Entries are now open for the Society of Editors’ Press Awards for 2020, known as the ‘Oscars’ for the British Press. The awards, run by the Society of Editors on behalf of the industry, will celebrate the best of UK national journalism during 2020.

With revised, new and returning categories, entries can be made for work published in print, website, online, mobile, video, audio or any other news delivery format in any UK national newspaper or any news website or platform primarily covering UK national news during 2020 (excluding broadcast media).

The British Journalism Review’s Cudlipp Award, in memory of celebrated Mirror Editor Hugh Cudlipp, will now be awarded to recognise excellence in popular journalism while a separate Campaign of the Year category has been created and is open to all titles and teams. 

Judging for Newspaper and News Website of the Year has been adjusted for 2020, with an additional emphasis given to the overall performance of the publication.

Additional categories for the awards include two categories celebrating innovation: Digital Initiative of the Year and Innovation of the Year as well as two categories expanding upon the recognition of the impressive supplements and magazines produced by newspapers with Magazine: Popular and Special Supplement of the Year. A new category recognising Data Journalist of the Year also appears for the first time.

And the awards include a new category: Driving Diversity to reflect the growing ambitions of the industry to tackle this challenge.

Reflecting on the momentous year in which the world has lived through, executive director of the Society of Editors and chair of the judges, Ian Murray said the press had performed its role remarkably under pressures previously unknown to this era.

He said: “In spite of the collective challenges, this year has proved more than ever the vital responsibility and achievements of national newspapers in providing trusted and essential journalism to individuals, families, businesses and communities.

“The awards remain the most prestigious occasion in the industry’s calendar and we are determined to give full recognition of the quality, diversity and success of editors, writers and columnists in national news media.”

The closing date for entries has been extended this year to Friday 22 January 2021, allowing time for even the very last stories of the year to be included. A shortlist will be announced in February 2021. An awards event will be staged in the spring of 2021 with details to be announced.

Early entries are encouraged.

Proceeds will help fund the Society of Editors’ campaigns for press freedom.

Enter the awards here:
https://www.societyofeditors.org/events/national-press-awards-for-2020/enter-national-press-awards-for-2020

A full list of categories appears below and can also be found on our category page.

Any queries should be directed to office@societyofeditors.org.

Awards Categories for 2020

Entries can be made for work published in print, website, online, mobile, video, audio or any other news delivery format in any UK national newspaper or any news website or platform primarily covering UK national news (excluding broadcast media).

All entries must be endorsed by the editor or managing editor in or on whose publication or digital platform they appeared.

Notes for categories

• * Journalists in these categories can submit three articles, including up to one joint byline piece.
• ** Two or more journalists working together on up to three examples of work. Can include work by full section teams. Judges’ focus will be on strength of examples submitted rather than numbers of journalists involved.

Young Journalist of the Year *
Open to journalists aged 26 or under on 31 December 2020 and entries can include work from any journalistic discipline. Judges will be looking for the individual who has made significant impact over the year. This award is supported by the Cecil King Foundation and the winner will receive a £5,000 bursary to be used for travel to research an agreed article or series of articles for their title.

Business and Finance Journalist of the Year *
For reporters, interviewers and commentators who work on economics, City, business and personal finance desks. Judges will be looking for the ability to break news and/or predict trends and/or analyse stories and explain issues to a general audience.

Political Reporter of the Year*
The winner will be the reporter who set the agenda with the biggest stories and/ or most revelatory writing.

Political Commentator of the Year*
The winner will be the writer whose articles were a must-read for anyone interested in the world of politics. The best writing, the best insight, the greatest authority.

Foreign Reporter of the Year*
For journalists who have 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.

Science Journalist of the Year*
For journalists who specialise in science journalism. The judges will look for journalists who led their field in 2020 – breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for a wider audience.

Health Journalist of the Year*
For journalists who specialise in health journalism. The judges will look for journalists who led their field in 2020 – breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for a wider audience.

Fashion Journalist of the Year*
The winner will be someone strong across the diverse range of forms: columns, features, interviews and show reports. Judges will look for writing that is informative, entertaining, and has the ability to engage with readers.

Technology Journalist*

The journalist who has shown consistently high standards in breaking technology stories, bringing complicated issues into the public domain and enabled the reader to have a wider understanding of breaking technology news.

Environment Journalist of the Year*
For journalists covering any issues that concern the environment. The judges will look for the best specialist journalist who led the field in 2020 – breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for their audiences.

