The Belfast Telegraph has received six nominations at the prestigious Media Freedom Awards.
The awards, organised by the UK-wide Society of Editors, celebrate public interest journalism and the role of journalists in promoting media freedom, championing the public’s right to know and holding power to account.
Among those shortlisted for the Belfast Telegraph at this year’s ceremony are Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride, who has been nominated for Regional Journalist of the Year. His subscriber-only weekly newsletter, Uncovered with Sam McBride, has been nominated for the Innovation Award.
Kirsten Elder has been shortlisted for Photojournalist of the Year, and The Belfast Telegraph as a whole is up for Regional News Media Organisation of the Year.
Tanya Fowles, a contributor to the Belfast Telegraph, has also received a nod for Regional Journalist of the Year.
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The Belfast Telegraph is also shortlisted in the Regional Campaign of the Year category, for its NI Sexual Offences Anonymity campaign, in which a legal challenge by publishers Mediahuis successfully overturned a new law in Northern Ireland on sex offence suspects’ anonymity.
The campaign is also nominated for Investigation of the Year – Regional.
In May, a High Court judge ruled that the law granting anonymity to sex offence suspects, which came into force last September, is incompatible with press rights to freedom of expression.
The challenge was led by the Belfast Telegraph and challenged legislation that prohibits the naming of alleged perpetrators before they have been charged or until 25 years after their death.
Eoin Brannigan, editor-in-chief of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, said: “I’m delighted with the six nominations for the Belfast Telegraph.
“Freedom of the press was at the heart of our successful campaign to strike out the law granting anonymity to suspects of sexual offences.
“Sam McBride’s nomination is fully merited for his work on this, but I’m also thrilled that we have been recognised for innovation and Kirsten Elder’s photojournalism. Best of luck to all those nominated, and particularly those from Northern Ireland.”
News Catch Up – Tuesday 24th September