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December 8, 2021updated 06 Dec 2022 9:41am

British Journalism Awards winners, pics and video 2021: ITV’s Robert Moore is journalist of the year and Guardian best news provider

By Charlotte Tobitt

Robert Moore has been named the British Journalism Awards 2021 Journalist of the Year for his reporting from inside the US Capitol for ITV News.

The Guardian was named News Provider of the Year, breaking the FT’s streak of taking the top prize three times in a row.

Former ITV News editor Geoff Hill, who died in September four years after being diagnosed with leukaemia, was recognised with the second annual Public Service Award.

The Guardian took the most awards in total (four), with Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne scooping the arts and entertainment prize for their investigation into allegations against actor Noel Clarke, Stephanie Kirchgaessner winning the technology category, and Marina Hyde taking the comment category for the third year running.

Scroll down for the full list of 2021 winners and highly commended entries

The FT’s political team won the politics and investigation categories for their work on David Cameron’s relationship with Greensill while Gabriel Pogrund and John Collingridge at The Sunday Times took the anti-corruption category for their work on the scandal.

The Daily Mail’s Betrayal of the Brave campaign highlighting the plight of former translators for British forces was praised, with the judges saying it had exposed injustice, provided a voice to victims and held the government to account.

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And The Sun won Scoop of the Year for its agenda-setting revelation of Matt Hancock’s Covid-19 office affair that led to his downfall as Health Secretary.

Afghan women’s media organisation Rukhshana Media was recognised with the Marie Colvin Award for the way they banded together to provide different perspectives of male-dominated Afghanistan in the face of death threats and intimidation.

Sky’s Alex Crawford and Mark Kleinman, TikTok-savvy journalist Sophia Smith Galer, and the BBC’s Emma Barnett were among the other big winners of the night.

Press Gazette’s tenth British Journalism Awards returned to an in-person ceremony at the London Hilton Bankside after going online last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Visitors to the event were required to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test in order to gain entry.

British Journalism Awards 2021:

The 29 prize winners were chosen by 70 independent judges who considered 840 submissions from every major UK news organisation with three criteria in mind: revelation, journalistic rigour and public interest.

Press Gazette editor-in-chief Dominic Ponsford said the awards show “probing public interest journalism is in fine health”.

“Despite the tragic times we’ve lived through I feel we all have a lot to celebrate as we approach the end of 2021,” Ponsford said.

“Crooked public figures of all types sleep a little less easily in their beds thanks to the efforts of you all. It has been a year where government corruption, incompetence and hypocrisy has rarely been out of the headlines as journalists have battled obfuscation and cover-up to tell Britain what is really going on at the top.”

Awards presenter Jeremy Vine said: “What an amazing night. You suddenly realise everyone was here and despite covid, journalism has carried on and it’s better than ever and it’s more important than ever, and more exciting than ever as a career and I’m proud to be in it.”

Sky’s Alex Crawford took the inaugural Woman of the Year prize, selected by a special judging session organised by Women in Journalism looking at all of the awards finalists.

The judges praised the “persistence, bravery and vividness” of Crawford’s reports, adding: “From uncovering a war crime in one of the most remote parts of Yemen, to braving active frontlines in Afghanistan to meet the Taliban and showing the world the reality of the forest fires in Turkey, her work has been inspirational.”

The awards were supported by headline sponsor Starling Bank as well as Audi, Camelot, Creative Diversity Network, Gilead, Glide Publishing Platform, Google News Initiative, Iconic Images, Infosys, Newsworks, OVO Energy and Pertemps.

Awards partners were Women in Journalism and The Journalists’ Charity.

Watch the British Journalism Awards 2021 Highlights Video:

 

British Journalism Awards 2021 winners

Arts and Entertainment Journalism

WINNERS: Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne – The Guardian

The judges said: “This winner was a brave investigation which gave a voice to dozens of whistle-blowers and had a huge impact.”

