Journalists are the unsung key workers of the coronavirus pandemic.
Without their efforts dangerous fake news would continue circulating unchallenged on social media and shortages putting the lives of health workers at risk would go unchallenged.
The response has been phenomenal and resulted in a long list of more than 600 selections featuring the best exclusives, innovations, commentary, data journalism and innovations of the crisis so far.
It has never been more important to highlight the crucial work done by the news industry as large parts of it face an uncertain future.
From next week we plan to start showcasing the best of the extraordinary work done by journalists during the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and around the world. This will provide a reminder to readers, governments and advertisers about what we stand to lose if the news industry is not supported.
The work entered includes regional and national press, broadcasters, digital publishers and specialist media.
I’d like to thank the following independent journalism experts for kindly volunteering to help review the hundreds of entries and select the best work based on: revelation, journalistic skill and rigour, innovation and serving the public interest.
Journalism Matters: Excellence in Reporting Coronavirus expert panel
- Former BBC output editor – Dr Karen Fowler-Watt of Bournemouth University
- Mark Wray – managing director of Press Association Training
- Editor and author Becky Slack
- Former night editor of The Times – Liz Gerard
- Professor of journalism innovation at City University – Jane Singer
- Apprenticeship training manager at Press Association – Roz McKenzie
- Former associate editor of The Independent – Michael Crozier
- Former group editorial services director at Incisive Media – David Worsfold
- Professor Stephen Jukes of Bournemouth University – formerly global head of news at Reuters
- Brian Flynn – formerly investigations editor at The Sun
- Former editorial director of The Sunday Times – Eleanor Mills
- John Mair – academic and editor of 27 books about the modern media
Press Gazette will be running a second round of entries to the Journalism Matters survey to highlight work published after the cut-off date or which was missed out first time around. Work can be entered via this link.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
