Creating media interest in the sea

Maritime Media Award 2010 BrochureThe Maritime Media Awards

In 1995, in memory of the former naval correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, the Foundation initiated the Desmond Wettern Media Award to give recognition to those journalists who do most to create public awareness of maritime matters. This initiative has since grown into a major national event, the annual Maritime Media Awards:

  • The Desmond Wettern Media Award for the best maritime journalistic contribution
  • The Mountbatten Award for the best maritime literary contribution
  • The Donald Gosling Award for the best television or film contribution

Nominations, which may be made by any interested person, are judged by an Awards Committee made up of eminent maritime personalities. Awards and certificates of merit, are presented at a prestigious annual dinner.

The number of features, books and television programmes nominated for Awards has grown substantially as the recognition given to journalists, writers and producers has encouraged greater media interest in maritime matters. For details concerning nominations and sponsorship of this year’s Awards, see Maritime Media Awards.

Besides the three publicly-nominated Awards, the Maritime Media Awards now also include presentations of the Foundation’s Maritime Fellowship Award and the Royal Navy’s Desmond Wettern Fleet Award.

The Great Chain DVDMaritime Foundation Films

The initiative to offer expert film making and event coverage to the maritime sector arose from the requests for copies of the theme-based films used to introduce the Maritime Media Awards.

Because mainstream media treatment of the maritime sector is often negative, uninformed and disaster-focused, the Maritime Foundation has launched Maritime Foundation Films to:

  • Provide expert film-making capability, with knowledgeable directors who know the maritime scene.
  • Develop an extensive archive of film and records, which can be used to strengthen the Foundation’s message, and foster a more positive approach to the maritime sector in the media.

Maritime Media Awareness team

The aim of this new project is to assemble a team of knowledgeable volunteers to monitor the maritime printed and electronic media for reports of significant developments, and pass these to mainstream journalists to foster positive and factual news coverage and features. Regular briefings will provide additional background, expert advice, and a point of contact for enquiries.