A few weeks ago we announced our shortlist for the Freelance Journalism Awards 2024. Our lovely judges have been busy making hard decisions and we will be announcing the winners next week. Ahead of that we thought we would do a bit more of a deep dive into what those on the final list submitted.
Best Broadcast Journalist
This award is sponsored by Women in Journalism and is for a freelance journalist working in radio, podcasting, TV or online broadcasting.
Our shortlist includes Bhavani Vadde (@BhavaniVadde), a broadcast reporter and presenter with extensive experience in news and current affairs at the BBC, 5 News, ITV, ITN and the World in 10 podcast. Also Tasnim Nazeer (@TasnimNazeer1) who is a freelance reporter, radio and TV presenter who has recently covered stories for ITN, and TRT World as well as presenting faith based journalist content for BBC Radio 2.
Best Print Journalist
Sponsored by National Union of Journalists Freelance Branch, this is for a freelance journalist working in newspapers, magazines, journals or websites creating written content.
Making the shortlist this year was Liz Cookman (@liz_cookman), a freelance foreign correspondent covering the war in Ukraine for a wide variety of publications. Liz Perkins (@lizperkinsmedia) submitted articles on sexual assault in sport, protections for those going through the family courts and a father campaigning after his daughter died by suicide.
Nicola Kelly (@NicolaKelly) sent in a series of scoops where she held the Home Office to account including on international rights of migrants travelling in dinghies and abuse within asylum hotels. Andrew Kersley (@AndrewKersley) made the shortlist for his work on ambulance delays, internal police investigations and political lobbying by landlords.
Luke Jarmyn (@Luke_in_Cumbria) entered work covering a specialist sports story as well as a local campaign over fatalities on a dangerous road.
Best Specialist Journalist
Another one sponsored by the National Union of Journalists Freelance Branch, this time for a freelance journalist working in a particular specialism in print, broadcast or online.
Liz Cookman (@liz_cookman) was also recognised in this category for her work covering trauma of those living through the war in Ukraine. Hannah Summers (@hansummers) made the shortlist for her work with The Bureau of Investigative Journalism on how the family courts handle allegations of domestic abuse.
Travel writer Rashmi Narayan (@Rashmi_Narayan9) was chosen for her journalism that looks beyond what a tourist would usually see. And court reporter Charlie Moloney (@charliemoloney) submitted pieces on ethical thinking in the post office scandal and an extradition hearing for Julian Assange.
Health journalist Rosie Taylor (@taylor_rosie) was selected for pieces she submitted on birth trauma, menopause supplements and discrimination. Another health journalist David Cox (@DrDavidACox) was included for his work on therapeutic effect of hallucinogens, pre-eclampsia and mental health apps.
Rachael Healy (@ohrhealy) covers the arts with a particular focus on comedy whose work included an article on sexual misconduct. Environmental journalist Anna Turns (@AnnaTurns) put forward some solutions focused pieces including on a project to aid migration of birds after an outbreak of bird flu in the Gambia.
Best News Story
Our sponsor for this one is Birmingham City University and it’s for the best print, online or broadcast news story produced by a freelance journalist.
Most of this shortlist we have already mentioned so let us tell you about the story that got them sent through to the judging panel in this category.
Liz Perkins (@lizperkinsmedia) uncovered a story of sexual assault at the Welsh Rugby Union that had not been mentioned in a recent report into sexism and misogyny at the organisation. Charlie Moloney (@charliemoloney) reported on a nurse who died at home after a private ambulance contracted by the NHS delivered poor care.
Hannah Fearn (@hannahfearn) submitted her piece on skyrocketing rates of self harm among young women in prison. And Luke Jarmyn (@Luke_in_Cumbria) wrote about how a heartbroken family was campaigning for road safety changes in Scotland.
Andrew Kersley (@AndrewKersley) shone some light on new government proposals to exempt asylum seeker accomodation from certain housing safety laws. And in her piece, Nicola Kelly (@NicolaKelly) revealed that a secret unit known as Home Office International Operations was funding border guards overseas to prevent migrants reaching the UK.
Best Feature
Big category this. Sponsored by National Union of Journalists Freelance Branch this is for the best print, online or broadcast feature produced by a freelance journalist.
Always our most popular category, this is the one where we inevitably send our judges the most to choose from. Here’s what they were working with this year.
