Good comment and opinion journalism can illuminate hidden issues, helping the public understand what is going on and what conclusions they should take from daily news cycle.
The final instalment in our Journalism Matters: Excellence in Reporting Coronavirus series highlights those who have produced outstanding comment and opinion pieces during the pandemic so far.
Press Gazette launched the project to showcase some of the crucial work being done by journalists during one of the most challenging times ever for our industry, and received 600 nominations across eight categories.
The survey asked for nominations from all sections of the media, not just in the UK, but around the world, across eight categories:
If you would like to nominate a story that we have missed, or which has been published after the cut-off date for round one of this project on 16 April, please click here to do so (we plan to do a second round of judging).
Coronavirus Journalism Excellence: Comment and opinion
Online
The Coronavirus Is a Disaster for Feminism – The Atlantic, 19 March
In Queen’s calm voice, a memory of war – Reuters, 8 April
Sir Harold Evans
Reuters editor-at-large and former Times editor Evans wrote a highly personal op-ed about Covid-19 and the Queen’s role in comforting the UK during this unprecedented time. Press Gazette’s judges praised its “great historical sweep”.
Broadcast
Ruth Burke remembered by her daughter Brenda Doherty – 5 News, 31 March
Vincent McAviney
With limited scripting, 5 News allowed the daughter of an 82-year-old woman who died of Covid-19 to speak about her mother’s final moments in a very powerful extended interview.
Brenda Doherty used the platform to end with an important final message: “Stay at home and stay safe, don’t be selfish.”
Theo Usherwood’s powerful coronavirus message from hospital: Please stay at home – LBC, 23 March
Will the Wuhan virus become a pandemic? – The Economist, 30 January
Edward Carr
The Economist’s cover in Europe on 1 February focused on the UK leaving the EU – but elsewhere around the world it was already focusing on the new worrying new virus coming out of Wuhan.
Its leader column was an early example of editors urging authorities to start acting as quickly as possible as they warned it looked set to become a global public health concern.
The Economist magazine cover 1 February 2020
National press
The elderly in care homes are being abandoned like lambs to the slaughter – Daily Mail, 13 April
Judges liked how useful and practical this daily column is, directly answering readers’ questions since the start of the lockdown in March in a clear example of public service journalism.
Daily Mirror coronavirus spread on 1 April – with Dr Miriam Stoppard’s column on the far right
Figures from European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde to US economist Janet Yellen have provided unrivalled insight into how central banks and other financial bodies are planning to respond to the crisis.
A letter to the UK from Italy: this is what we know about your future – Guardian, 27 March
Francesca Melandri
This emotive letter from an Italian author writing three weeks into Italy’s lockdown made many readers elsewhere in the world finally start to realise what was in store in the coming weeks and months.
It also acted as a forerunner to other columns such as Nesrine Malik’s reminder that many of the UK’s deaths were preventable if we had learned lessons from other countries before it was too late.
It is not only coronavirus that risks infecting society – our prejudices do, too – Guardian, 9 April
Frances Ryan
This piece highlights the chilling eugenics of medical care, an important issue during the current crisis, providing rare insight into how disabled people are being affected not seen elsewhere.
Ryan’s weekly Guardian column was nominated numerous times for highlighting hidden issues and asking hard questions.
Disabled and their carers living in fear – the i, 15 March
Ian Birrell
Press Gazette’s judges described this column as “important and well done”, feeding into the debate of how society’s most vulnerable should be protected as the pandemic continues.
My partner’s mother died of coronavirus – she was so much more than a statistic – the i, 30 March
Simon Kelner
This moving piece looks at one family’s loss but acts as a reminder that every statistic released by the Government relates to a real life – and also that many need to find new ways to mourn.
The frenzy and the folly: Reflections on the Cheltenham Festival and the coronavirus outbreak – the i, 10 April
Jon Freeman
The i’s racing editor wrote a revealing first-person piece styled as diary entries showing how attitudes changed throughout the Cheltenham Festival – which many argue should not have gone ahead – ending with his own illness.
Crowds on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire
What I’ve learned fighting COVID-19’s dark force… And why I feel for Boris – The Sun, 9 April
What are you waiting for, Chief Minister? – Jersey Evening Post, 25 March
Andy Sibcy
This front-page op-ed reflected widespread public concern that political leaders in Jersey were not responding effectively and decisively to the pandemic.
Specialist media
A new architecture for society – Fire magazine, 26 March
Andrew Lynch
Fire Magazine created a white paper as an editorial calling for a five-step reset, asking emergency service leaders to consider taking forward these points for life after Covid-19.
How coronavirus has stolen my grief – Jewish News, 3 April