British Journalism Awards 2021:Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne from The Guardian with Jeremy Vine and awards judge Suchandrika Chakrabarti
British Journalism Awards 2021:Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne from The Guardian with Jeremy Vine and awards judge Suchandrika Chakrabarti
Business, Finance and Economics Journalism – sponsored by Starling Bank

WINNER: Mark Kleinman – Sky News

The judges said: “This entry comprised three of the biggest stories of the year. For one journalist to break all of them was just awesome.”

Colleague picking up British Journalism Award on behalf of Mark Kleinman of Sky News pictured with Anne Boden, CEO of Starling Bank
Colleague picking up British Journalism Award on behalf of Mark Kleinman of Sky News pictured with Anne Boden, CEO of Starling Bank
Politics Journalism

WINNER: Jim Pickard, Cynthia O’Murchu, Robert Smith and Arash Massoudi – Financial Times

The judges said the FT’s investigation into David Cameron and Greensill was “one of those stories people will look back on in terms of its impact and exposing how corrupt our politics can be”.

“It was impressive to see the level of collaboration between politics, data and business teams for an-depth investigation which also involved overturning an FoI request refusal.”

FT team picking up British Journalism Award for politics journalism
FT team picking up British Journalism Award for politics journalism

Highly commended: Tom Burgis and George Parker – Financial Times

Innovation of the Year – sponsored by Google News Initiative

WINNER: Sophia Smith Galer – BBC/Vice World News

The judges said her work on TikTok was “consistently engaging and witty whilst always rigorously fact-based and fresh. Their range, reach and impact have been thoroughly impressive”.

British Journalism Award winner Sophie Smith Galer pictured with Jeremy Vine and Matt Cooke of sponsor Google
British Journalism Award winner Sophie Smith Galer pictured with Jeremy Vine and Matt Cooke of sponsor Google
Comment Journalism

WINNER: Marina Hyde – The Guardian

The judges said: “At a time when people are terrified of being thought offensive, Marina Hyde skewers her targets with a fluent savagery.”

British Journalism Award winner Marina Hyde with Jeremy Vine and awards judge Richard Caseby
British Journalism Award winner Marina Hyde with Jeremy Vine and awards judge Richard Caseby

Highly commended: Tom McTague – The Atlantic

The judges said McTague’s work was “painstaking, revealing, elegant and accessible”.

Photojournalism – sponsored by Iconic Images

WINNER: Hannah McKay – Reuters

Police detain Patsy Stevenson as people gather and protest at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand, following the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, in London, Britain March 13, 2021. Picture: Reuters/Hannah McKay

The judges said: “The winning image captured an iconic moment and will form an essential part of the historic record of British life in 2021.”

British Journalism Awards winner Hannah McKay of Reuters pictured with Jeremy Vine and Robin Morgan of sponsor Iconic Images
British Journalism Awards winner Hannah McKay of Reuters pictured with Jeremy Vine and Robin Morgan of sponsor Iconic Images
New Journalist of the Year

WINNER: Nimo Omer – Tortoise

The judges said the winning entry was a great example of compelling and empathetic story telling.

British Journalism Awards 2021 winner Nimo Omer pictured with Jeremy vine and awards judge Julian Sturdy
British Journalism Awards 2021 winner Nimo Omer pictured with Jeremy vine and awards judge Julian Sturdy
Features Journalism

WINNER: Cara McGoogan, Sarah Peters and Theodora Louloudis – The Telegraph

The judges said the winning work “was explosive. Their sure-footed and sensitive reporting of this shameful episode was first class”.

Telegraph team pictured at British Journalism Awards with Jeremy Vine and John Mair
Telegraph team pictured at British Journalism Awards with Jeremy Vine and John Mair

Highly commended: Adam Wishart and Neil Grant BBC/Apple TV+

Local Journalism – sponsored by Pertemps

WINNER: Ria Chatterjee – ITV News London

The judges said Chatterjee is a “ferocious interviewer who provides in-depth coverage of important issues”.

