British Journalism Awards finalists revealed: Links to all the work
Proof that investigative journalism in the UK is in good health and does an enormous amount of good
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Friday, 25 October, 2024.
It has been quite a week at PG towers dominated by judging for the British Journalism Awards.
This is the event we started in 2011 to show that there is more to journalism than the sleazy phone-hacking and other illegal newsgathering methods which were highlighted by the Leveson Inquiry.
Thirteen years on the British Journalism Awards, and investigative journalism in the UK, have come a long way.
This week 80 independent judges debated 750 entries representing every major news organisation in the UK to come up with the final shortlists (winners will be announced at the London dinner on 12 December).
The thing which makes the British Journalism Awards different is the focus on serving the public interest.
In our published shortlist we take a bit of care to ensure we include links to all the shortlisted work so it is well worth your time browsing through it.
If you ever feel a bit blue about the frothiness of much online journalism, there's plenty of in-depth journalism to enjoy here which has the qualities the British Journalism Awards judges look for in spades, namely: revelation, rigour and positive impact.
I have to be careful about singling out any particular entries, but given the fact the UK’s largest commercial news publisher Reach has been the subject of much criticism in recent weeks about story counts and page-view targets I'd like to highlight some of their shortlisted work as a balance to that.
Shortlisted entries from Reach include:
a Daily Mirror investigation into the collapse of NHS dentistry,
Tom Bryant's interview with the victim at the centre of the Huw Edwards scandal
Simon Murphy's investigations into the post office scandal
The Mirror’s video investigation into the Jill Dando murder
And the Express campaign on assisting dying which looks likely to result in a change in the law.
This amazing work underlines the fact that the hard-working Reach reporters writing lots of popular news stories for online are helping to support important investigative journalism. And the debate over story counts should not overshadow the positive news that Reach announced a major expansion this week with the recruitment of 60 journalists.
It’s worth remembering also that the Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, televised last night on ITV, is a fantastic example of how a newsbrand can perfectly marry profit and purpose (P&O has just been signed up as the event’s new lead sponsor).
I am sure we will return to the churnalism debate. I know Martin Lewis, who is the subject of hundreds of online news stories every day, has strong views on it.
But for now let’s salute the British Journalism Awards finalists and be glad that we are part of an industry which does so much good in the world.
British Journalism Awards 2024: Full list of this year’s finalists
“The 2024 British Journalism Awards shortlists celebrate the stories which would not be told without journalists willing to shine a light on uncomfortable truths and publications brave enough to back them up.”
News in brief
Perplexity will launch its advertising programme this month, chief executive Aravind Srinivas has said. The company plans to share ad revenue with partner publishers. He added that Perplexity had been "surprised" to receive a lawsuit from News Corp earlier this week "because we actually wanted a conversation" with the business. (The Wall Street Journal)
The editorials editor of The Los Angeles Times has resigned after proprietor Patrick Soon-Shiong reportedly blocked the paper's editorial board from issuing an endorsement in the US presidential election. In a tweet, Soon-Shiong said he asked the editorial board “to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH candidate” but it “chose to remain silent” instead. (Columbia Journalism Review)
"I told them so many times I am not Paul Weller”: Mail Online has tracked down the man who prompted a (now deleted) story in Wolverhampton's Express and Star claiming the former Jam frontman had attended a local curry house. (Mail Online)
Congratulations to the 86 journalists who have passed the gruelling senior journalist exams run by the NCTJ , particularly award winners: Tom Hardwick (media law), Daniel Hordon (practical journalism) and Hayley Clarke (logbook). (NCTJ)
Martin Lewis is the subject of hundreds of news stories every day and is not happy about it. The MoneySavingExpert founder said it is “clickbait for search optimisation, stealing my rep”. (Lewis on Twitter)
P&O Cruises are replacing TSB as the new lead sponsor for the Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards which were televised last night on ITV. The event has been celebrating the UK's unsung heroes for 25 years. (Mirror)
Online magazine The Lead has moved its local newsletters covering communities in the North onto Substack as it launches its first Yorkshire title, The Calderdale Lead. Investigative journalist Leigh Jones has also joined as editor of The Teesside Lead. Senior Lead editor Ed Walker told Press Gazette the titles had seen "an encouraging uptake of the subscription offering from our subscriber base across the portfolio and the network effect of Substack with readers moving between the titles via recommendations". (The Lead)
This week on Press Gazette:
Farrah Storr: Why less can be more when selling online content
Reach race to publish more stories does not put audience (or reporters) first
RAJARs Q3 2024: GB News Radio weekly reach overtakes Talkradio
Bloomberg launches Weekend product after adding 200,000 new subs in four months
Reach expands central editorial team with hire of 60 journalists
Tortoise is ‘ideal owner’ for Observer says former editor Roger Alton
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