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Martin Booth shortlisted in British Journalism Awards 2021
Bristol24/7 Editor, Martin Booth, has been shortlisted in the most prestigious awards for public interest journalism in the UK.
Martin is one of the finalists in the Local Journalism category at the British Journalism Awards 2021, “for the best journalism at a local and regional level”.
The judges in this category are looking for work which has done the most to bring new information to light on a matter of public interest and for journalism which has made a difference for the better at a local level.
is needed now More than ever
Matty Edwards, a reporter at the Bristol Cable, is also nominated in the same category, highlighting the strength of local journalism in Bristol.
Martin submitted a number of pieces of work from the last 12 months, including his reporting from the ‘kill the bill’ riot and subsequent protests.
Bristol24/7 Editor, Martin Booth, was detained by police while reporting on a ‘kill the bill’ protest – photo: Tamas Kovacs
Martin’s shortlisted work also includes an ongoing series of stories about the police illegally entering a student property during a raid on a number of squats in the Old City, which resulted in the police admitting that they did not know which officers entered the students’ home.
“This is not just recognition for me, but recognition for all of my fellow journalists in Bristol this year who have worked tirelessly to tell the truth in the most testing of circumstances,” said Martin.
“There has never been a more crucial moment to be a journalist in our city at a time when independent journalism – and journalists ourselves – are under threat like never before.”
Press Gazette Editor, Dominic Ponsford, said: “With more than 800 entries this year from every news organisation in the land, making it to these shortlists is an incredible achievement.”
He added: “The judges and myself were in awe of the standard of work on display. Once again the British Journalism Awards underline the vital work journalists do exposing corruption, giving a voice to victims and holding the powerful to account.
“When we started this event, ten years ago, the UK news industry was still reeling from the fallout of Leveson, hacking and the 2008 financial crash.
“Today’s finalists underline the quality, depth, confidence and impact our business has today at all levels – across local, national and specialist media.”
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Main photo: Sophia Khan
Read more:
- My Bristol Favourites: Martin Booth
- ‘I calmly told police I was a journalist, but they said they didn’t believe me’
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