Deborah Haynes wins award for Iraq reports

Deborah Haynes, the Times’ correspondent in Baghdad, has been awarded the first Tony Bevins Prize for outstanding investigative journalism.

She won the prize, created in memory of the renowned political journalist who died in 2001, for her series of articles on Iraqi interpreters working for British forces who were later abandoned by their employers. The coverage led to Britain offering hundreds of Iraqi employees compensation or asylum.

Presenting the award, the BBC journalist Andrew Marr said: “The judges felt that Deborah’s work for The Times was hugely courageous and tireless, and actually helped people who had shown great bravery. Tony Bevins, the ultimate believer in hard-digging investigative journalism, would have been thrilled to see this award go to her.”

Last week the Times’ columnist Camilla Cavendish was named as joint winner of the 2008 Paul Foot award for journalism for her work calling for greater openness in family courts to prevent miscarriages of justice.

Read a selection of Haynes' reports on Iraqi interpreters below:

Iraqi who risked all for Britain is left to his fate in Basra

Outrage at 'cynical' manipulation of scheme to resettle Iraqi aides

Case study: son was sent tape of murder

No softening of asylum rules for the Iraqis who risked their lives

Iraqi interpreters fly out to a new life in Britain

Comments

[Scott]

Congratulations and well deserved! Not only have you effected change in national policy--you've materially improved the lives of countless Iraqis. Well done.

[John Hartley]

In a country where the stench of gutter journalism often overwhelms, your dogged and incredibly brave investigation into the outrageously unfair treatment of Iraqi Interpreters is a welcome reminder of the power and influence that media can - and should - wield in a democracy.

Many congratulations - a thoroughly deserved recognition.

Many, many congratulations Deborah. I`ve no doubt that your family and friends are immensely proud of you and you should be proud of yourself for your hard work and wonderful journalistic achievements.Your compassion and humour show through your writing, I very much look forward to reading more. Love the photos you post too. (And its one in the eye for the ignorant critics :) )

[Andrew]

Congratulations! Well deserved!

[Nick Polimeni]

Well Done, Deborah Haynes! Congratulations, and keep working on human issues! The world is better for it.

[Steve Kelly]

Many congrats. Well deserved.

[Tim]

A great series of piece's that, somewhat ridiculously, have remained clear in my mind far more than the daily cycle of voilence that provided the backdrop to these articles. It is refreshing and encouraging to see investigative journalism coupled with integrity and sympathy in even the most difficult of situations.

[Tim Shamoon]

Congratulations
I sincerely wish you all the very very best
Please keep up the good work

[Reynhard]

She's very pretty, that's all that should matter for a woman.

[ZEHAIE ISAAC]

She is a wonderful person who dedicated to her vacation at the risk of her life.

[Aimen]

Congratulations
you deserved it

[xjug1987]

She's kinda cute!

[leslie hodges]

I would like to express my deepest respect for her work.

[Steven Hartung]

Congratualtions Ms Haynes! It's great to see the award go to someone who not only has done top notch work, but also that her endeavors have lead directly to improving the lives of those dedicated people whose stories she has covered.

[The Dent]

Fantastic achievement Deborah - well earned and great to see your gritty determination is recognised.

Not many of us have the courage to leave our cosy lives do this kind of work - we should be thankful there are people like you working hard in risky situations to expose these injustices.

Stay gold!

:)

[Firozali A. Mulla]

Reporting and the BBC have been many times come in the front. Is this because The BBC stands for British that were once the truth, nothing but truth speakers and have they changed on the Iraq wars? I have my doubt but then who cares about my opinions? We have messed up the regions as we followed bad policies, reports and followed Bush.
“There seems to be a rule that anyone who thinks they should be taken seriously has to spend most of their life complaining about the BBC.”
No. I have nothing against the BBC or for that matter anyone. However please remember we are in the soup of brain drain and the false WMD and the gloomiest economy I have ever seen. Guess who was the sole TV that came in the limelight? BBC? Tony Blaire and Andrew Gilligan. We then had Saddam beheaded and we are puppets of Bush and Colin Powell. BBC did that? No. Played any part in this? No. Then how come I have no houses for to sell. I mean I have, no one is buying. BBC? Now I ask you. “Where is Tony Blaire? In Gaza? I see him not there too. British are not favor to BBC. Let us be realistic in reporting. I like not FOX. So am I lost?
I thank you
Firozali A.Mulla

[Rita]

What a great achievement. Congratulations

[Canon Andrew White]

Deborah is the only permanent UK Newspaper Journalist here in Baghdad. She is an outstanding journalist and a trully great person, this is an award well deserved.

Canon Andrew P B White
Baghdad

[Louise]

Congratulations! Well done on the award Debs. Fantastic achievement - we are all very proud of you.

Looking forward to seeing you at Christmas. Stay safe.

Louise

[Clive Burghard]

Well done, well deserved, and what beautifull eyes, no wonder she sees so well.

[Tony]

Congratulations to a great and attractive lady! It is nice to see women achieving and being honored. In the world around it is not always like this. Thanks for all you have done and be safe. My thanks for the inspiration you give to all of us.

[R Timmons]

Debbie, you are a class act. One of the best journalists I have ever met. Congratulations and keep up the awesome journalism.

[Dr Qassim]

Many congratulations to Debora for her outstanding reports on Iraq.If am not wrong she is the same enthusiastic journalist I met at Iraqi Embassy in London ,when she was applying for visa in April this year.

[hind]

i hope all journalists be brave like mr alzaidi who stood infront of fears and sent an iraqi message to the world

[Jonathan Card]

Why did she bother? Is anyone really interested. It wasn't really a news story at all worth mentioning.

[waine]

If these people had done what they did in this country UK, IE aided an invader they would have been described has traitors, but of course they are our traitors.

[Jim Wills]

Deborah Haynes, you are risking your life to produce articles that nobody in the real world is interested in reading. You are being used as a political tool to write propaganda for the British government. Put your talents elsewhere.

[Udayan Namboodiri]

Deborah's stories have shaken people out of their collective complacency. She deserves the post of a United Nations Ambassador and should be funded liberally so that she can go around the world awakening more people to the injustice around them.

[Jekyl]

She's a knockout, but so what? Her bravery, persistence and the calibre of work she has done is what really matters here. There are true injustices out there, and she exposed one.

[Marcus]

Yum!

[asadkhan]

I endorse REYNHARD.she also has brains.heart too.

[Ian]

Congrats, but I have no sympathy for Iraqis that worked for the US and fear death. They did it for money and they knew the risks. Any fallout is theirs to deal with, they can move to another country, but not at the tax payers expense. Collaborators have a conflict, which they must resolve, on their own.

[Edward I]

Did anyone ever tell you that your eyes are just like Anya Sakova's?

[Peter]

I met Debora out here in Baghdad quiet a few months ago. The place we were in only someone totally dedicated would even consider going there. I had a lot more protection than she had and I was still nervous. Well done. Much deserved.

[Dude]

If I was on the panel, I'd award her a prize too. Phwoar.

[Mr P Wells]

The judges did the math and you were the answer. Many congratalies.