Freelance Journalism Awards Winners
Time to hand out some prizes!
Set off those klaxons, it is finally here, the day when we announce the winners of the inaugural Freelance Journalism Awards 2023.
Our judges certainly had a difficult job, thanks to all of you who entered such high quality work. It shows what an amazing bunch of freelance journalists you all are. We do hope to make this an annual thing so if you didn’t win this year there will be other chances!
Now let’s stop beating around the bush and get to those all important winners who (in addition to the joy of winning) get £100 and a goody bag. There are also some highly commended entrants who will get a little treat of their own. We will be in touch with you individually to arrange everything!
Best broadcast journalist
This category, sponsored by Women in Journalism, is for a freelance journalist working in radio, podcasting, TV or online.
Our judges said the winner had submitted work that was “funny, intriguing and relatable” and “drew me in immediately and made me want to listen more”.
The winner is Anna Lawlor for her stand-alone radio documentary Typical!
We also have a highly commended in this category which goes to Bhavani Vadde who wowed the judges with her bespoke showreel which showed her natural and confident presenting style across regional news and politics.
Best print journalist
This category for a freelancer working in newspapers, magazines, journals or websites, is sponsored by the National Union of Journalists.
The submission from this journalist was a “pleasure to read” with writing that was “descriptive, emotive and well-researched”, the judges said.
Our winner is Gabriella Jozwiak for her work covering the impact of the Ukraine war and providing a voice to children in conflict. Her pieces include how the youngest children are adapting, preparing to get back to school and what it means for those caring for them.
Best specialist journalist
This category can be print, broadcast or online and is sponsored by 5WH.
Judges said our winner’s work is “tireless and peerless”. Many journalists like to believe that their work is a force for good but “this is someone who can truly and confidently believe this”, they added.
The winner is Hannah Summers for her work shining a light on the family court system. Her work includes this piece on 66 children vanishing from an asylum hotel and a challenge to the reporting rules around use of parental alienation experts.
We also have a highly commended in this category. Peter Yeung stood out to the judges for his reporting on some of the world’s most vulnerable people which “breathes life into important but often ignored stories”, as he does in this article about deaths at the US-Mexico border.
Best news story
Also a print, broadcast or online category, this one is sponsored by News Associates.
This journalist was congratulated by our judges for their “very strong and brave” reporting exposing bullying and misogyny that had a “demonstrable impact”.
The winner is Rachael Healy for her exclusive revealing that Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams made derogatory and sexually explicit comments about contestants during filming. Rachael was keen to credit her colleague Sirin Kale who worked on the story and was at the time also a freelance journalist.
Another category with a highly commended, judges said Miranda Bryant showed initiative and some really good on the ground reporting for her piece raising concerns about the physical and mental health of Ukrainian refugees living on ships off the coast of Scotland.
Best feature
On to our most entered category sponsored by LIGHTBULB Entrepreneur & Press Hangout.
The judges said the winning piece was “fascinating” and “flips the flippant on its head”. It was “compellingly written, with a healthy undercurrent of cynicism”, they added.
Our winner is Amelia Tait for her feature on why we are so fascinated by super-organised homes.
Best investigation
This award category is sponsored by Journalism.co.uk and another that was a difficult job for our judges.
But there was one entry that the panel agreed stood out for its “powerful, emotive and impactful” reporting which involved building up trust with victims over a long period of time.
The winner is Lucy Osborne for her investigation into sexual abuse in the fashion industry reporting in The Guardian and made into a three-part documentary for Sky.
Best piece of work by a student or early career journalist
And finally, this category is sponsored by The Media Mentor.
The judges were definitely impressed by the shortlisted entries but said this journalist had produced “a brilliant, well-written and moving article that was so inspiring and insightful” with “some great perspectives and storytelling”.
Our winner is Lara Olszowska for her feature on how Ukrainian teachers were keeping their schools running during the war.
That is everything from us for now. Huge congratulations again to all the winners who will be hearing from us soon about their prizes. It has been great to celebrate the great work that our freelance community is producing. Next week will be back to normal service.
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!
