Record number of entries for British Journalism Awards as TSB becomes headline sponsor

This year’s British Journalism Awards have attracted a record number of entries representing every major UK news publisher and broadcaster.

There have been more than 250 submissions for the 14 award categories – with investigation and foreign affairs journalist of the year among the most hotly-contested prizes.

The British Journalism Awards were launched by Press Gazette three years ago and are open to all journalists wherever they work. This year there are entries from every national newspaper publisher and broadcaster as well as many magazines, local newspapers, specialist and online-only publishers.

This week the bank TSB agreed to support the British Journalism Awards as headline sponsor.

The awards criteria state that for work to be shortlisted it must be interesting to the public and in the public interest. It is for the British Journalism Awards judges to decide how to apply the public interest test.

Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford said: “From looking at the entries it is clear that there has been no shortage of high quality, probing investigative journalism that has made a difference over the last year.

"The British Journalism Awards celebrate and promote the role of real journalism in holding those in power to account and making a positive contribution to society.

"Press Gazette is grateful to all the journalists who have made the event possible by entering their brilliant journalism for consideration and to the sponsors for supporting it."

TSB head of media relations Charlotte Sjoberg said: "It has never been more important to support and celebrate great journalism that serves the public interest, that’s why TSB is proud to support this year’s British Journalism Awards."

The judges already have already begun their deliberations before two jury-style judging days at the end of the month.

The finalists of the British Journalism Awards 2014 in association with TSB will be announced at 9am on Tuesday, 4 November, and the winners will be revealed at Stationers’ Hall on the evening of 2 December.

New additions to the judging panel this year are: broadcast journalists Frances Harrison, John Sweeney and Robin Lustig, former investigative journalist for the BBC Kurt Barling, managing editor of the Methodist Record Moira Sleight, NCTJ chairman Kim Fletcher, former Birmingham Mail editor Steve Dyson and Professor Jane Singer of City University in London.

The British Journalism Awards 2014 in association with TSB is also sponsored by the Hippodrome Casino, Astellas, Tata Consultancy Services and Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy. The event is supported by The Stationers’ Company which donates the use of its hall for the evening.

Full list of categories:

Business Journalist of the Year – sponsored by TATA Consultancy Services. For the journalist who has done the most to probe and investigate the world of business

Sports Journalist of the Year – sponsored by the Hippodrome Casino. Aimed at the sports journalist who done the most to investigate the world of sport and serve the public interest
Science and Technology Journalist of the Year – sponsored byAstellas. Aimed at journalists who cover science, health and technology with a focus on those involved in investigative features and news
New Journalist of the Year (for someone who has been a journalist for three years or less). This award is for a relative newcomer to the industry (who may have worked in other jobs before) sponsored by Stationers' Crown Woods Academy
Digital Innovation. For the journalist, or team, who has done the most to help secure the future of public interest journalism with a digital innovation. It could be a successful app, website or blog. Or for a piece of software or hardware. A successful paywall, or other, commercial strategy could also be considered
Foreign Affairs Journalist of the Year. For the journalist working for a UK audience whose reports from overseas have done the most to serve the public interest
Campaign of the Year. For the series of articles or broadcasts which as done the most make a difference for the better in society and serve the public interest
Investigation of the Year. For the most incisive and revelatory public interest investigation of the year
Photojournalist of the Year. For photographer whose work has done the most to serve the public interest
The Breaking News Award. This is the prize for the best scoop of the year
Local Heroes Award. For the journalist or team who has done the most to serve the public interest at a local level or regional level
Politics Journalist of the Year. This award is aimed at the journalist who has done the most to hold politicians to account, with an emphasis on revelation and investigation (rather than purely commentary)

Journalist of the Year – sponsored by TSB. For the outstanding journalist of the year. This may, or may not, go to someone who has entered another category
The Marie Colvin award. For the journalist who over the course of their career has done the most to raise the reputation of the trade of journalism. In previous years this prize has gone to foreign correspondents but it is open to all journalists working mainly for a British audience.

The 2014 British Journalism Awards in association with TSB are sponsored by: