Applicants can be any age, working in either print or multimedia. The judges will be looking for a flair for storytelling and evidence of innovation and/or impact. They will be looking for the winner to demonstrate an identifiable voice and flair for a specific subject.
Georgina Henry, who tragically passed away in February 2014, was a founding member of Women in Journalism 21 years ago as well as former deputy editor of the Guardian and head of Guardian.co.uk.
Eleanor Mills, WiJ chair says "Women in Journalism is delighted to be offering a new award in the name of one of our founding members Georgina Henry of the Guardian. Offering a prize for innovation seems a great way to immortalise her memory and give a big break to an enterprising woman journalist."
Alan Rusbridger, editor in chief of The Guardian, says, “Georgina Henry was really proud of her work with Women in Journalism and was - through launching and editing Comment is Free - a real innovator. I know she would have been delighted at an award in her name to encourage women to follow in her footsteps to achieve important things in the reinvention of journalism today.”
The Press Awards will take place next year on March 10 at a black tie dinner at The Grosvenor Marriott. The award is being sponsored by media law firm Wiggin LLP .
Caroline Kean, Partner of Wiggin LLP said: “We have been with WIJ from its beginnings 21 years ago. We are proud to do something that both honours Georgina's memory and offers opportunities to aspiring journalists – particularly at a time when changes in the industry and threats to press freedom mean that good journalists are more essential than ever.”
The award, for women only, can be entered by sending three examples of work from the past 12 months to gh.wijaward@gmail.com plus an 800-word pitch for an ongoing journalistic project, explaining what stage it is at, and how it is likely to proceed. Closing date for entries is early Jan 2015. The judges can also nominate candidates.
The six judges will be Eleanor Mills, editorial director of the Sunday Times and current chair of WiJ, Eve Pollard, founding chair of WiJ and former editor of the Sunday Express, Jane Martinson, head of media at the Guardian and former chair of WiJ, Alison Gow , editor, digital innovation Trinity Mirror Regionals and a board member of the Society of Editors, Caroline Kean, partner Wiggin LLP and Sue Ryan, former managing editor of the Daily Telegraph and a board member of the Society of Editors.
