The shortlist has today been announced for the Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards 2024.
The awards set the benchmark for a celebration of UK public interest and campaigning journalism and shine a light on the crucial role that the UK news media industry plays in promoting media freedom, championing the public’s right to know and holding power to account.
Sponsored by Allwyn and Vodafone, the awards recognise excellence across 23 categories and will bring together more than 250 journalists from all sectors of the UK news industry for a high-profile reception, dinner and ceremony at the iconic Underglobe in London on the evening of Tuesday 12 November 2024.
The ceremony will be presented by renowned ITV News Journalist and Presenter Lucrezia Millarini.
Announcing the shortlist, Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors and co-chair of the judges said: “Once again we have been astounded by the exceptional standard of entries for this year’s Media Freedom Awards and the tenacity, intelligence and bravery of our colleagues across broadcast, national, regional and online platforms.
“We are delighted that ITV News’ Lucrezia Millarini will, once again, helm our evening of celebrations and we are grateful to our partners for their support and recognition of the vital role the UK news industry plays.
“We look forward to welcoming those shortlisted, alongside their colleagues, on 12 November.”
Other awards presented on the evening will include the Bob Satchwell Award in memory of the Society’s founding director who was considered a great champion of press freedom before his death in 2021, as well as a special Judges’ Award. The winner of the Georgina Henry Award, organised by Women in Journalism, in memory of The Guardian’s late deputy editor, will also be presented at the event.
Booking is now open for the ceremony with an early-bird rate available for tables booked before 10 October 2024. For full details or to enquire about sponsorship opportunities please email office@societyofeditors.org. The shortlist appears below.
Media Freedom Awards 2024 shortlist
Investigation of the Year – National
HMP Bedford, The Times
Huw Edwards charged with indecent images, The Sun
Russell Brand, The Times and The Sunday Times, Hardcash Productions and Dispatches
The IDF Unit responsible for demolishing homes across Gaza, Bellingcat
Tory MP demanded campaign cash to pay ‘bad people’, The Times
Westminster Honey Trap Scandal, POLITICO
Investigation of the Year – Regional
Jeffrey Donaldson investigation, Belfast Live, Mirror Northern Ireland
Liverpool: Austerity City, Liverpool Echo and Reach Data Unit
Loretto boarding school investigation, The Herald and Herald on Sunday
NI sexual offences anonymity law, Belfast Telegraph
School governor at Simon Langton Boy’s Grammar in Canterbury resigns, Kent Online
Vaughan Gething donations, WalesOnline
Investigation of the Year – Broadcast – National
Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua, BBC World Service/openDemocracy
Inside Reform UK’s election campaign, Channel 4 News
Migrant Deaths, BBC News
Post Office Scandal, Channel 4 News
Russell Brand: In Plain Sight, Hardcash Productions, The Times and The Sunday Times and Dispatches
Spotlight on SEND, ITV News Regions and Nations
Investigation of the Year – Broadcast – Regional
Catching a Killer: The Murder of Emma Caldwell, BBC Scotland News
Culture Crisis in West Midlands Police, Channel 4 News Leeds
The New Drug Threat, BBC England (Regional)
Wandsworth Prison: Behind Bars, Channel 4 News Leeds
West Midlands Pension Fund Failures, ITV News Central
Why girls in gangs are on the rise, ITV News Anglia
Commentator of the Year – Broadsheet
Aditya Chakrabortty, The Guardian
Camilla Long, The Sunday Times
Frances Ryan, The Guardian
Matthew Syed, The Sunday Times
Sonia Sodha, The Observer
Suzanne Moore, The Telegraph
William Hague, The Times
Commentator of the Year – Popular
Alan Rusbridger, The Independent
Darren Lewis, Daily Mirror
Ian Birrell, i News
Jon Sopel, The Independent
Sarah Baxter, Evening Standard
Sarah Vine, Daily Mail
Podcast of the Year
Hot Money: The New Narcos, Financial Times
The Slow Newscast, Tortoise Media
The Trial, Daily Mail
Ukraine: The Latest, The Telegraph
Unreliable Witness, Sky News
Who Killed Emma? BBC News Scotland
Campaign of the Year – National
Bloody disgrace, The Sunday Times
Carer’s allowance scandal, The Guardian
Clean It Up, The Times
Dentists for All, The Mirror
Justice for Our Daughters, Daily Mirror
The Better Bones campaign, Sunday Express
UK’s deepfake porn crisis, Channel 4 News
Campaign of the Year – Regional
Ban Zombie Knives, Express & Star
Cavity Wall Insulation campaign, Burnley Express
Grenfell, ITV News London
Hillsborough Law, Liverpool Echo
Keep Hitachi on Track, The Northern Echo
NI Sexual Offences Anonymity campaign, Belfast Telegraph
The 21, Newsquest London
Journalist of the Year – Broadcast
Alex Crawford, Sky News
Laura Kuenssberg, BBC
Paul Brand, ITV News
Rohit Kachroo, ITV News
Sam Poling, BBC Scotland News
Secunder Kermani, Channel 4 News
Journalist of the Year – National
Inderdeep Bains, Daily Mail
Paul Morgan-Bentley, The Times
Robert Mendick, The Telegraph
Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace, The Sunday Times
Scarlet Howes, The Sun
Tristan Kirk, Evening Standard
Journalist of the Year – Regional
Jilly Beattie, Belfast Live
Liam Thorp, Liverpool Echo
Neil Mackay, The Herald and Herald on Sunday
Sam McBride, Belfast Telegraph
Tanya Fowles, Belfast Telegraph and The Irish News
Will Hayward, Wales Online
Young Journalist of the Year National
Isaan Khan, Daily Mail
Jack Elsom, The Sun
Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic
Marianna Spring, BBC News
Sabrina Miller, Daily Mail/The Mail on Sunday
Sophie Huskisson, The Mirror
Young Journalist of the Year Regional
Debbie Luxon, Cambrian News
Georgina Hayes, BBC Scotland News
Kaf Okpattah, ITV News London
Lucy John, WalesOnline
Max Chesson, KentOnline
Victoria Johnston, The Impartial Reporter
Foreign Correspondent of the Year
Bel Trew, The Independent
Christina Lamb, The Sunday Times
Louise Callaghan, The Sunday Times
Quentin Sommerville, BBC News
Rohit Kachroo, ITV News
Stuart Ramsay, Sky News
Political Journalist of the Year
Billy Kenber, The Times
Beth Rigby, Sky News
Caroline Wheeler, The Sunday Times
Pippa Crerar, The Guardian
Steven Swinford, The Times
Will Hayward, WalesOnline
Photojournalist of the Year
Dimitris Legakis, Athena Picture Agency
Facundo Arrizabalaga, MyLondon
Jack Hill, The Times
Kirsten Elder, Belfast Telegraph
Richard Pohle, The Times
Simon Townsley, The Telegraph
Innovation Award
Al Shifa, Sky News
Cocaine Inc, The Times, The Sunday Times and News Corp Australia
FT Visual Storytelling, Financial Times
Liverpool: Austerity City, Liverpool Echo and Reach Data Unit
Uncovered with Sam McBride, Belfast Telegraph
Zac Bretter, The Sunday Times
National News Media Organisation of the Year
Daily Mail
Financial Times
PA Media
The Guardian
The Sun
Times Media
Regional News Media Organisation of the Year
Belfast Telegraph
ChronicleLive and The Newcastle Chronicle
Express & Star
Jersey Evening Post
Liverpool Echo
The Impartial Reporter
Broadcast News Media Organisation of the Year
5 News
Channel 4 News
ITV News
Sky News
