Anna Isaac, Pippa Crerar, and Marina Hyde Earn Recognition for Their Pioneering Journalism at Ceremony in London

At the Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards held in London, The Guardian emerged as a dominant force, winning three coveted prizes for its exceptional journalistic achievements.

Anna Isaac, the newspaper’s City Editor, was honored as the National Journalist of the Year. Her investigative work, which brought to light a disturbing culture of sexual misconduct within the Confederation of British Industry, was particularly commended. Her reports on corporate misdeeds sparked widespread conversations about accountability in UK business circles.

Meanwhile, Pippa Crerar, the Political Editor at The Guardian, took home the Political Journalist of the Year award. Crerar’s reporting on key political scandals, notably the bullying allegations against former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, was praised by the judges for its depth and impact.

In the commentary category, Marina Hyde was named Commentator of the Year. Her distinctive columns, which combine wit and insight on British politics and society, have earned her a dedicated following and reinforced her reputation as a leading voice in journalism.

Other prominent figures also received accolades. Piers Morgan was awarded Broadcast Journalist of the Year for his work on TalkTV, while ITV News’ Partygate: The Inside Story podcast won Podcast of the Year. The Daily Telegraph secured the National Investigation of the Year for their hard-hitting series, The Lockdown Files, which uncovered details about government decisions during the pandemic.

Simon Townsley from The Telegraph Media Group was named Photojournalist of the Year, with Alessio Mamo of The Guardian receiving high commendation.

In recognition of her decades of groundbreaking journalism, Dame Esther Rantzen received the Outstanding Contribution to Journalism award.

The ceremony also highlighted the courage and resilience of journalists working under difficult and often dangerous conditions. In her speech, Lucy Frazer, the UK Culture Secretary, paid tribute to journalists for their unwavering commitment to truth and democracy, emphasizing the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard journalists’ physical safety, including the updated National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists.