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BBC’s Cliff Richard police raid coverage nominated for RTS scoop of the year

By Emilio Casalicchio

The BBC's coverage of police raiding Sir Cliff Richard's house has been nominated for scoop of the year in the Royal Television Society Television Journalism Awards 2013/14.

Richard's home was searched last August by South Yorkshire Police investigating allegations of historic sex abuse, which the singer has dismissed as "completely false".

The BBC and South Yorkshire Police faced criticism over the coverage, with a Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry launched. Its report found that police should have refused to cooperate with the corporation when a journalist revealed he had information about the investigation.

It also said police should have explained to senior news executives at the corporation why broadcasting the story could have prejudiced the investigation.

The BBC's Richard coverage is up against Panorama's "Fake Sheikh Exposed" documentary as well as BBC Northern Ireland's "A Woman Alone With The IRA".

Meanwhile, BBC News's Lyse Doucet, Channel 4 News's Matt Frei and James Mates, of ITV News, are shortlisted for broadcast journalist of the year.

The awards, for "creative and excellent" journalism, focus on news and current affairs by organisations whose broadcasts are received in the UK and by agencies supplying those broadcasts.

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The winners will be announced on 18 February by CNN newsreader Becky Anderson at the London Hilton in Park Lane.

The Nominations:

Camera Operator of the Year

Todd Baxter CNN International

Nik Millard BBC News

Andriy Perun Reuters

Current Affairs – Home

Panorama: Britain's Secret Terror Force twenty2vision for BBC One

Dispatches: Breadline Kids True Vision for Channel 4

The Gypsy Matchmaker Minnow Films for Channel 4

Current Affairs – International

This World: Terror at the Mall Amos Pictures for BBC Two

Dispatches: Children on the Frontline ITN Productions for Channel 4

Al Jazeera Investigates – Broken Dreams: The Boeing 787 Al Jazeera English

Daily News Programme of the Year

Channel 4 News ITN for Channel 4

5 News ITN for Channel 5

ITV News at Ten ITN for ITV

Nations and Regions Current Affairs

Cardiff to Syria – Journey to Jihad BBC Wales – Week In Week Out

Who Murdered Maxine? BBC West Midlands

A Woman Alone With The IRA Spotlight BBC Northern Ireland

Nations and Regions News

BBC South East Today BBC South East

ITV News West Country (West)

Tour de France Grand Depart, Calendar ITV Yorkshire

Network Presenter of the Year

Mark Austin – ITV News at Ten ITN for ITV

Julie Etchingham – ITV News at Ten ITN for ITV

Emily Maitlis – Newsnight BBC for BBC Two

News Channel of the Year

BBC News Channel BBC News for BBC

CNN International

Sky News

News Coverage – Home

Independence Referendum ITN for Channel 4 News

Floods Sky News

Jihadi Terror ITN for ITV News

News Coverage – International

Gaza BBC News for BBC

Ukraine ITN for ITV News

Iraq Crisis ITN for ITV News

News Technology

Stand Up Be Counted Sky News

A Cloud over Copacabana – BBC's World Cup Data Network BBC News

Drone Camera – Tacloban CNN International

Regional Presenter of the Year

Ian Axton – ITV News West Country ITV West Country

Polly Evans – BBC South East Today BBC South East

Harry Gration MBE  BBC Look North

Scoop of the Year

Cliff Richard Raid BBC News for BBC

Panorama: The Fake Sheikh Exposed BBC for BBC One

A Woman Alone With The IRA Spotlight BBC Northern Ireland

Specialist Journalist of the Year

Alison Holt BBC News

James Mates – ITV News ITN for ITV

Fergus Walsh BBC News

Television Journalist of the Year

Lyse Doucet BBC News

Matt Frei – Channel 4 News ITN for Channel 4

James Mates – ITV News ITN for ITV

The Independent Award

The Minova Rape Trial Studio 9 Films for Newsnight

Unreported World: The Invisible People Quicksilver Media for Channel 4

Bruce Lee, King of the Sewers Ecostorm for Channel 4 News

Young Talent of the Year

Dan Ashby ITV News Tyne Tees

Mstyslav Chernov – APTN APTN Global Video Wire and Media Port

Fatima Manji – Channel 4 News ITN for Channel 4

The judges award and award for lifetime achievement will be announced on the night.

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