BBC winners at TV journalism awards

The BBC has lead the winners at the Royal Television Society's journalism awards.

It took programme of the year for series Israel and the Arabs and news channel of the year for BBC News 24.

Channel 4 won five awards and ITV three, including the judges' award for ITV news editor David Mannion.

BBC News 24 had provided "in-depth coverage across the full breadth of stories" said the panel, who though the channel "came into its own" this year.

This was the first time Sky News had failed to win since the launch of 24-hour news channels.

"This win is an important turning point in News 24's reputation," said head of BBC TV News Peter Horrocks. "We have a decisive lead over Sky in audience reach and share and we can now confidently say that BBC News 24 is officially the UK's top news channel."

Channel 4 news' Jon Snow got journalist of the year while colleague Faisal Islam won young journalist of the year for his "consistency, refreshing style, and excellent delivery."

Amongst other winners were Sky News' Jeremy Thompson for presenter of the year and ITV Evening News for news programme of the year.