The campaigning spirit and tenacious investigative work of The Daily Mail have been celebrated with a series of major wins at the Society of Editors' prestigious Media Freedom Awards.
Journalist of the Year and a Landmark Investigation
Chief Reporter Sam Greenhill was crowned Journalist of the Year for a remarkable run of exclusive stories that captured the public's attention. His award-winning work included the exposure of an NHS chief executive caught sleeping on a train during work hours and the groundbreaking revelation of a catastrophic Ministry of Defence data leak that endangered the lives of thousands of Afghan citizens.
This MoD leak story, pursued by Greenhill and former chief reporter David Williams, also secured the coveted Investigation of the Year award. The duo were the first journalists to uncover the leak and then demonstrated immense perseverance by fighting for two years to overturn a MoD superinjunction designed to suppress the story.
Dedication and High Commendations
Upon accepting the investigation award, the pair dedicated their win to the 'brave Afghans the Mail’s campaign has been helping, many of whom still face lethal consequences as a result of the British military’s data leak blunder'. Judges praised the Mail team for their 'impeccable contacts' and their 'dogged determination to bring the truth to light'.
The Mail's success did not stop there. Crime and investigative journalist Stephen Wright was highly commended in the Journalist of the Year category for his 'Beast of Birkenhead' series, which exposed the wrongful murder conviction of Peter Sullivan. Furthermore, Ian Birrell was named Commentator of the Year (Popular) for a powerful portfolio of work that included a beautifully written and moving piece reflecting on the recent death of his daughter.
Organisational Recognition and Irish Success
Adding to the night's achievements, The Daily Mail was highly commended in the flagship News Media Organisation of the Year category, cementing its reputation for excellence across the board.
The winning streak continued across the Irish Sea, where the Mail's 'From Bomb to Ballot' podcast, presented by the Irish Daily Mail’s Executive Editor John Lee, took home the prestigious Podcast of the Year award at the Irish Journalism Awards. The groundbreaking series provides an in-depth examination of the history of Sinn Fein.
