Freelance Journalism Awards 2024 winners!
Find out who won in this year's FFJ awards
It is time to finally announce the winners of the Freelance Journalism Awards 2024.
As with last year, our judges had a difficult job, thanks to all the high quality work you entered. We’re so pleased to be able to celebrate the fantastically skilled job you all do. For all those on the shortlist who didn’t make it this year, please know our judges were very impressed with all the entries they reviewed.
So without further ado, let’s find out the winners of our nine categories who all get £100, a trophy and a little goody bag. There are also some highly commended entrants who the judges wanted us to give a special mention to!
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 judges said the winner reports on tough subjects and has an impressive amount of work to her name. They also said “her interviews are compelling and she seems like a real force to be reckoned with”.
The winner is Bhavani Vadde (@BhavaniVadde) who entered a bespoke showreel sharing the work she has done over the past year for a range of outlets.
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.
The judges said of this journalist that her “reporting is extraordinary, brave and urgent and all the more impressive because she is doing it on a freelance basis”. Another described her work as “powerful journalism which offers genuine insight into a world so many could not even imagine”.
Our winner is Liz Cookman (@liz_cookman) for her work reporting on Ukraine, including this piece on the dangers faced by civilians living in occupied parts of the country.
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.
Another team of judges also selected Liz Cookman (@liz_cookman) as the winner in this category, noting that she “has produced an amazing body of work, putting herself at great risk to report from the front line in Ukraine” with another describing her writing as “highly impactful”. Her piece on Oleh who now lives alone in a forest after being tortured and sexually assaulted particularly stood out they said.
In this category we would also like to award a highly commended to Hannah Summers (@hansummers) for her journalism covering the family courts which the judges described as “innovative” and “determined”.
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.
In a tough category, the judges said this finalist had done “stellar reporting” using a mix of FOI and key sources to expose a scandal and “tell it with authority”.
Our winner is Nicola Kelly (@NicolaKelly) for her piece showing the Home Office had provided more than £3m in funding to Turkish border forces in the last year 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.
And it is another double winner with Nicola Kelly (@NicolaKelly) selected by a different panel of judges for her feature on what it is like to work as a delivery rider for food apps such as Deliveroo and UberEats. She shadowed a delivery rider uncovering the exploitation and poor conditions that were occurring along the way. One judge said it was a fabulous piece, “full of colour” but that it also made them stop and rethink their own use of the apps. “It’s great to see a journalist actually going out and speaking to people,” said another.
Best Investigation
Sponsored by Savanta, this one is for the best print, online or broadcast investigation produced by a freelance journalist.
Our judges said this “exceptional” investigation highlighted a major injustice that was deeply reported through “incredible stories told with care and attention to detail”.
The winner is Sahar Zand (@SaharZand) for Dirty Work - an investigative podcast series for Sky News, about the misuse of Interpol Red notices by authoritarian regimes and those in power.
In this category our judges were also very keen to give a highly commended to Will Coldwell (@will_coldwell) for his well researched and compelling piece on Tik Tok property investment gurus scamming people out of thousands.
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.
For this new category, our judges said this journalist entered three very strong pieces which were “powerful, vivid and heart wrenching”. Another added “these stories have been marginalised or overlooked, and it’s great to see these voices being heard”.
The winner is Melissa Parker (@MelissaKParker1) for her comment pieces providing a vital perspective from people with disabilities. Here’s an example of her work where she shares how life as a disabled woman has impacted her mental health.
Best Campaigning Journalist
Paydesk is our sponsor for this award for the best campaigning journalist working in print, broadcast or online.
With just two shortlisted in this category, the judges wanted us to share how difficult this decision was between two entries of high merit that had taken considerable effort and expertise and had both led to change.
Our winner is Liz Perkins (@lizperkinsmedia) for her “commendable” campaigning on the Daily Express End This Injustice campaign to protect victims of abuse and their children in the family courts which the judges said had “far-reaching” implications.
Best Piece of Work by Student or Early Career Journalist
And last but certainly not least we have the award 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.
The judges described the work of this journalist as “awesome, immersive and vividly written” as well as being impressive for securing the access and commission in the first place.
The winner is Hatty Willmoth (@hattywillmoth) who 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 a radical group.
We also have a highly commended here for Rose Morelli (@sadlittlejourno) for her “brilliant piece” covering the protests on King Charles III's coronation.
So that’s it for another year. Thank you to everyone who entered. We cannot stress enough how blown away we always are by the stunning work you are all producing. We will be in touch with the winners to discuss their prizes and get them on the podcast to talk about their work in more detail!
Digital Notebook
Don’t forget to check out our new Digital Notebook we put together with xTiles. Look at us venturing into the world of apps! In the notebook we share a ton of resources including templates for pitching, invoicing and logging expenses as well as tips, tools, checklists and loads more. It’s all there for a one off payment of less than £20. It may be of particular use to those of you who are new to freelancing and finding your feet.
Triumph of the week
Sticking to a new efficiency plan to storm through a ton of work
That feeling when
You chase an overdue invoice and the editor is away for two weeks
We love to hear your feedback on everything we do, so feel free to drop us an email anytime at freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com
Bye for now!
