The Belfast Telegraph has been named UK Regional News Media Organisation of the Year at a prestigious awards event in London.
The Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards honours journalists and newsrooms across the UK. Winners were praised for their “outstanding achievements” in defending “the public’s right to know”.
Over the last year the Belfast Telegraph has been active in standing up to restrictions put on media freedom in Northern Ireland.
This includes leading the campaign to overturn legislation passed by the Assembly, uncovering crucial files deliberately hidden away, appealing decisions taken by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and challenging reporting restrictions on court cases.
“The top priority for us was overturning Section 12 of the Justice (Sexual Offences And Trafficking Victims) (NI) Act 2022,” says Eoin Brannigan, editor-in-chief of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, which won the award in 2023.
“This had a direct impact on journalists’ ability to do their jobs. The effect was best exemplified by fact that publishing a statement saying that ‘Jimmy Savile was a paedophile’ criminalised us.
“We weren’t the only media outlet to challenge this ludicrous law, but our campaign led by Sam McBride’s tenacious work was instrumental in its success.”
Accepting the award alongside Mr McBride and Mediahuis Ireland’s Director of Publishing Edward McCann, Mr Brannigan paid tribute to in-house lawyers Fergus Foody and Tom Turner. He also thanked Fergal McGoldrick at Carson McDowell who coordinated the successful Judicial Review.
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The Belfast Telegraph was also recognised for its campaign on the issue, which was Highly Commended in the category.
Mr McBride was also shortlisted for the Regional Journalist of the Year and for Investigation of the Year, while his Uncovered newsletter received a nomination in the Innovation category.
Kirsten Elder from the Belfast Telegraph was the only regional nomination in the photojournalism category, which was won by The Telegraph’s Simon Townsley.
Winners were praised for their “outstanding achievements” in defending “the public’s right to know”.
The event, held at the Globe Theatre in London on Tuesday evening and attended by media minister Stephanie Peacock, brought together more than 300 journalists and news leaders from all sectors to reward “excellence in campaigning and investigative journalism”.
PA Media, the UK and Ireland’s national news and sport agency, was crowned National News Media Organisation of the Year, with outgoing editor-in-chief Pete Clifton receiving the Bob Satchwell Award “in recognition of his service to the industry and defence of open justice”.
Announcing the winners, Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society of Editors, said: “Now in their third year, the Media Freedom Awards recognise and celebrate the dedication and accomplishments of journalists and newsrooms across all sectors of the UK media industry.
“From those who operate in dangerous and life-threatening war zones to those who stand up against bureaucracy and fight for the public’s right to know, we are honoured to recognise their outstanding achievements this evening.”
Other winners included The Sun, which was awarded the Investigation of the Year National prize for its investigation into BBC News presenter Huw Edwards, with reporter Scarlet Howes named the Journalist of the Year National.
BBC News Scotland’s Sam Poling was rewarded for her pursuit of justice following the death of Emma Caldwell, securing the Journalist of the Year Broadcast accolade, as well as the Investigation of the Year in the broadcast regional category.
The Sunday Times’ multi-media campaign Bloody Disgrace was awarded the Campaign of the Year National after their work helped secure a £10 billion-plus compensation package for those whose lives were impacted by the infected blood scandal.
The Express & Star’s successful campaign to ban zombie knives took home the award in the regional category.
Other regional winners included WalesOnline for its scrutiny of donations made to former first minister Vaughan Gething, with Belfast Live’s Jilly Beattie named Journalist of the Year Regional for coverage of the arrest of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.
Broadcast winners included BBC News for its investigation into migrant deaths, while ITV News London’s Kaf Okpattah was awarded the Young Journalist of the Year Regional prize for his work highlighting failings across NHS London’s maternity services as well as security failings in Wandsworth Prison.
Channel 4 News was named the Broadcast News Organisation of the Year.
The Judges’ Special Award went to the Big Issue in recognition of its work helping millions of people affected by poverty in the UK for more than 30 years and its services to journalism.
A Special Recognition Award was posthumously awarded to veteran foreign correspondent Kim Sengupta who died earlier this year.