British
Grenadiers Fighting in Helmand
Shot in Afghanistan, September 2007
Self funded
Broadcast by The Frontline Club Web Blog / BBC Newsnight

FINALIST: Rory Peck Award for Features 2008

Vaughan’s film is a rare view of what it was like to be a British infantry soldier in Helmand last summer and the hazards of training Afghan troops while in battle.

The Taliban are fought, but never seen, during a 24-hour operation that exhausts the soldiers and illustrates the dangers, demands and the intensity of a poorly understood conflict.

The judges said, "He's there with the soldiers he knows best, having been a grenadier himself and filmed beautiful pictures in horrendous conditions. Vaughan self-funded this project for his news blog - to get the story out to new audiences. It was then picked up by BBC Newsnight.


Biography

In the 1990s, Vaughan worked as an independent cameraman and video news journalist covering wars and conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosovo and elsewhere. During that time he also ran Frontline Television News, an agency to represent the interests of young journalists. Eight members or former members have been killed while working in the field.

During Vaughan’s time as a freelance, he worked for many for the world’s leading television stations and became an advocate of greater support for freelances operating in war zones.

In 2003, Vaughan founded the Frontline Club in London, as an institution to champion independent journalism and promote better understanding of international news and its coverage. In September 2007, Vaughan went to Afghanistan to launch the Frontline Club’s new media blog, fromthefrontline.co.uk.