Double award scoop for UEA Journalism graduate documentaries

Two Broadcast Journalism graduates from the University of East Anglia (UEA) have taken top honours at the Royal Television Society East Student Awards for their impactful documentary films.

Kerena Cobbina and Cameron Noble, both graduates from the BA Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism course, received awards in the Journalism and Factual categories respectively.

Kerena's solo-shot film, 'Faith Beyond Belief - Why is Religion so Important in Kenya?', was described by judges as an "impressive and engaging piece of reportage".

Chairman of the judges, Brian Woods, said: "One judge said the quality of the film was so good that I felt I was watching an episode of 'Unreported World'."

Kerena, who is currently working as a BBC trainee in London, said: "I can't believe I won it. It's made me believe in myself a lot more. I think that's something I really struggle in, but having this is like my representation of this is what I can do and I deserve it."

Cameron Noble, who travelled to Azerbaijan for his video journalism documentary, won the best factual award for 'Saving Benji and Balu' - a film about two bears who were rescued from Azerbaijan and rehomed in the UK.

Mr Woods praised the film for its well-written and crisp script, and said it brought one judge to tears: "I was really engaged with the plight of the key characters and the struggle to help them."

Cameron, who freelances at the BBC, said: "When you see the absolute talent of other people, especially those you have been in a classroom with for three years, it can be quite intimidating, so to still bring this home with your own piece of work means a hell of a lot."

The Royal Television Society (RTS) ceremony, held in Cambridge on Friday 6 March, saw seven students from the same Extended Journalism Project module nominated for different awards, as well as all UEA nominations in the Journalism category.

Journalism lecturer Julian Sturdy said: "The students were told to aim higher than just a mark to make their documentaries a showcase for their careers. Their success shows just how hard they worked."

Kerena and Cameron will both go on to the national RTS Student Television Awards finals in June, which will be hosted in London.