Pratt Prize Recipients for 2006

Broadcast Journalism

The Broadcast Journalism prize was awarded to "Ulpan Shishi" – "Friday Night Studio" of Channel 2 News – for the investigative report by Yossi Mizrahi and Haim Rivlin – "The City in Grey." The staff of Ulpan Shishi, led by the reporters, undertook a comprehensive in-depth investigation which led to a fascinating, professional and hard-hitting expose. The judges emphasized the difficulty inherent in carrying out an investigation that attempts to grapple with powerful vested interests, especially one that is aired on prime time on a commercial station.

"The investigation by Channel 2, performed by Yossi Mizrahi and Haim Rivlin, is one of the most significant milestones of the struggle of the residents of the Haifa Bay and the North against industrial pollution, and the resultant high illness rates… The broadcast of the expose aroused widespread response and led to a series of developments, including hearings on the floor of the Knesset and in the government." - Liora Aharon and Gil Ya'akobi, from the Coalition for Public Health

Community and Independent Journalism

The Community and Independent Journalism prize was awarded to Hadassah Ben-Herzl, independent filmmaker, for her profile "How Beautiful You Are, My Rosh Pina". According to the judges, the piece, which deals with the unrestrained development boom that Rosh Pina is undergoing, can be seen as a microcosm of many of Israel's environmental problems, and the "vicious circle" it portrays of poorly planned building and destruction of the environment reflects universal issues. The subject is clearly of deep personal significance to the independent filmmaker, and emphasized that her personal commitment and investment in her own creations are a valuable local contribution.

Local Journalism

The local journalism category prize was awarded to Oded Bar Meir, for his regular contributions to "Kol HaNegev" – "The Voice of the Negev" weekly. Oded Bar Meir has been the environmental correspondent for close to a decade in the Kol HaNegev local paper of Yediot Media. The jury was impressed by the consistently high-quality and in-depth coverage of the varied and complex issues of the Negev.

The judges stated that Oded illuminates the "dark corners" of the many problems facing the Negev. The editors of the paper were also praised for giving his articles center-stage, despite their challenging strong institutional interests, such as his hard-hitting piece on the location of the large new military base, planned to be near the Ramat Hovav toxic waste site.

National Print Media

The national print media prize was awarded to Tamara Traubman and Yulie Khromchenko of "Ha'aretz" newspaper, for their series of articles on the processed food industry, in particular those things part of the daily menu that have a "healthy" image. The series looked at these products, their ingredients and productions methods from a critical environmental perspective. The judges singled out this series as the best and most professional series that they had seen in recent years, noteworthy for its in-depth investigation and integrated approach. Even if the central topic is not the literal physical environment, the series relates directly to our environments via the food we eat, the way it is produced and the economic factors involved in those processes and the resultant changes in recent years. The judges emphasized the high and uncompromising level of the articles, and their presentation to the reader.

Other Finalists for 2006

Broadcast Journalism

Honourable Mention - Michael Miro – Kol Yisrael, The Voice of Israel, for his regular radio program, "Nature's Way."

Certificate of Recognition - Amir Gerra, "Mabat Sheni" - "Another Look" (Channel 1), for his piece called "Hiriya and the Hole in the Ozone" on waste and global problems.

Community and Independent Journalism

Honourable Mention - Nissim Tokatli for his report on Nachal Zippori for community television.

Certificate of Recognition - "The GreenGroove" regular radio program – Mt. Scopus Radio (106FM), Rinat Cohen and Tanhum Yoreh.

Local Journalism

Honourable Mention - Ben Zilka, for his weekly column in "Achbar Ha'ir" ("City Mouse" arts and entertainment guide) called "Zen and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance."

Honourable Mention - Mirit Ezrachi, for her regular contributions to the weekly "Emtza Hadera" – "Hadera Center"

National Print Journalism

Honourable Mention - Amir Ben David, for his work in "Yedi'ot Acharonot".

Honourable Mention - Sara Leibovitz-Dar, for her expose in "Ma'ariv" entitled "Money Screaming from the Trees."