Travel Journalist of the Year*
For journalists covering travel in all its aspects such as hard news, features and reviews. The judges will look for the best specialist journalist who led the field in 2020 – fine writing, breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for their audience.

Specialist Journalist of the Year*
For journalists with specialisms not covered by any other category, such as: education, arts, food, gardening, motoring or defence. The judges will look for the best specialist journalist who led the field in 2020 – breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for their audiences.

Data Journalist of the Year *
This award seeks to recognise those journalists who are making use of the wealth of data and information that is now available to newsrooms. It could be using their skills to mine data bases for that nugget of information that cracks a story wide open, or fantastic use of FoI, or tracking down and interpreting facts for readers that reveals a true insight into an important story.

Reporting Diversity Award
The award will recognise a body of work from an individual or team that in the judges’ opinion has played a significant role in creating awareness of issues of diversity in the UK in all its forms. The submitted articles can include news reports, campaigns, spotlight features or interviews.

Driving Diversity Award
An award to recognise excellence in driving diversity in the newsroom with regard to recruitment and content. This award can be won by an individual, team or publication/ website and will show initiative, drive and, where applicable, tangible results.

ShowBiz Reporter of the Year*
Judges will be looking for the best scoops and most informed writing in showbusiness which includes the worlds of stage, screen, TV and the music industry.

The Hugh McIlvanney Award for Sports Journalist of the Year *
Open to news writers, match reporters, feature writers, interviewers and columnists. Entries may be from a variety of sports or from one specialist area. Judges will be looking for brilliant writing and agenda-setting reporting that gave readers the best insight into sporting events during 2020.

Interviewer of the Year *
A: “Popular” and B: “Broadsheet” platforms
This award will be judged in two sections for “popular” and “broadsheet”. Judges will look for brilliant, engaging writing and revelatory news angles emerging from the interviews where the interviewer gets under the skin of the interviewee.

Columnist of the Year *
A: “Popular” and B: “Broadsheet” platforms
This award will be judged in two sections for “popular” and “broadsheet”. The winner will be a journalist who is a must-read, someone with a unique voice and the ability to provoke debate and may annoy as much as delight.

Feature Writer of the Year *
A: “Popular” and B: “Broadsheet” platforms
This award will be judged in two sections for “popular” and “broadsheet”. Judges will be looking for journalists who demonstrate great writing whether it be in features, news reportage, colour writing, analysis, and backgrounders.

Critic of the Year *
For reviews and criticism in any area of journalism – including theatre, dance, music, art, books, film, television and radio, food, etc. Writing that enlightens, compels and entertains the general reading audience will score highly.

Photographer of the Year
News and feature pictures are eligible. Judges will be looking for versatility, technical skill and the ability to capture the news picture that matters.

Sports Photographer of the Year
Entries can come from a single sport or from several and may be action shots or feature pictures. Judges will be looking for compelling images that get under the skin, capture the essence of a sport or a sports star, or reveal a unique moment of sporting drama.

Cartoonist of the Year
Pocket cartoons, strips, caricatures, political cartoons and illustrations are eligible in this category. Judges will be looking for the stand-out cartoons that feature regularly and that best capture the events of 2020.

Journalists’ Charity Award 
The winner will be chosen by the Journalists’ Charity. This award cannot be entered and carries no entry fee.

Scoop of the Year
The story or series of stories on one subject, which everyone else wished they had broken. This can be awarded to an individual or a team.

Scoop: Popular Life
This category is open to journalists or the team who have created or specialise in seeking out attention-grabbing scoops for readers in a popular newspaper. These could be around celebrities, sports personalities, the unusual, the bizarre, affairs of the heart or the heart-warming. The judges are looking for that one scoop from this field that struck a chord with the public.

Investigation of the Year

Body of work that reveals investigative skills of a team or individual to the full, lifting the lid and bringing to light the investigative news story no other news organisation has discovered.

Sports News Story of the Year
The body of work that reveals the skills of a sports team or individual to the full, lifting the lid and bringing to light a story no other sports news organisation has discovered. Entrants should include the original story and any follow-ups.

News Reporter of the Year *
The award will acknowledge good reporting on one or more stories across the year. The judges will be looking for exclusives, expertly researched and brilliantly told. Tenacity, flair and investigative skill will all score highly.

Team Awards

Business and Finance Team of the Year **

For the journalist team who works on economics, City, business and personal finance desks. Judges will be looking for the ability to break news and/or predict trends and/or analyse stories and explain issues to a general audience.

