Media Freedom Awards Categories 

The Media Freedom Awards recognise individuals, teams and media organisations who have demonstrated determination, resilience and resolve in fulfilling their vital role in championing the public’s right to know. Whether it be through high profile campaigns, investigations or expert craftmanship they have held power to account, exposed wrongdoing, battled to get a story told or championed the rights of others through accurate, fact-based reporting. Entries were open to all UK-based and international news media organisations and platforms and can be made for work published in print, website, online, mobile, video, audio or any other news delivery format.

Investigation of the Year – National
An investigation by a national individual or team that lifted the lid and brought to light the investigative news story no other news organisation discovered. Judges will take into account the investigative process and how it contributed to holding power to account and/or exposing wrongdoing and championing the rights of others. Entries where platforms or individuals collaborated will be accepted as will entries from producers or those derived from a Freedom of Information request.

Investigation of the Year – Regional
An investigation by a regional individual or team that lifted the lid and brought to light the investigative news story no other news organisation discovered. Judges will take into account the investigative process and how it contributed to holding power to account and/or exposing wrongdoing and championing the rights of others.  Entries where platforms or individuals collaborated will be accepted as will entries from producers or those derived from a Freedom of Information request.

Investigation of the Year – Broadcast – National
A broadcast investigation by a national individual or team that lifted the lid and brought to light the investigative news story no other news organisation discovered. Judges will take into account the investigative process and how it contributed to holding power to account and/or exposing wrongdoing and championing the rights of others.  Entries where broadcast platforms or individuals collaborated will be accepted as will entries from producers or those derived from a Freedom of Information request.

Investigation of the Year – Broadcast – Regional
A broadcast investigation by a regional individual or team that lifted the lid and brought to light the investigative news story no other news organisation discovered. Judges will take into account the investigative process and how it contributed to holding power to account and/or exposing wrongdoing and championing the rights of others.  Entries where broadcast platforms or individuals collaborated will be accepted as will entries from producers or those derived from a Freedom of Information request.

Podcast of the Year
This award is open to a podcast that is produced regularly and has provided new insights and engagement from audiences in relation to news and/or current affairs. Judges will look for evidence of how the podcast contributes to holding power to account and/or exposing wrongdoing or championing the rights of others.

Campaign of the Year – National
The best national campaign that captured the audience’s attention and achieved tangible results. Supporting files for each entry must relate to one campaign.

Campaign of the Year – Regional
The best regional campaign that captured the audience’s attention and achieved tangible results. Supporting files for each entry must relate to one campaign.

Journalist of the Year – Broadcast
The broadcast journalist of the year who has excelled across several pieces of coverage which can include a high-profile investigation or campaign. The judges will look for evidence of holding power to account across more than one investigation or campaign and evidence that they have consistently exposed wrongdoing and championed the rights of others on more than once piece of work across the entry period. Entries can also be submitted on behalf of producers.

Journalist of the Year – National
The national journalist of the year who has excelled across several pieces of coverage which can include a high-profile investigation or campaign. The judges will look for evidence of holding power to account across more than one investigation or campaign and evidence that they have consistently exposed wrongdoing and championed the rights of others on more than once piece of work across the entry period.

Journalist of the Year – Regional
The regional journalist of the year who has excelled across several pieces of coverage which can include a high-profile investigation or campaign. The judges will look for evidence of holding power to account across more than one investigation or campaign and evidence that they have consistently exposed wrongdoing and championed the rights of others on more than once piece of work across the entry period.

Young Journalist of the Year
Open to journalists or producers aged 30 or under on 2 August 2023. Entries can include work from any journalistic discipline including those working in video journalism or with podcasts.  The judges will look for evidence of holding power to account, exposing wrongdoing and championing the rights of others across a variety of coverage.

Foreign Correspondent of the Year
For an individual who has been based in a foreign country or from where they have filed work that brings the country and its affairs to light for a UK audience. The judges will look for overall coverage and investigations, evidence of holding power to account, exposing wrongdoing, and championing the rights and freedoms of others.

Political Journalist of the Year
The winner will be the political reporter who set the agenda with the biggest stories and/ or most revelatory writing which showed evidence of holding power to account, exposing wrongdoing and championing the rights and freedoms of others.

Freelance Journalist of the Year
An individual who has had their work published or broadcast which held power to account, exposed wrongdoing and championed the rights and freedoms of others. Supporting files can relate to work published in up to three different platforms.

Commentator of the Year
The winner will be a journalist who is a must-read, someone with a unique voice and the ability to provoke debate and champion freedom of speech.

The Bob Satchwell Award for Freedom of Speech
This special award will be decided by the judges to honour an exceptional organisation or individual who continuously champions the public’s right to know. This award cannot be entered.

Photo Journalist of the Year
Judges will be looking for the photo journalist of the year whose images or video has had an impact. Judges will be looking for evidence of how the photos have shone a light on the freedoms of others and /or by exposing wrong-doing and championing the rights of others.

Innovation Award
This award is open to both teams and individuals across all journalistic disciplines. The judges will be looking for evidence of how championing the rights of others was achieved through digital storytelling, a new editorial product or through a new print or broadcast project. Judges will consider evidence of innovation and the tangible impact the project has had.

National News Media Organisation of the Year
The National News Media Organisation of the Year that will have consistently held power to account, championed the freedoms or rights of others and demonstrated a commitment to promoting media freedom. Judges will consider overall coverage, campaigns and investigations and evidence of any tangible impact that coverage has had.

Regional News Media Organisation of the Year
The Regional News Media Organisation of the Year that has consistently held power to account, championed the freedoms or rights of others and demonstrated a commitment to promoting media freedom. Judges will consider overall coverage, campaigns and investigations and evidence of any tangible impact that coverage has had.

International News Media Organisation of the Year
The International News Media Organisation of the Year that has consistently held power to account, championed the freedoms or rights of others and demonstrated a commitment to promoting media freedom. This category is open to organisations with their head office outside of the UK and judges will be looking at overall coverage, campaigns and investigations and evidence of the tangible impact that coverage has had.