Business and Finance Journalist of the Year: Nominees

Scroll down to meet the nominees for Business and Finance Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Luther Pendragon

For reporters, interviewers and commentators who work on economics, City, business and personal finance desks. Judges were looking for the ability to break news and/or predict trends and/or analyse stories and explain issues to a general audience.

The Shortlist

Andrew Penman, Daily Mirror   

• Google Ads, the friend of online fraudsters, pushes sham websites to the top of search results
• Despite its claims to the contrary, Google is doing everything it can to prove it’s the fraudster’s friend
• Is any watchdog capable of stopping the torrent of frauds advertised on Google?

The judges said: “A fine example of a reporter, and his paper, being prepared to take on the big boys in the interests of their readers. Impressive work.”

Dan McCrum, Financial Times   

• Wirecard and me: Dan McCrum on exposing a criminal enterprise
• Wirecard says €1.9bn of cash is missing
• Wirecard’s real business relied on small number of customers

The judges said: “A remarkable piece of investigative journalism that exposed massive fraud and led to the downfall of a rogue company.”

John Arlidge, The Sunday Times Magazine          

• The fugitive CEO Carlos Ghosn on how he escaped jail in Japan
• John Lewis boss Sharon White knowingly kills off slogan
• James Dyson interview: how I blew £500m on electric car to rival Tesla

The judges said: “John Arlidge’s interviews – with Carlos Ghosn, Sharon White and James Dyson – were unmissable. The exclusive interview and the account of the midnight run of the former Nissan CEO is simply a great read.”

Katie Morley, The Telegraph      

• ‘William Hill made my brain-damaged mother a VIP and she gambled away £88k’
• ‘I got cancer at 39 and now I’ll lose £200k payout, as my GP record falsely states I smoke’
• ‘I called fake Transferwise customer services helpline and lost £168k’

The judges said: “Winning back £2m for wronged readers is real can-do journalism that makes newspapers hugely more relevant and valuable to readers. Professional, knowledgeable persistence at its best.”

Rob Davies, The Guardian

• Report shows betting industry’s reliance on problem gamblers
• Touts found guilty of fraud over £11m ticket reselling scheme
• Tory MP’s ex-aides work at betting firm that paid him £50,000

The judges said: “Rob Davies’ work on the ticket tout and gambling sectors have dominated the news agenda outside of Covid. Strong stories with long-lasting impact.”

Tom Witherow, Daily Mail

• Cynically groomed by a betting giant: Secret emails expose the tricks by Betway to help its ‘top losers’ stay gambling
• Tragic gambler who was ‘groomed’ with a bonus: How online casino plied 25-year-old with a £400 booster just hours before he took his own life
• Hairdresser’s ‘£86k reward for luring a gambling addict from rival bookie’

The judges said: “Reporting that shone a light on the most unethical corners of the gambling industry. Brilliant investigative work dealing with a modern-day scourge that will resonate with lots of readers.”