Newspaper of the Year, sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London
The i
As it approached its tenth anniversary, the i continued to grow in stature and authority. Competition for the paper of the year was so fierce that at the judges request four titles were shortlisted, but come the denouement it was the outsider, The i. that received the accolade. Thereabouts but never there at the top over the years, it was admired for concise writing across the daily paper wide spectrum and inspirational editing from the youngest national daily paper’s editor, Oliver Duff. And the Saturday edition, a comprehensive package offering a first-rate guide to the weekend, unanimously earned praise from the jury.
Runners up: Daily Express, FT, The Times
Sunday Newspaper of the Year, sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London
The Sunday Times
While respectful of all the titles battling for a shrinking market, the judges observed that for quality across many fronts only two of them deserved to be shortlisted this year, Vigorous debate followed in deciding which deserved to win the prize, but eventually The Sunday Times edged out its main rival to collect an award to which it is no stranger. Investment in resources once again showed that the Times’ package out-muscled all opposition: excellent columnists, a fine sports section, plus superb arts coverage and long-established magazine that has never lost its glitter saw it triumph once more.
Runner up: The Mail on Sunday
Business Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Cision
Peter Smith and Owen Walker Financial Times
The in-depth investigation into Woodford Investment Management was work of the highest quality leading to the fall of its top stock picker Neil Woodford and his lieutenant Craig Newman. With the invaluable assistance of fine research work by Anna Goss and Archie Hall, the FT team produced forensic probing that was, said the judges, an extraordinary piece of quality journalism.
Runners up: Ruth Sunderland, Daily Mail; Jim Armitage, Evening Standard
Broadcast Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Associated British Ports
Andrew Neil, BBC
Andrew Neil conducted such a good interview with Boris Johnson during the Tory leadership contest that the man who became our Prime Minister didn’t fancy coming back for more during the General Election campaign. Neil conducted excellent interviews with those who did turn up at election time, re-emphasising his stature as a heavyweight political journalist determined to penetrate all kinds of spin to uncover to the truth.
Runners up: Emily Maitlis, BBC; Victoria Derbyshire, BBC
Print Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Cision
Anthony Loyd, The Times
A distinguished war correspondent for The Times in Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and Iraq, Loyd in 2019 found ISIL British bride Shamima Begum in the Al-Hawl camp in Northern Syria. He tape-recorded an interview with the 19-year-old mother who had left Britain when a schoolgirl in which she stated she had no regrets about moving to Islamic State-controlled territory .A stunning exclusive, said the judges.
Runners up: Stephen Wright, Daily Mail; Claire Newell, Daily Telegraph
Digital Journalist of the Year, sponsored by The Madison Square Garden Company
Matt Chorley, Red Box, The Times
Matt Chorley’s morning political email newsletter and podcast for The Times brilliantly combines comprehensive reporting, lampooning the great and not-so-good, and lacerating humour so successfully that it has spawned a touring stand-up comedy show, This is Not Normal, and become a must-read and audio treat for even its most-bruised victims. Wonderful, innovative journalism, agreed the judges.
Runners up: Paul Staines, Guido Fawkes; Emma Youle, The Huffington Post UK
Scoop of the Year
Sir Philip Green Exposé, Daily Telegraph
Retail tycoon Sir Philip Green tried in vain to prevent legally the Telegraph from publishing its exclusive revealing racial and sexual abuse of his staff and how some of them had been paid hundreds of thousands of pounds in exchange for signing non-disclosure agreements after complaining about his inappropriate behaviour. Despite dropping his legal claim against the paper he threatened to sue former staff who had signed NDAs if they spoke out against him. An earthquake of an exclusive..
Runners up: Operation Yellowhammer, Sunday Times; Prince Andrew interview, Newsnight team, BBCMarina Hyde. The Guardian
Edgar Wallace Award for Writing or Reporting of the Highest Quality
Marina Hyde, The Guardian
The diversity of the winner’s work was emphasised when early this year the Sports Journalists’ Association presented her with two awards including Sports Journalist for the Year, making her the first woman to receive it in its 43-year history. She also received the SJA’s Sports Columnist of the Year, but her work as a columnist for The Guardian had proved to readers over many years that her opinions – always beautifully written – were required reading. Ten out of ten for industry as well as quality, the judges agreed in selecting her to join the illustrious previous winners of this highly-prized accolade.
Thank you to our Award Sponsors
