Royal Television Society award for Gioia's tragic documentary

LJMU Journalism graduate Gioia Dalosso Hemnell has won a major award from the Royal Television Society.

Having graduated in 2021 she has been recognised for her exceptional work in a documentary produced as part of her Journalism degree.

The ‘Silent Epidemic’ was a moving personal search for answers following the death of Gioia’s father from Hepatitis C. Paul Wilcox was 62 when he died in January 2017.

In the ten-minute video Gioia, 45, from Merseysiude, reveals how the easily-treatable virus, caused by infected blood, still goes largely undiagnosed. If unchecked, it spreads to the liver with tragic consequences. 

LJMU team

“Telling my father’s personal story whilst focusing on Hepatitis C as a major public health matter was a huge responsibility and I felt that the leadership from the team at LJMU Journalism allowed me to know how to balance and tell the story factually but in an engaging and meaningful way.” 

In a year when the RTS panel noted the “exceptionally high standard of student work” Gioia’s piece was singled out for a discretionary award for her camera work and production skills. 

She said: “Finding out I had won an award with an organisation as prestigious as The Royal Television Society, was incredible.

“As a mature student juggling my studies whilst being a full-time Mum, making my documentary ‘A Silent Epidemic’ took a wealth of discipline and commitment.”

Independent film-maker

The Craft Skill Awards are discretionary awards that the RTS Northwest Chair Cameron Roach (Founder and Executive Producer of Rope Ladder Fiction and previously Director of Drama at Sky TV) wanted to make to commend the craft that goes into making these films.

Speaking at the online award ceremony he said: “It’s important we celebrate the excellence of individual craft skills as people take a foothold in our industry.

"We were overwhelmed with the quality and passion that was exhibited in this year's student entries. It demonstrates strongly that there are terrific, creatively ambitious graduates emerging ready to connect and grow in the sector here in the North West.”

Since graduating Gioia has been working as an independent film-maker and freelance journalist based on the Wirral.

Thanks

She said: “The course throughout taught me the core principles of the journalistic elements of a factual documentary granting me the skill to make something complex appear simple.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have been given such an esteemed award and cannot thank the team at LJMU Journalism enough for their guidance throughout the course.”