According to the Society of Editors: The awards will recognise the best of UK national newspaper journalism during 2013 in print and on digital platforms. Journalists shortlisted for an award are among the elite of the newspaper industry and winning is a crowning achievement of any journalist’s career.
The Press Awards which will culminate with a glittering gala dinner on Tuesday 1 April 2014, are organised on behalf of the industry by the Society of Editors. Proceeds will help to fund the Society’s campaigning for press freedom and the Journalists’ Charity.
The event, to be held for the first time at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, will provide the backdrop for the most prestigious event in the industry’s calendar with more than 400 editors, writers and columnists coming together to salute the quality, diversity and success of national newspaper journalism.
There will be a total of 28 categories of awards including separate sections covering features, columns and interviews to reflect the different styles in newspapers. A new award recognising science and health reporting has also been added this year in partnership with L’Oreal.
The Newspaper of the Year award will be chosen by a special panel. They will consider and vote for the Newspaper of the Year taking into account achievements made during the year across all platforms – print, online and mobile.
Staff and freelance journalists can submit entries so long as their work has appeared in a UK national newspaper or on its related digital platforms during 2013. It is recommended that entrants should start to collect PDFs of their work now ready for submission online from 1 November. Entries can be amended before the closing date on 14 January, 2014, to take account of stories that break in the final months of the year.
Shortlists will be announced in February.
The awards will again include the Cudlipp Award, organised by the British Journalism Review that recognises excellence in popular journalism and the Journalists’ Charity special award. Entries must be made online. A list of categories, full instructions and entry details is now available at www.pressawards.org.uk where journalists and their editors can register their intention to submit entries.
The judging process involves independent figures from across the industry and representatives of all the UK national titles. They remain the most rigorously judged journalism awards.
The judges will be chaired by Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell who liaises regularly with UK newspaper representatives through Jonathan Grun, Editor of the Press Association.
The awards are supported by the NPA, in association with the Journalists’ Charity and British Journalism Review. Sponsors include Camelot which has supported the Society of Editors since 2001, Unison, Nikon, L’Oreal, Reuters, the Gorkana Group and the Press Association.
Chairman of the judges Bob Satchwell said: "In yet in another year of great scoops, brilliant writing, photography and design in print and across digital platforms, UK national newspapers have maintained their reputation as the best in the world. They inform, and entertain the British public and campaign on their behalf, fearlessly exposing wrong-doing and questioning those in authority.
"The year has not been short of controversy but the press continues to demonstrate why it must remain free to report, comment and campaign without restrictions imposed by those who would prefer to see it neutered."