British Journalism Award winner Ria Chatterjee pictured with Ollie Egbeyemi, Managing Director, Vox Network Consultants, part of the Pertemps Network Group
British Journalism Award winner Ria Chatterjee pictured with Ollie Egbeyemi, Managing Director, Vox Network Consultants, part of the Pertemps Network Group

Highly commended: Matty Edwards – Bristol Cable

The judges said these were “well written, well sourced reports that helped get results”.

Health and Life Sciences Journalism – sponsored by Gilead

WINNER: Dave West – Health Service Journal

The judges said West submitted “three excellent stories which shed new light on issues of national importance and were told with great technical expertise”.

Health Service Journal colleague Lawrence Dunhill picks up the Health and Life Sciences Award for Dave West from Jeremy Vine and Alex Moore, Senior Director, Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences at the British Journalism Awards 2021

Highly commended: James Tapper – The Observer

Highly commended: Nikki Fox and Matt Precey – BBC Look East

Sports Journalism

WINNER: Al Jazeera Investigations

The judges said: “This was amazing video journalism which revealed the sinister people behind the buying and selling of English football clubs. The sting was brilliant, shocking and ground-breaking.”

Al Jazeera Investigations team pick up the Sports Journalism prize at the British Journalism Awards 2021 from PA apprenticeship training manager Roz MacKenzie and Jeremy Vine

Highly commended: Jeremy Wilson – The Telegraph

Highly commended: Molly McElwee – The Telegraph

Highly commended: Sam Wallace – The Telegraph

The judges praised a “very strong performance” from The Telegraph sports team across their three separate entries.

Interviewer of the Year

WINNER: Emma Barnett- BBC Radio 4

The judges said Barnett’s “rigorous research and attention to detail is evident in every interview as she tirelessly gets answers to the questions that matter for her audience”.

Emma Barnett picks up the Interviewer of the Year prize at the British Journalism Awards 2021 from Jeremy Vine and freelance journalist Rob McGibbon

Highly commended: Stephen Wright – Daily Mail

The judges particularly praised Wright’s “devastating” interview with Lady Brittan, the widow of Leon Brittan.

Foreign Affairs Journalism

WINNER: Robert Moore, Sophie Alexander and Mark Davey – ITV News

The judges said the ITV News journalists “provided a realtime, eye-witness account of one of the most disturbing days in modern democracy. This was TV reportage at its finest, raw, revealing and honest”.

ITV News’s Robert Moore and Rachel Corp pick up the Foreign Affairs Journalism award from former Sunday Times foreign editor Sean Ryan and Jeremy Vine at the British Journalism Awards 2021
Technology Journalism – sponsored by Infosys

WINNER: Stephanie Kirchgaessner – The Guardian

The judges said: “This was a thorough investigation. Well researched and presented with clarity.”

A Guardian colleague picks up the Technology Journalism prize for Stephanie Kirchgaessner at the British Journalism Awards 2021 from Jeremy Vine and Mohit Joshi president of sponsor Infosys

WINNER: Liam Vaughan, Kit Chellel and Ben Bain – Bloomberg News

The judges said: “From Kuwait and Iraq to West Horndon, this entry exposed a colourful trail of skulduggery involving mid-boggling sums of money in a story that was expertly told.”

Liam Vaughan and Kit Chellel of Bloomberg News pick up the Crime and Legal Affairs Journalism prize at the British Journalism Awards 2021 from Jeremy Vine and investigative journalist and academic Paul Lashmar

Highly commended: Sophie-May Clarke – The Lancashire Telegraph

The judges said: “It was an amazing effort for a regional title to put time and resources into such an important news story.”

Specialist Journalism

WINNER: Paul Thacker – The BMJ

The judges said: “This was expertly researched and written journalism on a subject of huge national importance.”

