The Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards are now open for entries with all categories in the new awards free to enter in its inaugural year.
The awards, launched to celebrate the crucial role that UK journalists play in promoting media freedom, championing the public’s right to know and holding power to account on the worldwide platform, will see those that have gone above and beyond honoured at a high-profile awards ceremony later this year on 9 November 2022 in London.
The easy-to-enter awards include 18 categories that will recognise achievements across broadcast, national, regional and online media platforms and will culminate with coveted awards celebrating the News Media Organisation of the Year, Freedom of Information Award, Investigation of the Year and Campaign of the Year.
Announcing the opening of entries, Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors said: “The Society’s new Media Freedom Awards will set the benchmark for a celebration of UK public interest journalism and the excellent reporters that champion media freedom at a time when the importance of holding power to account has never been more acute.
“All categories are free to enter and the awards are open to all UK-based journalists, news media organisations and platforms working in print, online, broadcast, mobile, audio, or any other news delivery format.”
The awards will also pay tribute to the Society of Editors founding director Bob Satchwell, widely recognised as a great champion of press freedom, who died last year. The Bob Satchwell Award for Freedom of Speech, which cannot be entered, will honour an exceptional organisation or individual who continuously champions the public’s right to know.
Martin Breen, President of the Society of Editors said: “Freedom of the press remains the cornerstone of any democratic society and the Media Freedom Awards will highlight the vitally important role that journalists across the UK fulfil.”
“From young campaigners and producers to foreign reporting and podcasts, the free awards will recognise the breadth of talent across the industry and diversity of platforms that continue to produce the excellent journalism that keeps audiences informed and holds power to account. Early entries are encouraged.”
Entries for the awards are open until 27 July 2022 with a shortlist to be announced in September. Details of how to book for the ceremony in November will be announced in due course.
A guidance document and full list of categories can be found here. To enter the awards visit here.
For more information on the awards or to enquire about sponsorship opportunities please email office@societyofeditors.org.
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