Excellence in campaigning and investigative journalism has been honoured at the 2026 Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards.
Held at the Underglobe in London on Wednesday 11 November, the evening saw The Times and The Sunday Times awarded the National News Organisation of the Year while Sky News took home the Broadcast News Organisation of the Year and the Manchester Evening News was named the Regional News Organisation of the Year.
Presented by ITV News’ Lucrezia Milliarini and sponsored by Allwyn, operator of the National Lottery; VodafoneThree; Octopus Energy and Qwoted, the evening also saw The Times take home the Scoop of the Year for its exclusive on Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup while The Sunday Times’ Camilla Long won Columnist of the Year and Emily Dugan won National Journalist of the Year.
Other big winners of the evening included former Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow who was awarded the Judges’ Special Award for his outstanding contribution to journalism while the Media Lawyers Association was presented with the Bob Satchwell Award in recognition of its tireless work on behalf of the public’s right to know.
The evening also saw The Guardian win Investigation of the Year National for uncovering the Foreign Office’s decision to overrule Peter Mandelson’s failed vetting while BBC’s Panorama was awarded the Broadcast investigation of the Year award for its Undercover in the Police programme. London Centric was also named the Regional Investigation of the Year for its work exposing how a billionaire landlord was making Londoners homeless.
The event also saw The i Newspaper awarded the Campaign of the Year National for its Killer Kitchens exposé of the deadly lung disease silicosis which forced new safety regulations to be introduced by the Government. The Regional Campaign of the Year went to the Northern Echo for its long-running campaign resulting in a public inquiry into the scandal-hit Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust.
Announcing the winners, Dawn Alford, Chief Executive of the Society of Editors and chair of the judges said: “Congratulations to all the winners of the 2026 Media Freedom Awards. These awards celebrate the outstanding journalism, courage and commitment of those who work tirelessly to uncover the truth, hold power to account and give a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard.
“At a time when press freedom worldwide faces significant challenges, recognising journalistic excellence has never been more important. The work honoured by these awards demonstrates the vital role journalism plays in a healthy democracy, shining a light on issues of public importance and defending the public’s right to know.
“On behalf of the Society of Editors, I congratulate all our winners and finalists. Their achievements are a powerful reminder that independent, rigorous and responsible journalism remains essential to an informed society, and that we must continue to champion and defend the freedom to report in the public interest.”
A full list of winners appears below and high-resolution photographs and video from the event will be available here in due course.
Media Freedom Awards 2026 winners
Investigation of the Year – National
Winner: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision, The Guardian
Highly commended: Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal, The Sunday Times
Investigation of the Year – Regional
Winner: The billionaire landlord making Londoners Homeless, London Centric
Highly commended: Belfast Protests, The Belfast Telegraph
Investigation of the Year – Broadcast – National
Winner: Undercover in the Police, BBC Panorama
Highly commended: 999 Undercover – NHS in Crisis, Channel 4 Dispatches
Investigation of the Year – Broadcast – Regional
Winner: Care Home Undercover, BBC Disclosure
Highly commended: Protests in East Belfast, The Belfast Telegraph, Bel Tel Podcast
Campaign of the Year – National
Winner: Killer Kitchens, The i Paper
Highly commended: SMA heel prick campaign, Daily Mirror
Campaign of the Year – Regional
Winner: TEWV campaign, The Northern Echo
Highly commended: Save Our Harbour, Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald
Commentator of the Year – Broadsheet
Winner: Camilla Long, The Sunday Times
Highly commended: Marina Hyde, The Guardian
Commentator of the Year – Popular
Winner: Colin Robertson, The Sun
Highly commended: James McCarthy, BelfastLive
Journalist of the Year – National
Winner: Emily Dugan, The Sunday Times
Highly commended: Anna Isaac, The Guardian
Journalist of the Year – Regional
Winner: Jane Haynes, BirminghamLive
Highly commended: Alex O’Leary, The Northern Echo
Journalist of the Year – Broadcast
Winner: Yogita Limaye, BBC News
Highly commended: Dominic Waghorn, Sky News
Young Journalist of the Year – National
Winner: Holly Bancroft, The Independent
Highly commended: Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic
Young Journalist of the Year – Regional
Winner: Alex O’Leary, The Northern Echo
Highly commended: Millie Bowles, KentOnline
Political Journalist of the Year
Winner: Lucy Fisher, Financial Times
Highly commended: Pippa Crerar, The Guardian
Foreign Correspondent of the Year
Winner: Bel Trew, The Independent
Highly commended: Christina Lamb, The Sunday Times
Photojournalist of the Year
Winner: Simon Townsley, The Telegraph
Highly commended: Jack Hill, The Times and The Sunday Times
Social Media Journalist of the Year
Winner: Mimi Yates, Daily Mail
Highly commended: Yalda Hakim, Sky News
Scoop of the Year
Winner: Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, The Times
Highly commended: Ian Huntley Murdered, The Sun
National News Media Organisation of the Year
Winner: The Times and The Sunday Times
Highly commended: The Telegraph
Regional News Media Organisation of the Year
Winner: Manchester Evening News
Highly commended: Nottingham Post
Broadcast News Media Organisation of the Year
Winner: Sky News
Highly commended: GB News
Judges Special Award: Jon Snow
Bob Satchwell Award: Media Lawyers Association
