Top award for Independent writer

The Independent's foreign correspondent and commentator Patrick Cockburn has won the Peace Through Media Award, judges announced on Saturday.

His reports from the Middle East won high praise from the judges, who singled him out as a, "renowned commentator and authority on Iraq and its politics". Award convenor Dalia Salaam, from the charity Next Century Foundation, said that his, "coverage of the Middle East and in particular Iraq has been incredible".

The prize, awarded by the International Council for Press and Broadcasting at its sixth International Media Awards ceremony, aims to reward journalists and broadcasters who promote better understanding of the people and politics of the Middle East through the quality of their work.