Guardian journalist wins award for Iraq work

Guardian foreign correspondent Ghaith Abdul-Ahad has been presented with the James Cameron memorial award, given for "work as a journalist that combines moral vision and professional integrity". Abdul-Ahad was chosen for the award in recognition of his "courage and skill" in reporting the story of post-Saddam Hussein Iraq as well as other parts of the Middle East. He was presented with a cheque for £1,000 by Cameron's widow, Moni, at a ceremony last night at City University in London. The prestigious annual award, named in memory of the foreign correspondent and author who died in 1985, has previously been awarded to Michael Buerk, John Simpson, Robert Fisk, Charles Wheeler, Bridget Kendall, Martin Woollacott and Ed Vulliamy amongst. Peta Thornycroft of the Daily Telegraph was given a special James Cameron award in recognition of her "continued reporting of the story of Zimbabwe from within the country despite serous risk to her personal safety and continual harassment by the authorities". Roger Graef, the chief executive of production company Films of Record, gave a lecture at the presentation on "public service broadcasting in the digital age".