This category is for journalists who cover health and life sciences industries. The judges are looking for work which shows journalistic skill and rigour, is revelatory and which serves the public interest. For print/online entries, please provide up to three examples of work. Broadcasters can submit up to three clips or one entire programme in support of their entry. A supporting statement of up 500 words must also be included. Collaborative entries are accepted. Work should have been published between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 and aimed at a UK audience.
Health and Life Sciences Journalism
Rebecca Thomas
The Independent
- Hidden A&E figures revealed as thousands a day forced to wait 12 hours or more
- Can the NHS live with Covid?
- Revealed: Over 600 babies born premature and needing critical care to mothers hospitalised by Covid-19
The judges said: “This was proper revelatory journalism, praised by health professionals and benefiting the public by revealing the true extent of the crisis in hospital A&E departments back in April this year long before it was widely known.”
Rebecca Thomas of The Independent picks up the Health & Life Sciences Journalism award at the British Journalism Awards 2022 from Julian Sturdy and Jeremy Vine. Picture: ASV Photography Ltd for Press Gazette
Dave West
Health Service Journal
- Exclusive: Top leadership team at NHS Test and Trace includes just one clinic
- Exclusive: new data reveals the 23 trusts with over a third of beds occupied by covid patients
- DHSC ‘playbook’ orders trusts to describe big building projects as ‘new hospitals’
The judges said West submitted “three excellent stories which shed new light on issues of national importance and were told with great technical expertise”.
Health Service Journal colleague Lawrence Dunhill picks up the Health and Life Sciences Award for Dave West from Jeremy Vine and Alex Moore, Senior Director, Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences at the British Journalism Awards 2021
Jack Foster, Fraser Knight
Global’s Newsroom Scotland
• Coronavirus: ‘Sick patients in Scottish care homes allowed to mingle with healthy people’
The judges said: “This was a robust piece of investigative journalism which got results. It was hard-edged local news reporting at its very best and the fact it is on regional radio gives it even more strength. A horrific story that took effort and passion to expose – and to force an outcome.”
Deborah Cohen
BBC Newsnight
• UK teen dies after stem cell windpipe transplant
• Inside the UK’s drug buyers’ clubs
• Brexit: Some drugs ‘cannot be stockpiled’ for no-deal
Judges said: “This was hard-hitting journalism, lucidly explained, with strong scientific and public interest elements.”