Jeremy Vine and awards judge Janet Kersnar, executive editor of the Business of Fashion, present the Specialist Journalism award at the British Journalism Awards 2021 to a colleague of Paul Thacker at the BMJ
Social Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion Journalism Award

WINNER: David DeHaney, Rochelle Humes and Lyttanya Shannon Channel 4 Dispatches

The judges said the winning entry “exposed the shocking scandal of structural inequality in a UK national institution. Absolutely brilliant”.

A Channel 4 Dispatches team picks up the Social Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion Journalism Award from Jeremy Vine and a representative from sponsor Audi at the British Journalism Awards 2021

Highly commended: Athar Ahmad and Georgia Catt – BBC

Energy and Environment Journalism – sponsored by OVO Energy

WINNER: John Ingham – Daily Express

The judges praised the Daily Express for “changing its editorial stance in recent years to become a leading voice campaigning for the environment and securing positive change”. Ingham in particular was praised for rigorous and incisive journalism.

John Ingham of the Daily Express picks up the Energy and Environment Journalism at the British Journalism Awards 2021 from Jeremy Vine and OVO Energy

Highly commended: Inzamam Rashid and Mickey Carroll – Sky News

Highly commended: Kevin Crowley and Akshat Rathi – Bloomberg

Scoop of the Year

WINNER: The Sun – Hancock’s affair with aide

Official Secrets Act reform

The judges said: What’s not to like about a scoop that still sends shudders down the spine months later. One can never unsee this. The ‘we’re all in this together’ argument destroyed once and for all. And how.”

Sun’s Alex Goss, Harry Cole and Ben O’Driscoll pick up the Scoop of the Year prize from Jeremy Vine and Society of Editors executive director Dawn Alford at the British Journalism Awards 2021
Sun team celebrating their Scoop of the Year win at the British Journalism Awards 2021
Anti-Corruption Journalism

WINNER: Gabriel Pogrund and John Collingridge The Sunday Times

The judges said: “This was a compelling story which exposed a murky world of corruption and influence peddling.”

Awards judge Kurt Barling and Jeremy Vine present the Anti-Corruption Journalism award to • Gabriel Pogrund and John Collingridge of The Sunday Times
Investigation of the Year

WINNER: Greensill Capital –  Financial Times

The judges said: “This was an extraordinary team investigation exposing corruption at the highest levels of politics and business.”

Financial Times team of Jim Pickard, Robert Smith, Cynthia O’Murchú and Arash Massoudi pick up the Investigation of the Year award at the British Journalism Awards 2021 from Jeremy Vine and judge Heather Brooke

Highly commended: Queen’s Consent – Guardian News and Media

The judges said this was an “incisive investigation which exposed allegations of corruption at the very top of the British establishment”.

Campaign of the Year – sponsored by Newsworks

WINNER: Betrayal of the Brave – Daily Mail

The judges said: “This was a great campaign about one of the stories of the year. It did what journalism should do which is expose injustice, provide a voice to victims and hold the government to account.”

Daily Mail journalists pick up the Campaign of the Year award for Betrayal of the Brave at the British Journalism Awards
News Provider of the Year

WINNER: Guardian News and Media

The judges said: “The Guardian has marked its 200th anniversary in style this year. Its Pegasus Project investigation exposed governments using technology to spy on journalists, politicians and campaigners. Its Noel Clarke investigation gave a voice to ignored victims and secured lasting change to the TV industry.

“The Guardian’s podcasts and innovative digital story telling have reached record audiences. And it has all been underpinned by a pioneering business model which has made it the biggest member-funded newsroom in the world.”

Guardian deputy editor Owen Gibson picks up News Provider of the Year at the British Journalism Awards from Jeremy Vine and Glide publishing platform
Barbara Blake-Hannah Award

WINNER: Aniefiok Ekpoudom

Barbara Blake-Hannah said: “He says he doesn’t centre stories on the sole themes of racism but he likes to probe deeper to bring stories that are celebrations of joy, community, loss, music and more that have flowered in numerous under-developed corners of the UK. He likes examining various shades of black life. We like that.”

