The Thai Broadcast Journalists Association announced the winners of its first investigative television news awards yesterday at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. The winners were chosen from 76 news reports by 12 stations.

Nation TV’s investigative news report titled “Who does Rawai belong to?” by Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai, which aired on the “Rak Lok” environmental documentary programme on February 14, won the first runner-up prize, while Spring News’s report on “Displaced Thais” in Trat province received an honourable mention. There were 18 reports from 10 stations that competed for awards in the category of community lifestyle and culture but none received the first prize, as they did not meet all the criteria, it was reported.

Association president Thepchai Yong said the TV news report presentation was a story-telling with images and sounds that required strong presentation and compelling and in-depth content made up of facts and clear evidence, brought before the audience in a well-rounded way by professional and skilful journalists. He said there were not many investigative reporters in Thai broadcasting these days, hence it was necessary to groom more such reporters, cameramen and crews for investigative news.