Amnesty International UK is inviting entries for its 29th annual Media Awards, a prestigious set of awards that recognise the vital role journalists play and the serious risks they face in highlighting human rights abuses around the world.

Entries can now be submitted at: https://amnesty-media-awards.org.uk/  

The closing date for entries is Thursday 21 January 2021 and the award ceremony will take place on Wednesday 28 April 2021.

Entries must be from a media outlet based in the UK and published or broadcast for the first time in the UK between 1 January and 31 December 2020.

A list of previous winners can be found here.

Award categories

Written News

A written word news report on a current and/or breaking story relating to a human rights issue. This can be print, online or multimedia.

Broadcast News

A film news report on a current and/or breaking story relating to a human rights issue. This can be TV or online. The entry should be no longer than 20 minutes.

Investigation

An outstanding piece of investigative journalism relating to human rights issues across all media. This can be print, broadcast, online or multimedia and may be a single report or a number of items covering the same story.

Features

A written word newspaper, magazine, online or multimedia piece that creatively explores topics, issues or stories relating to human rights.

Documentaries (TV & Film)

A full-length documentary or film that observes or reports on human rights issues. The entry should be between 20 – 120 minutes duration. These must have been broadcast or available online.

Radio & Podcasts

This can be either excerpts from a series, a full-length radio documentary or podcast, a news report or compilations from a magazine programme which observe and report on human rights issues. The whole entry (including compilations) should be between 15 – 60 minutes duration. These must have been broadcast or available online.

Photojournalism

An excellent piece of photojournalism that has been published in UK media (newspapers, magazines or online) or on a third-party website. A photograph or a series of up to 12 photographs to be submitted as a portfolio, in addition to a copy of the piece in which the pictures were originally published. This category is free to enter.

Student Journalist

For students in full-time education at a UK university, higher education or further education college at the time of publication or broadcast of their entry. Entries may have been published in print, online or broadcast, either via a student or commercial outlet. Alternatively, it may have been produced as course work as part of media or journalism studies. Entrants should submit one piece but may also provide links to three further pieces of work to support their entry. Personal blog posts are not eligible for entry. Finalists will be asked for evidence that they were a student at the time of publication (eg: via a reference from a tutor). This category is free to enter.

Regional Media

This category recognises excellent local reporting of global human rights stories as well as those from closer to home. It is open to print, online or broadcast entries from UK regional media outlets. This category is free to enter.

Best Use of Digital Media

For innovative/creative presentations of human rights stories using digital tools and/or multimedia techniques to creatively uncover or engage people in a human rights story or issue. Entrants must have been published for the first time or have had substantial fresh content published during 2020.

The Gaby Rado Award for New Journalist

For journalists reporting on human rights issues who have been working for five years or less in paid employment as a journalist. This award was established with the help of the family, friends and colleagues of the journalist Gaby Rado, who died in Iraq in 2003. Entrants should submit one piece but may also provide links to three further pieces of work to support their entry. Finalists will be asked for evidence of their eligibility. This category is free to enter.

Entries and fees:

For more information on how to enter, the entry criteria and fees, visit: https://amnesty-media-awards.org.uk/

To encourage a wide range of entries, we have established a sponsorship fund to support a limited number of entries from freelance journalists and filmmakers, as well as small digital and broadcast outlets. See the website for more details.

Entries to Regional Media, Photojournalism, Gaby Rado and Student Journalist categories are free.