Health and Life Sciences Journalism

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 2023 and 31 August 2024 and aimed at a UK audience.

WINNERS

Rebecca Thomas

– The Independent

Revealed: NHS regulator’s ‘culture of fear’ that leaves rogue nurses free to abuse patients

Mental health patients ‘raped and sexually assaulted’ as NHS abuse scandal revealed

Nicholas’s story: ‘I’ve been locked up for 10 years because I’m autistic. Is a chance at life too much to ask?’

The Independent’s Rebecca Thomas picks up the Health & Life Sciences Journalism prize at the British Journalism Awards 2024 from Jeremy Vine and judge Brian Deer. Picture: ASV Photography/Press Gazette

The judges said the winner’s work provided “three significant examples of dogged journalism which had a huge impact”.

ITV Exposure

Mark Hedgecoe, James Rogan, Simon Gilchrist, Lesley Shields, Xinlan Rose and John Moffat

The Clinic

The judges said: “This was journalism which got to the heart of a huge current topic, cutting through the noise and making a difference.”

Rebecca Thomas

The Independent

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

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.”