BBC has nominated Balakrishnan Balagopal, Keralite journalist based in UK, for two prestigious journalism awards.
The nomination comes for his BBC Panorama documentary work Care Workers Under Pressure, which was telecast on BBC One on December 18, 2023, highlighting the plight of migrant health care workers in the UK.
The first nomination by BBC was to the Asian Media Awards’ Best Investigation Category. Balagopal’s investigation documentary was shortlisted among other incredible documentaries from UK’s prominent medias.
Best Investigation: Care Workers Under Pressure – Balakrishnan Balagopal for BBC Panorama, McDonald’s Workers – Noor Nanji for BBC News, People smugglers in Pakistan – Reha Kansara for BBC News, Undercover Inside Reform’s Campaign – Channel 4 News Investigations Unit and reported by Darshna Soni for Channel 4 News, Evacuation of critically ill children in Gaza – Produced by Roohi Hasan for ITV News, Sudiksha: ‘Condemned to Die in Secret’ – Inderdeep Bains for The Daily Mail.
Balagopal missed out on wining the Asian Media Awards, which was held in Manchester on October 25. Sudiksha: ‘Condemned to Die in Secret’ by Inderdeep Bains for The Daily Mail, was adjudged the winner.
Speaking to this reporter Balagopal said: “For me these nominations are itself an award as its from BBC, the most reputed news organisation in the world. It was an honour to be finalists among the best in journalism in the world today. Being pitted against names from ITV, Daily Mail, Channel 4 in itself is something great for me.”
My biggest proud moment was when Karen Wightman, the Editor of BBC Panorama, messaged me prior to the awards ceremony, “Win, lose or draw I’m sure you’ll have a great night. But in any event, you’re both already winners in my eyes”. This for me is the utmost honour and credit in my life and I will treasure this for ever.
BBC also put forward Balagopal for his investigative documentary for the most prestigious British Journalism Awards 2024 under the Investigation of the Year category. However, his documentary wasn’t shortlisted as finalist but will be joining to applaud his colleagues at BBC Panorama who are shortlisted as finalists – Ruth Evans, Oliver Newlan, Leo Telling, Sasha Hinde, Hayley Clarke, Karen Wightman — BBC Panorama for Undercover School: Cruelty in the Classroom.
The winners of the British Journalism Awards 2024 will be announced on 12 December, 2024 at a dinner at the London Hilton Bankside, hosted by Radio 2 presenter and journalist Jeremy Vine.
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