Big Al

It's traditionally more tribal in its voting patterns than the Eurovision Song Contest. The judging panels for the Royal Television Society's Television Journalism awards, currently in session over flat whites and sparkling water, are constructed of executives with spare time from BBC, ITN, Sky, Channel 4 and Channel 5 - with an odd seat given to CNN and Al Jazeera, plus some media critics.  Tactical voting this year, however, has an element of unpredictability.  Do the Channel 5 honchoes fall in behind their old news supplier, Sky, or their new provider, ITN ?

Sky has won News Channel of The Year for the past two years, and must be hoping that Alex Crawford (OBE) and her ride into Tripoli clinches a treble. My guess is that while she'll pick up some individual prize, the big boys will agree to differ, and Al Jazeera will come through the middle....   The gongs are handed out in February.