Aniefiok Ekpoudom collects the Barbara Blake Hannah Award at the British Journalism Awards 2021 from Jeremy Vine
Public Service Journalism – supported by the Journalists’ Charity

WINNER: Geoff Hill – ITV News

Geoff Hill ITV award
Geoff Hill. Picture: ITV News

The judges said: “Inspiration is the word which crops up again and again when colleagues spoke about former editor of ITV News Geoff Hill and his infectious passion for journalism.

“When Geoff stepped down from ITV in 2020 due to illness he said: ‘Please remember this: what we do – what you do – is a tremendous honour, and a privilege. You have a tremendous responsibility and with it enormous opportunity, one you must embrace each and every day’. They are words we would all do well to remember.

“The British Journalism Awards is proud to posthumously recognise Geoff Hill for its outstanding contribution to public interest journalism and the legacy he left with those who worked with him and remember him.”

Read more about Geoff here.

A Journalists’ Charity representative and Jeremy Vine with ITV News London editor Hannah Emerson-Thomas as the Public Service Journalism award was given posthumously to Geoff Hill at the British Journalism Awards 2021
Marie Colvin Award

WINNER: Rukhshana Media

The judges said: “Marie would have been thrilled by Rukhshana – by the novelty of women banding together to provide different perspectives of male-dominated Afghanistan in the face of death threats and intimidation; by their tremendous courage in continuing to report as the Taliban took over despite the obvious risks highlighted by the 22-year-old journalist on the run; and by the new ground they’ve broken in the Women Report Afghanistan series, touching on the uncertainties facing divorcees, single mothers and female police officers.”

Zahra Joya, founder of Rukhshana Media, collects the Marie Colvin Award at the British Journalism Awards 2021
Journalist of the Year – sponsored by Camelot

WINNER: Robert Moore – ITV News

The judges said: “Journalism is often a case of being in the right place at the right time. But if you work hard enough and long enough some journalists find themselves in the right place more than others.

“This year’s journalist of the year achieved astounding access to produce impeccable journalism – measured, balanced, calm, courageous and informed. The writing of their pieces is beautiful too, sparse, elegant and to the point.”

British Journalism Awards journalist of the year Robert Moore of ITV pictured with Jeremy Vine and Dominic Ponsford
British Journalism Awards journalist of the year Robert Moore of ITV pictured with Jeremy Vine and Dominic Ponsford
Georgina Henry Prize – in association with Women in Journalism

WINNER: Rachel Charlton Dailey – The Unwritten

The judges said the £4,000 prize was going to an “important publication at an important time and that this award would make a huge difference to what they’re able to do next”.

Rachel Charlton Dailey wins the Women in Journalism Georgina Henry Prize for The Unwritten, presented by editor of the Daily Mirror Allison Philips and Adelaide Lopez from sponsor Wiggin alongside Dominic Ponsford

Highly commended: Chandni Sembhi – So You Want To Be A Journalist

The judges said: “This was a project that hones in on social media outlets where young people are and has achieved a lot in a short space of time, with high production values.”

Woman of the Year – in association with Women in Journalism

WINNER: Alex Crawford – Sky News

The judges praised the “persistence, bravery and vividness ” of Crawford’s reports, adding: “From uncovering a war crime in one of the most remote parts of Yemen, to braving active frontlines in Afghanistan to meet the Taliban and showing the world the reality of the forest fires in Turkey, her work has been inspirational.”

Sky News colleagues of Alex Crawford collect the Women in Journalism Woman of the Year prize at the British Journalism Awards, pictured with Genelle from Women in Journalism, Cheryl Douglas of Cision and Dominic Ponsford

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