Regional and hyperlocal journalists have been longlisted for an award described as “Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing”.
Manchester Evening News politics and investigations editor Jen Williams has won a nomination for this year’s Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils.
Also longlisted in the same category are Adam Cantwell-Corn and Alon Aviram, of the Bristol Cable.
A total of 13 entrants have made the longlist in total.
Jen’s nomination states: “In the past year political focus has shifted dramatically onto northern communities.
“Jennifer Williams’ entries put people at the heart of political failure here, covering the notion of the so-called ‘left behind town’ and its implications of blame, unpicking the impact of layers of harmful policymaking in Oldham and exploring the reality of an under-reported crisis – council cutbacks – across all Greater Manchester, the impact of which cuts across every area of people’s lives.”
Adam and Alon’s place on the longlist comes after a five-year investigation to “expose slave-like conditions on a Bristol high street”.
Their nomination states: “It started as a tip-off. It was said over the din of a busy kitchen to a co-founder of the Bristol Cable, working as a kitchen porter as the media co-operative got off the ground.
“Then, following an investigation spanning 5 years, one of Bristol’s most notorious bosses was facing accountability, and two men had been released from slave-like conditions.
“Undercover reporting, a good amount of shoe leather, open source intelligence, the cultivation of dozens of brave but apprehensive sources helped tell this story of modern Britain, putting a halt to decades of impunity.
“An engagement-led approach maximised official impact, including community events, a custom microsite and collaboration with the local BBC.”
The shortlists for the prize will be revealed next month.