Media Awards
These awards are given to the best television programmes, radio shows and newspapers that people have nominated over the year, at a national and regional level. Our judges consider how well entrants have used plain English, and how successfully and passionately they have fought gobbledygook.
To nominate a candidate for any of the categories, please send the details to Media Awards, Plain English Campaign, PO Box 3, New Mills, High Peak, SK22 4QP, or e-mail your choices to info@plainenglish.co.uk . We are accepting entries for the 2008 awards until 31 October. We will contact the winners in November.
These are the winners for 2007. You can click on the links below to see why they won and to see a list of previous winners in that category.
Best national newspaper: The Sun
Bold, brash and colourful, The Sun is renowned for telling it like it is. The paper’s way with a headline is legendary, and our judges felt it was time to honour its hard-hitting, frank and plain-speaking journalism. It can be difficult to deliver political news without resorting to jargon but the Sun’s writers are skilled atfiling copy which informs rather than condescends.
Previous winners:
- 2006: The Guardian
- 2005: The Guardian
- 2004: The Independent
- 2003: The Independent
- 2002: The Mirror
- 2001: Metro
- 2000: Daily Telegraph
- 1999: The Scotsman
- 1998: The Express
- 1997: Daily Mirror
- 1996: Daily Mail
- 1995: The Times
- 1994: Daily Mirror
- 1993: Financial Times
- 1992: The Independent
- 1991: The Independent
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Best regional newspaper: Western Morning News
This paper concentrates on rural issues that affect the population of the South West, and is renowned for its campaigning and support of local charities and pressure groups. Well-designed and laid out, it reports in language which is easy to understand. The paper’s website is also a good source of local news, jobs and property.
Previous winners:
- 2006: Newcastle Evening Chronicle
- 2005: Edinburgh Evening News
- 2004: Yorkshire Post
- 2003: Western Daily Press
- 2002: Western Mail
- 2001: Evening Standard
- 2000: News North-West
- 1999: Eastern Daily Press
- 1998: The Birmingham Post
- 1997: Nottingham Evening Post
- 1996: Liverpool Echo
- 1995: Manchester Evening News
- 1994: The Scotsman
- 1993: Birmingham Evening Mail
- 1992: Yorkshire Post
- 1991: Evening Standard
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Best national radio programme: Radio 5 Live Midday News
The Midday news programme on Radio 5 Live needs a fluid and fast response to a changing news agenda. That’s exactly what it gets from an extremely skilled team. The programme uses language clearly, precisely, and engages even the most distracted listener. At one point the show’s producer even invited Plain English Campaign to assess the show live on air! In the end, Plain English Campaign editors declared the programme a superb example of the art of news broadcasting to a mass audience. We could hardly do any other than present this award to a very deserving winner.
Previous winners:
- 2006: The Jeremy Vine Show (BBC Radio 2)
- 2005: Today with Pat Kenny
- 2004: Today (BBC Radio 4)
- 2003: Wake up to Money (5 Live)
- 2002: Today (BBC Radio 4)
- 2001: You and Yours (BBC Radio 4)
- 2000: Sunday Service (BBC Radio 2)
- 1999: You and Yours (BBC Radio 4)
- 1998: BBC World Service (or its news bulletins)
- 1997: BBC Radio 4 (for its news bulletins)
- 1996: BBC Radio 4 (for its news bulletins)
- 1995: The World Today (BBC World Service)
- 1994: Newsbeat (BBC Radio 1)
- 1993: News '93 (BBC Radio 1)
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Best regional radio: BBC Radio Devon
BBC Radio Devon is a shining example of good local radio. This station focuses on local issues and presents information clearly and cheerfully for the listener. There is a consistent standard of reporting throughout the day and this shows in healthy audience figures in an area where stations are competing hard for listeners. There is a pleasing amount of interaction with listeners, combining topical debate about local and national stories with a touch of humour.
Previous winners:
- 2006: Pirate FM
- 2005: BBC Radio Jersey
- 2004: BRMB FM
- 2003: Minster FM
- 2002: LBC (London)
- 2001: BBC Radio Humberside
- 2000: BBC Radio Northampton
- 1999: BBC Radio Gloucestershire
- 1998: BBC Radio Newcastle
- 1997: BBC Radio Leeds
- 1996: BBC Radio Wales
- 1995: BBC Three Counties Radio
- 1994: BBC Radio Bristol and Somerset Sound
- 1993: BBC Radio Newcastle
- 1992: BBC Radio Northampton
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Best national television programme: Panorama
One of the BBC’s flagship current affairs shows, Panorama brings intelligent, investigative journalism into the nation’s living rooms. The programme’s team of experienced reporters get to the heart of a wide range of topical issues, especially those with national importance. Although the analysis is serious and probing, the language and presentational style is accessible to viewers of all backgrounds. Panorama brings us the story not the headlines, and that is what good television reporting is all about.
Previous winners:
- 2006: This Week
- 2005: Sunday AM
- 2004: Newsnight
- 2003: Channel 4 News (7pm)
- 2002: BBC 10 O'Clock News
- 2001: Sunday with Adam Boulton (Sky News)
- 2000: Channel 5's hourly news bulletins
- 1999: Working Lunch (BBC 2)
- 1998: Newsnight (BBC 2)
- 1997: ITN News at Ten
- 1996: BBC Six O'Clock News
- 1995: BBC One O'Clock News
- 1994: BBC Nine O'Clock News
- 1993: ITN News at Ten
- 1992: Channel 4 News
- 1991: Newsnight (BBC 2)
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Best regional television programme: Anglia TV Local News West
This category was closely contested by a number of local networks and a local internet TV service. Observation of the station’s output shows Anglia TV West to have a proper understanding of the needs of local viewers, explaining issues clearly and concisely, especially at the hands of reporter / presenter Matthew Hudson. His piece on the ‘silly signs in Hertfordshire’ broadened out into an effective piece on condescending product labeling and other types of reader abuse, handled with humour and clarity.
Previous winners:
- 2006: X-Ray
- 2005: London Tonight
- 2004: BBC Look North (Yorkshire edition)
- 2003: BBC Look North (Yorkshire edition)
- 2002: BBC London News (6.25 pm)
- 2001: Northwest Tonight (BBC)
- 2000: Week In, Week Out (BBC Wales)
- 1999: Granada Tonight
- 1998: Central News East
- 1997: Granada Tonight
- 1996: Westcountry News
- 1995: Central News (Nottingham)
- 1994: Tyne Tees News
- 1993: Spotlight (BBC South West)
- 1992: Newsroom South East (BBC)
- 1991: Northwest Tonight (BBC)
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