Digital Initiative of the Year 

This category focuses on those bright ideas that changed the face of digital coverage. This could be an individual’s single idea that shaped a massive response from the public, or a team effort that showed flair and imagination as well as technical know-how.

Innovation of the Year 

This category focusses on those brilliant innovations and ideas that have made their mark in the industry – from new supplements and sections to launches and re-launches of products. This can include digital elements but these must be part of a non-digital innovation. Entrants must show flair and imagination and explain the reasons behind the initiative and its effect.

News Podcast of the Year
This award recognises excellence in creating a regular news podcast covering news, politics or current affairs. The judges will be looking for excellence in innovation, presentation, content, knowledge and interpretation of the subject, as well as an understanding and ability to truly reach the target audience. Evidence of audience reach will be required, but size of audience will not be a deciding factor.

Lifestyle Podcast of the Year

This award recognises excellence in creating a regular podcast covering lifestyle topics such as entertainment, sport, fashion or leisure. The judges will be looking for excellence in innovation, presentation, content, knowledge and interpretation of the subject, as well as an understanding and ability to truly reach the target audience. Evidence of audience reach will be required, but size of audience will not be a deciding factor.

 Supplement of the Year

Any supplement that is not a “magazine” but is published weekly, monthly or at other regular intervals throughout the year as part of a newspaper. Entries will be judged on outstanding content, design, use of photography and readability.

Special Supplement of the Year

Any supplement that marks a special occasion or event, produced as a one-off in the year. Entries will be judged on outstanding content, design, use of photography and readability.

Magazine of the Year

A “magazine” published as an addition to an edition of a newspaper, weekly, monthly or at other regular intervals throughout the year. Entries will be judged on outstanding content, design, use of photography and readability.

Magazine of the Year: Popular Life

A “magazine” which looks at the lighter side of life exploring topics such as fashion, lifestyle and entertainment. Published as an addition to an edition of a popular newspaper, weekly, monthly or at other regular intervals throughout the year. Entries will be judged on outstanding content, design, use of photography and readability.

Front Page of the Year
Judges will be looking for the outstanding and most memorable front page published in print during the year.

Campaign of the Year

This award is open to all titles, writers or teams of journalists. The category celebrates campaigns that captured the nation’s attention and achieved tangible results.

The Cudlipp Award – supported by the British Journalism Review

The award, in partnership with the British Journalism Review, commemorates the journalism of the great editor and editorial director Hugh Cudlipp and now recognises excellence in popular journalism. It is open to all editors, writers or teams of journalists. This award is judged by a separate BJR panel of distinguished journalists who reserve the right to include nominations of their own. The entry process for the Cudlipp Award is the same as for the general categories.

News Website of the Year
This award will be decided by a distinguished panel of The Press Awards independent judges and carries no entry fee. The judges will look at the overall strength of a news website, either associated with a newspaper or stand-alone digital. The judges will take into account innovation, depth of coverage, and content presentation.

 Chairman’s Award

In the gift of the Chairman of the Judges – an award that recognises a story, a feature, a body of work, a journalist or a team that has broken the mould. This award cannot be entered.

Daily Newspaper of the Year

The paper that has made the most impact and provided consistent high quality, ground-breaking coverage throughout the year. Judges will take into account not just front page splashes and investigations, but also coverage of sports, features, lifestyle and innovation: the whole package.

Sunday Newspaper of the Year

The Sunday paper that has made the most impact and provided consistent high quality, ground-breaking coverage throughout the year. Judges will take into account not just front page splashes and investigations, but also coverage of sports, features, lifestyle and innovation: the whole package.

Changes to submissions for News Website and Newspaper of the Year categories this year:

News Website of the Year supporting statements can be up to 1,500 words. Judges will be interested in details of innovation, campaigns, data and analysis of site’s successes as well as investigations and break-through content. If you wish to provide the judges with access to your subscribed site for the period until Spring 2021 (if applicable) please supply login access details in the supporting statement.  

For Daily Newspaper of the Year and Sunday Newspaper of the Year an overall package should be submitted to give a full breadth of the newspaper’s year instead of the hard copy submission.

This can include up to 2,000 words of supporting statement with statistics and analytics to include an overview of the last year and up to six PDFs of important news stories/ features. Judges will be interested in details of innovation, as well as campaigns, investigations and break-through content.

If you wish to provide the judges with online access to papers (if applicable) please supply login access in the supporting statement. No hard copies need to be submitted this year.