Radio producer Louise Williams, Ireland, has won the IAWRT Awards of Excellence for the best radio documentary 2011 “I Can Tell by Looking at You”.
The Jury´s Remarks:
The jury feels that this is a global issue. It highlights mistakes that can result in very traumatizing experiences. The story creates suspense all the way and raises questions that the listener would like answered by those responsible. The radio documentary is a personal story, told by herself, of how little looks count when your identity is suspected to be mixed up in a fraud. Louise was traveling back home to Ireland from Netherlands where she had just completed conducting a training workshop. At Schiphol Airport, she was stopped at the passport control as the police needed to check something that had come up on the computer. What followed is a nightmare! This is a story that touches all World Travelers.
Louise Williams has spent most of her radio career working abroad - for Radio Netherlands International and BBC World Service. She has worked in news, current affairs and made documentary series. Currently she is based in Dublin where she works as a trainer, as well as making radio features around Ireland and the world.
Diplomas of Honorable Mention were given to three radio producers:
Kellia Ramares, USA, for her documentary ‘Do Tell: Queer Women Vets Sound Off on “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”.
Queer women veterans who participated in a media making program sponsored by the Women of Color Resource Center of Oakland, California, speak about their experiences with the US military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” rule, which expelled service members found out to be homosexual.
Kellia Ramares-Watson has been producing radio for WINGS: Women’s International News Gathering Service since 2000.
Leenne O’Donnel, Ireland, for her documentary "An Extra Ordinary Affair".
The documentary tells the story of two upper-class Anglo-Irish women from Kilkenny in Ireland. Eleanor Charlotte Butler (1739-1829) was the youngest daughter of the Butler family of Kilkenny Castle. However, the family had difficulties getting her married off – and so introduced her to a young lady – whom they hoped would become her friend and together they could search for two husbands.
Leeanne O' Donnell has worked in radio in the UK and Ireland since 2004. She has done education programming, worked as a presenter, reporter and freelance producer across a number of genres. In 2006 Leeanne established her own production company Whistling Gypsy Productions.
Tasneem Amar, Pakistan, for her documentary "Our Rights, Our Responsibilities".
The documentary addresses sexual violence, domestic violence and denial of women rights at societal level, through the voices of women who have experienced the crimes, and legal and human rights experts.
Tasneem Ahmar is currently heading Uks Research Centre- a media advocacy and monitoring organization, she is also Executive producer for Meri Awaz Sunno (hear my voice), a rights-based radio programme with a predominantly female technical and editorial team. She has also an extensive experience in teaching mass communication at University level.
