The shortlist has today been announced for the Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards 2026.
Setting the benchmark for a celebration of UK public interest and campaigning journalism, the awards recognise excellence across all sectors of the UK news industry and will culminate with a high-profile ceremony at the Underglobe in London on the evening of Wednesday 11 November 2026.
The awards will be presented by ITV News Presenter Lucrezia Millarini with sponsorship by Allwyn, VodafoneThree, Octopus Energy and Qwoted. Qwoted is a free network connecting journalists with verified experts, sources, and case studies.
Announcing the shortlist, Dawn Alford, Chief Executive of the Society of Editors and co-chair of the judges said: “Today’s shortlist is a powerful reminder of the vital role that journalism plays in a free and democratic society. The journalists and news organisations recognised have demonstrated courage, determination and a commitment to reporting in the public interest, often in challenging and difficult circumstances.
“At a time when press freedom is under increasing pressure, it is more important than ever that we champion the right of journalists to investigate, question and hold power to account. We must also ensure that journalists can do their jobs safely, both in the UK and around the world, without facing intimidation, harassment or threats simply for reporting the truth.
“We are delighted to celebrate this outstanding group of nominees and the contribution they make to a healthy, informed democracy. We look forward to welcoming the shortlisted journalists, editors and news leaders to the Media Freedom Awards ceremony on 11 November, when we will come together to recognise their achievements and celebrate the importance of a free press.”
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.
Booking for the Media Freedom Awards ceremony is now open with an early-bird rate available for tables booked before 12 October 2026. For full details or to enquire about sponsorship opportunities please email office@societyofeditors.org.
Media Freedom Awards 2026 shortlist
Investigation of the Year – National
BBC’s Trump bias exposed in memo leak, The Daily Telegraph
Crispin Odey and the £79mn libel battle that wasn’t, Financial Times
Epstein File Revelations, The Mail on Sunday
Nigel Farage was given undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire in 2024, The Guardian
Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision, The Guardian
Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal, The Sunday Times
Investigation of the Year – Regional
Broken Homes, MyLondon
Belfast Protests, Belfast Telegraph
Cost of Covid Oxygen Generators, Belfast Telegraph
Kirklevington Detention Centre, The Northern Echo
‘My Dad’s death could have been avoided’, Leicester Mercury
The billionaire landlord making Londoners homeless, London Centric
Investigation of the Year – Broadcast – National
999 Undercover – NHS in Crisis, Channel 4 Dispatches
Exposed: Inside Britain’s Cosmetic Wild West, 5 News
Groomed: The Truth Behind the Lie, Sky Television and Sandpaper Films
Iran School Bombing: The Search for Truth, Sky News/Full Story Films
Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss, BBC Panorama and The Times
Undercover in the Police, BBC Panorama
Investigation of the Year – Broadcast – Regional
Care Home Undercover, BBC Disclosure
Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead, BBC Sounds
Nursery Scandals: What Went Wrong? BBC News, Longform Investigations Unit
Protests in East Belfast, Belfast Telegraph, Bel Tel Podcast
Swingers, BBC Wales
The Botox Black Market, BBC London
Campaign of the Year – National
An affront to justice, The Sunday Times
Domestic abuse suicide laws, The Guardian
Free the 15, Daily Express
Killer Kitchens, The i Paper
Save Lives for Sam, Daily Mirror
SMA heel prick campaign, Daily Mirror
Campaign of the Year – Regional
Dual the A1 and Save Lives, ChronicleLive and The Journal
Free bus pass for homeless kids, Manchester Evening News
London’s Dodgy Shops, London Centric
Save Our Harbour, Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald
TEWV campaign, The Northern Echo
Trapped by RAAC, The Press and Journal / Evening Express
Commentator of the Year – Broadsheet
Camilla Long, The Sunday Times
Duncan Robinson, The Economist
Frances Ryan, The Guardian
Fraser Nelson, The Times
Marina Hyde, The Guardian
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, The i Paper
Commentator of the Year – Popular
Colin Robertson, The Sun
David Patrikarakos, Daily Mail
James McCarthy, BelfastLive
Jane Atkinson, The Sun
Katie Martin and Robert Armstrong, Financial Times
Journalist of the Year – National
Anna Isaac, The Guardian
Emily Dugan, The Sunday Times
Gabriel Pogrund, The Sunday Times
Gordon Rayner, The Telegraph
Martyn Ziegler, The Times
Robert Mendick, The Telegraph
Journalist of the Year – Regional
Alex O’Leary, The Northern Echo
Catriona MacPhee, BBC Scotland
Jane Haynes, BirminghamLive
Jim Waterson, London Centric
Joshua Hartley, Nottingham Post
Michael Crossland, The Yorkshire Post
Phil Coleman, Newsquest Cumbria
Journalist of the Year – Broadcast
Dominic Waghorn, Sky News
Ed Thomas, BBC News
Stuart Ramsay, Sky News
Yogita Limaye, BBC News
Young Journalist of the Year – National
Akhtar Makoii, The Daily Telegraph
Holly Bancroft, The Independent
Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic
Katie Tarrant, The Sunday Times
Piriyanga Thirunimalan, Daily Mail
Rachel Hagan, Freelance
Zoe Tidman, Health Service Journal
Young Journalist of the Year – Regional
Abdullah Sabri, Belfast Telegraph
Alex O’Leary, The Northern Echo
Brad Harper, KentOnline
Claudia Savage, PA Media
Millie Bowles, KentOnline
Oliver Pridmore, Nottingham Post
Polly Smythe, London Centric
Political Journalist of the Year
Gabriel Pogrund, The Sunday Times
Laura Kuenssberg, BBC News
Lucy Fisher, Financial Times
Pippa Crerar, The Guardian
Steven Swinford, The Times
Tony Diver, The Telegraph
Foreign Correspondent of the Year
Anthony Loyd, The Times
Bel Trew, The Independent
Chris Miller, Financial Times
Christina Lamb, The Sunday Times
Jon Snow, Channel 4
Sarah Newey, The Daily Telegraph
Photojournalist of the Year
Dimitris Legakis, Athena Picture Agency
Enas Tantesh, The Guardian
Gareth Fuller, PA Media
Jack Hill, The Times and The Sunday Times
Polly Braden, The Guardian
Simon Townsley, The Telegraph
Social Media Journalist of the Year
Clemmie Moodie, The Sun
David Blair, The Telegraph
Kevin Scott, Belfast Telegraph
Mimi Yates, Daily Mail
Simon Murphy, The Mirror
Tom Pettifor, The Mirror
Yalda Hakim, Sky News
Scoop of the Year
Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, The Times
Ian Huntley Murdered, The Sun
Nigel Farage was given undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire in 2024, The Guardian
Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal, The Sunday Times
PC Harper’s killers set for early release, The Telegraph
Walliams ‘harassed female staff’, The Telegraph
National News Media Organisation of the Year
Daily Mail
PA Media
The Guardian
The Sun
The Telegraph
The Times and The Sunday Times
Regional News Media Organisation of the Year
Belfast Telegraph
Liverpool Echo
Manchester Evening News
Nottingham Post
Southern Daily Echo
The Northern Echo