Chloe Hamilton (@chloehamilton) wrote about the Wacky world of paying for a designer baby name. Nicola Kelly (@NicolaKelly) uncovered what it is like to work as a delivery driver for fast food apps. Through Katie Dancey-Downs (@Katie_Dancey) we get to meet the Anti-Fracking Nanas.
Take a trip with Bella Falk (@PassportAndPix) to learn how bees became a former poacher’s saving grace in Kenya. Sian Boyle (@sian_boyle) did a well-researched deep dive into ‘The sudden rise of AuDHD’. And Noah Anthony Enahoro (@NoahAEnahoro) interviewed the man who started Black History Month to uncover a little known story.
Donna Ferguson (@DonnaLFerguson) wrote this piece on A Chelsea garden for our darkest days when she was going through a difficult time herself. Alia Waheed (@AliaWaheed) learned about the impact that the closure of beauty salons in Afghanistan has had on women.
Jessica Holland (@hollandjess) got stuck in with a group of fearless downhill female mountain bikers. And Rosie Taylor (@taylor_rosie) found out what happens when fertility clinics run out of room to store frozen embryos.
Best Investigation
Sponsored by Savanta, this one is for the best print, online or broadcast investigation produced by a freelance journalist.
First up we have health journalist David Cox (@DrDavidACox) who uncovered evidence of unpublished clinical trials from the 1980s that showed the risk of permanent sexual dysfunction with antidepressants under wraps. His reporting has led to a class action suit being launched against the US drug regulator.
Sahar Zand (@SaharZand) did an investigation for Sky News on the misuse of Interpol Red notices by authoritarian regimes and those in power. Will Coldwell (@will_coldwell) was shortlisted for his work uncovering how people end up losing thousands to TikTok property influencers.
Katherine Denkinson (@KDenkWrites) investigated links between right wing Christian organisations and the Conservative party.
Best Opinion Writer or Columnist
A new sponsor this year is xTiles who are supporting the best print or online journalist for regular opinion or column writing.
Genevieve Roberts (@GenevieveRobert) writes about her blended family for the i paper with her first two children conceived with a sperm donor and her third with her new husband. Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff (@CharlieBCuff) submitted her columns for Stylist and the Guardian covering friendships, helping a stranger and being heckled at a football match.
Former in-house columnist Hannah Fearn (@hannahfearn) has continued writing regular opinion pieces as part of her freelance portfolio, usually relating to social affairs as can be seen from these examples on benefits and what it means to be middle class. Gary Nunn (@GaryNunn1) uses the big news hook of the day to bring in his personal experience on everything from alcoholism to the cost of living crisis and ADHD.
Nadeine Asbali (@nadeinewrites) shares her thoughts on identity and race, including this piece for The Independent on honest portrayals of motherhood. Melissa Parker (@MelissaKParker1) writes about disability amplifying the voices of women in particular as you can see from this piece in Stylist.
Best Campaigning Journalist
Paydesk is our sponsor for this award for the best campaigning journalist working in print, broadcast or online.
Just two in this one. Sarah Crabtree used her journalistic expertise and contacts to pitch, write, and place a sustained campaign of dozens of exclusive local and national news stories as part of the campaign against the forced academisation of her children’s catchment school. This included using her contacts book to get celebrity endorsement.
Liz Perkins (@lizperkinsmedia) has worked with the Daily Express on their End This Injustice campaign which culminated in a law change for killer partners to lose their parental rights.
Best Piece of Work by Student or Early Career Journalist
And last but certainly not least we have the awards for an individual piece of freelance work produced by a student or someone in the first two years of their freelance journalism career sponsored by News Associates.
Hatty Willmoth (@hattywillmoth) spent a week with the Bruderhof community in East Sussex to find out why some Gen-Z Christians were making the decision to give up all their money and possessions to join the radical group. Rose Morelli (@sadlittlejourno) covered King Charles’ coronation for the Big Issue, capturing the complex feelings of the day for some.
Oscar Lund (@oscar.lund9) spent some time looking into the graffiti scene in Edinburgh, while Alekia Gill wrote about reclaiming the word slut and Jamie Smith-Maillet (@jsmithmaillet) submitted his first paid piece of work on skyrocketing rents in Scotland as rent caps come to an end.