The David Kaplan Award 2009

David Martin, Mary Walsh and Rick Kaplan

Best TV spot news reporting from abroad

AWARD DATE: 2009

AWARD NAME: The David Kaplan Award 2009

AWARD RECIPIENT: David Martin, Mary Walsh, Rob Blache, Ken Crump, Ward Sloane, Rick Kaplan

AWARD RECIPIENT AFFILIATION: CBS Evening News

AWARD HONORED WORK: “The Battle of Wanat”

In a category with several excellent entries, two stood above the rest this year, and “The Battle of Wanat” by the staff of the CBS Evening News took our top honors in a split decision. In a beautifully crafted and well reported piece, CBS Correspondent David Martin delves into the circumstances of a deadly ambush suffered by U.S. troops in the exposed Afghan valley of Wanat, where U.S. military tactics came under Army investigation following the deaths of nine soldiers. The exclusively obtained video, interviews with survivors and parents of those killed, and documentary evidence obtained by CBS News exposed the challenges and pitfalls of fighting a guerrilla war in far-flung villages.

Coverage of “The Battle of Wanat” on CBS News >>

Citation for Excellence:
Orla Guerin, Rome Hartman, Richard Colebourn, Kamil Dayan Khan
BBC World News America
“Pakistan’s War”