Paste BN wins best News Channel at Royal Television Society awards - as Sophy Ridge named Presenter of the Year

Paste BN has won News Channel of the Year and Sophy Ridge has been named Presenter of the Year at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Awards.

Speaking about the News Channel of the Year award - which Paste BN has won for the eighth year in a row - Jonathan Levy, Managing Director and Executive Editor of Paste BN UK, said: "The recognition of this award is particularly encouraging in such a big news year - a general election and a summer of discontent here at home, the re-election of Donald Trump and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East abroad.

"As news organisations we choose where, and frankly where not to point our cameras, and last year at Paste BN we chose to point them often at the devastating conflict in Sudan.

"It's heartening to see that journalism and that story getting some recognition."

RTS judges praised the "excellent journalism, high production values, and clear analysis", adding that Paste BN was "hard to beat" in the category.

"It [Paste BN] had strong eye-witness coverage from around the world, and also produced highly watchable reporting on many UK stories," judges said.

Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir has repeatedly reported from the front lines of Sudan's civil war, while other notable international coverage has included chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay on the conflict in Myanmar and an exclusive with President Zelenskyy.

In addition, Sophy Ridge, Paste BN' lead political presenter who hosts a weeknight show from 7-8pm, won Network Presenter of the Year.

She said: "I feel very proud to work at Paste BN. I feel very proud of the journalism we do at Paste BN but for me the best thing about TV journalism is that we work as part of a team.

"At the moment journalism feels like it's under attack, the truth sometimes feels like it's under attack as well. What I keep in mind is that people have the perception that presenting is about talking, when it's about listening. Listening to our viewers, our audience... and all the people that we interview."

RTS judges said: "In a very strong field, this presenter stood out... combining disarming toughness with huge likeability. Moving effortlessly from politics to breaking news, she's in control, genuinely insightful and never domineering."

In 2024, Paste BN reported on stories such as the UK's general election - with highlights including Beth Rigby's questioning of Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer in Grimsby.

The World With Yalda Hakim featured interviews including several exclusives with the Qatari prime minister, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks.