Bureau journalists shortlisted for three more awards
Bureau journalists have been shortlisted in the Bar Council’s Legal Reporting Awards and in two categories of the British Journalism Awards.
There were a record number of entries for the Press Gazette’s British Journalism Awards, now in their third year. The awards recognise journalism in the public interest.
Melanie Newman, Nick Mathiason and Tom Warren are shortlisted for Politics Journalist of the Year. Their scoop in July on political party funding revealed the attendance of billionaires, lobbyists and foreign interests with a combined wealth of over £11bn at one of the most important Conservative party fundraising events last year.
The investigation also raised questions over a Russian banker’s purchase of a Margaret Thatcher portrait during an auction at the fundraiser. Bureau research led to an Electoral Commission investigation which ultimately ruled the donation “impermissible”. The team also had an exclusive on this year’s Conservative summer fundraiser, at which another Russian banker paid £160,000 for a game of tennis with David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
Tom Warren was also shortlisted for New Journalist of the Year. His investigations included mapping the proliferation of short-term lenders on UK high streets, naming the city institutions given privileged status in the controversial Royal Mail flotation, and revealing the low profile club funnelling cash to Conservative marginal constituencies.
The Bar Council’s Legal Reporting Awards recognise journalists whose work contributes to a greater public understanding and awareness of legal issues.
Shortlisted for their work on the legal doctrine of joint enterprise are Maeve McClenaghan, Rachel Stevenson and Melanie Mcfadyean. Their eight-month investigation revealed that at least 1,800 people have been prosecuted for homicide using the little-known law of joint enterprise: a law which experts have called “unclear” and “capable of producing injustice”.
Just weeks after they produced their ground-breaking report, the Justice Select Committee announced it would hold a new enquiry into the use of the doctrine of joint enterprise in criminal prosecutions.
You can see the British Journalism awards shortlist here and the Legal Reporting Awards shortlist here.
