking on the pavement causes major problems for disabled people<\/a>, Newcastle Chronicle<\/li>
  2. News (broadcast)
    Tom Edwards,\u00a0    What do you breathe in on a commute?<\/a> BBC London \u2013 Winner
    Stacey Foster and Bob Warman,\u00a0    Family By Cycle Thumbs Up<\/a>, ITV Central
    Nick Van Mead and colleagues,\u00a0    London\u2019s toxic school runs: how polluted is the air children breathe?<\/a>Guardian Cities\u00a0\u2013 Highly Commended<\/strong><\/li>
  3. Features (written)
    Carlton Reid,\u00a0    Bicyclists May Use Full Lane<\/a>, Forbes
    Dave Walker,\u00a0    A Cyclist\u2019s Guide to Biking the City<\/a>, Guardian Cities\u00a0\u2013 Winner<\/strong>
    Mark Alker,\u00a0    Verbier by Train<\/a>, Singletrack Magazine (paywall)
    Njogu Morgan,\u00a0    How Apartheid Killed Johannesburg\u2019s Cycling Culture<\/a>, Guardian Cities\u00a0\u2013 Highly Commended<\/strong>
    Stephen Burgen,\u00a0    \u2018For me, this is paradise\u2019: life in the Spanish city that banned cars\u2019<\/a>, Guardian Cities\u00a0\u2013 Winner<\/strong><\/li>
  4. Features (broadcast)
    Peter Walker,\u00a0    Why forcing cyclists to wear helmets will not save lives<\/a>, The Guardian\u00a0\u2013 Winner<\/strong>
    Elodie Harper, Barton Hills Ramble, ITV local (no longer available online)\u00a0\u2013 Highly Commended<\/strong>
    Environmental Transport Association,\u00a0    Stop Killing Our Children<\/a>
    Alex Davis & Jenni Gwiazdowski,\u00a0    Mind the Cycling Gender Gap<\/a>, Wheelsuckers podcast with Tiffany Lam<\/li>
  5. Local media
    Lewis Mason Show,\u00a0    Music and conversation for your Thursday night, with a focus on health and wellbeing (episode focused on walking and mental health)<\/a>, BBC Sussex and Surrey (no longer available online)\u00a0\u2013 Highly Commended<\/strong>
    Andy Veale, interview with Roxanne de Beaux (Cambridge Cycling Campaign), Cambridge Independent (read\u00a0    here<\/a>)
    Andrea Sandor,\u00a0    After the Climate Declaration Manchester City Council Faces Its First Test<\/a>, Manchester Confidential\u00a0\u2013 Winner<\/strong><\/li>
  6. Investigation\/Long-term follow-up
    Ross Lydall, reporting on the death of Professor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz (    three<\/a>pieces<\/a>submitted<\/a>), Evening Standard\u00a0\u2013 Winner<\/strong>
    Charles Critchell,\u00a0    Burning Bridges \u2013 Hammersmith Bridge: why our dependency on cars must end<\/a>, FareCity\u00a0\u2013 Winner<\/strong>
    Road.cc,\u00a0    Near Miss of the Day<\/a><\/li><\/ol>

    Our expert panel of judges was co-chaired by journalist Laura Laker and Director of the Active Travel Academy Dr. Rachel Aldred, with academics Professor Guy Osborn and Dr. Pieter Verdegem, Victoria Hazael (Cycling UK), and Tanya Braun (Living Streets).<\/p>

    <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/div> (more…)<\/span><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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