The British Journalism Awards 2020 are now open for entries, with this year’s event to be held virtually for the first time.
After a flurry of late entries, and several requests for deadline extensions, the organisers have extended the deadline for entries by one week to 7 October. This deadline will be final.
Now in their ninth year, the awards are unique in welcoming entries from across the news media – print, digital and broadcast – while putting journalism that serves the public interest at their heart.
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Last year the British Journalism Awards attracted more than 500 entries from every major UK news provider.
This year the awards will be handed out at a virtual event, rather than the celebration dinner of recent years.
The event will take place as planned on 9 December, when the winners will be announced.
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The British Journalism Awards recognise work published to a UK audience in any news medium. Work must have been published or broadcast between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 to be eligible.
The deadline for entries is 30 September 2020.
The shortlist for each of the 25 categories will be announced on 14 November.
A new category have been created for Anti-Corruption Journalism.
In other changes for 2020, Press Gazette is recruiting new judges to ensure the panel more fairly and accurately represents the diversity of the UK.
Chairman of judges and Press Gazette editor-in-chief Dominic Ponsford said: “The pandemic has been one of the greatest challenges ever thrown at the British journalism industry.
“News outlets have scrambled to cover the biggest story of our lives whilst also addressing the harsh economic challenges posed by coronavirus.
“The 2020 British Journalism Awards will be a special event, hopefully closing the chapter on a tough period – but also celebrating the best of the amazing journalism which has come out of it.
“As ever, the judging process will be utterly impartial and independent and will look for journalism which shows skill and rigour, is revelatory and which makes a difference for the better in society.”
- Visit the British Journalism Awards website for more information and with any sponsorship or event queries.
- Go straight to the awards entry portal to start your entry
British Journalism Awards 2020: Full list of categories with entry criteria
Anti-corruption Journalism sponsored by Global Witness
Arguably journalism’s greatest role in society is helping to keep our institutions honest by highlighting corruption in local and national government, public authorities and business. This new category is aimed at any journalism which fulfills this purpose.
Arts & Entertainment
For the journalist (or team) who has done the most to probe and investigate the worlds of showbiz, the arts and entertainment.
Barbara Blake Hannah Award
This award is for the journalist from a BAME background who has most impressed the judges this year. It is only for journalists who do not have a news organisation able to pay their entry fee who have entered under this year’s free entry scheme.
Business, Finance and Economics
For the journalist (or team) who has done the most to probe and investigate the world of business.
Campaign of the year
For the series of articles, broadcasts or digital project which has done the most to make a difference in society and serve the public interest. You cannot enter the same work in the Campaign and Investigation categories.
Comment Journalism
This category recognises the best comment journalist of the year. The judges are looking for the most incisive comment which has brought new ideas and thinking to bear when discussing a matter of public interest.
Crime and legal affairs
This category is for the best journalism covering crime, courts and the law.
Features journalism
This award is for the best features journalist of the year. It rewards excellent journalism on a matter of public interest which could be descriptive or of a human interest nature and shows evidence of fine writing. This category is not intended for investigations or comment.
Foreign Affairs
For the journalist (or team) working for a UK audience, whose reports from overseas have done the most to serve the public interest.
Health and life sciences
This category is for journalists who cover health and life sciences industries. The judges are looking for work which shows journalistic skill and rigour, is revelatory and which serves the public interest.
Innovation -sponsored by the Google News Initiative
This category is for the best journalism innovation of the year. The judges are looking for a project which brings new information to light on a matter of public interest either directly or indirectly by creating a new stream of revenue. Innovative digital storytelling can be submitted in this category but it is also open to print and broadcast work.
Suitable entries could include:
- A new editorial product or method of storytelling which has found a new audience
- An innovative way of investigating a story
- A paywall or other commercial strategy which helps to pay for journalism.
Interviewer
For the journalist who has done the most to bring new information to light through interviews. The judges are looking for work which shows journalistic skill and rigour, is revelatory and which serves the public interest.
Investigation
This award is for the most incisive and revelatory public interest investigation of the year. The judges will be looking for work which is compelling and which brings significant new information to light on a matter of public interest. You cannot enter the same work in the Campaign and Investigation categories.
Journalist of the year – sponsored by Camelot
This award is for the journalist who, more than any other, deserves recognition for their outstanding individual performance over the year.
Local Journalism
This category is for the best journalism at a local and regional level. It is open to local newspapers, websites and broadcast outlets. Those working for news outlets aimed at a national audience cannot enter this category.
Marie Colvin
This category was launched in memory of the late Sunday Times foreign correspondent Marie Colvin who was killed reporting on the plight of people in the besieged Syrian city of Homs in 2012. It is free to enter and anyone can make a nomination. The judges are looking for an outstanding, up and coming journalist of Marie’s calibre.
New Journalist of the Year
This award is for a relative newcomer to the industry (who may have worked in other jobs before) and has been a journalist for fewer than 36 months. The judges will be looking for work which is compelling and which brings significant new information to light on a matter of public interest.
News Provider of the Year
For the news organisation which has done the most to provide journalism that is both interesting to the public and in the public interest. This category is open to newspapers, magazines, websites and broadcast outlets. News channels, news agencies and particular broadcast journalism strands are all eligible. The award will recognise a news provider that has excelled in terms of serving the public interest and bringing new information to light. The judges are looking for a news provider which stands out because of the quality of its investigative journalism and ability to break news on matters of public interest.
Photojournalism
For the photographer whose work has done the most to serve the public interest.
Politics Journalism
This category is for the best politics journalism published in any format aimed at a mainly UK audience.
Science Journalism
This award is for journalists who cover science and the environment.
Scoop of the Year
This is the prize for the best story of the year (news providers can enter only one story for this award).
Specialist Journalism
This category is aimed at specialist and trade publications. Specialist journalists working in other media can enter if they are not covered by one of the other categories.
Sports Journalism
This is for the sports journalist who has done the most to investigate the world of sport and serve the public interest.
Technology Journalism sponsored by Huawei
For the journalist who has done the most over the course of the year to investigate the world of technology.
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