Regional journalists have been honoured for their work in exposing wrongdoing and highlighting the importance of press freedom at last night’s Media Freedom Awards.

Stephen Topping of the Manchester Evening News was named Regional Journalist of the Year for his coverage of the death of toddler Awaab Ishak after being exposed to rancid mould at his family’s social housing flat in Rochdale in 2020.

The MEN was also highly commended in the Investigation of the Year category for its investigation into the state of housing in the borough.

Top prize in the category went to the Carlisle News and Star for an investigation into the use of tasers by police.

Belfast’s Sunday Life was named Regional News Media Organisation of the Year, while Dolly Carter of the East Anglian Daily Times was awarded the Young Journalist of the Year prize.

The awards, organised by the Society of Editors, were handed out at a ceremony at the Banking Hall in London attended by more than 250 journalists from across the UK.

The veteran campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen was presented with an outstanding contribution to journalism award in recognition of what was described as a career dedicated to “supporting, uplifting and giving a voice to others.”

Accepting the award, Rantzen paid tribute to those in attendance describing the work of journalists as a “unique and crucial role” that was more important than ever.

She added: “I think we, as journalists, have to be careful because we have to be absolutely sure that we are providing an accurate description of circumstances we are writing about, talking about and broadcasting about.

“But with that caveat I would say we are providing a very, very important means of informing humanity – whether it’s about global warming, about pandemics or the heartbreaking struggles that we see going on in wars around the planet. Ours is a unique and crucial role.”

The awards, now in their second year, were presented by ITV News Presenter and Journalist Lucrezia Millarini with headline sponsorship from prestigious London-based art-seller Grove Gallery.

The event was also attended by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer MP and Minister for Media John Whittingdale MP.

Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society of Editors said: “The winners of the Media Freedom Awards 2023 highlight the outstanding scoops and investigations which have dominated the news agenda and effected real change over the past year.

“From agenda-setting exclusives to campaigns that will undoubtedly save lives, we are honoured to recognise and celebrate the vital work that the news media industry undertakes every day to hold power to account on behalf of the public.”

The full list of winners was as follows:

Bob Satchwell Award: Gary Younge

Judges’ Special Award: Dame Esther Rantzen

Young Journalist of the Year National: Ashni Lakhani, BBC
Highly commended: Sabrina Miller, Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday

Young Journalist of the Year Regional: Dolly Carter, East Anglian Times and Ipswich Star
Highly commended: Lucy John, WalesOnline

Investigation of the Year – Broadcast National: Undercover Hospital: Patients at Risk, BBC Panorama
Highly commended: Stephen Lawrence, The Sixth Suspect, BBC News

Investigation of the Year – Broadcast Regional: Disclosure: The Great Ferries Scandal, BBC Scotland
Highly commended: SEND investigation, ITV News Anglia

Investigation of the Year National – presented by Newsworks: Lockdown Files, The Telegraph
Highly commended: Confederation of British Industry, The Guardian

Investigation of the Year Regional: Taser Use, News & Star
Highly commended: Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Manchester Evening News

Commentator of the Year: Marina Hyde, The Guardian
Highly commended: Camilla Long, The Sunday Times and Sonia Sodha, The Observer

Journalist of the Year – National: Anna Isaac, The Guardian
Highly commended: Paul Morgan-Bentley, The Times and Gordon Rayner, The Daily Telegraph

Journalist of the Year – Regional: Stephen Topping, Manchester Evening News
Highly commended: Charles Thomson, Islington Gazette, Newham Recorder and Romford Recorder

Journalist of the Year – Broadcast – presented by Grove Gallery: Piers Morgan, TalkTV
Highly commended: Stuart Ramsay, Sky News

Foreign Correspondent of the Year: Stuart Ramsay, Sky News
Highly commended: Christina Lamb, The Sunday Times

Innovation Award: Westminster Accounts, Sky News with Tortoise Media
Highly commended: Lockdown Files, The Telegraph

Political Journalist of the Year – presented by Cision: Pippa Crerar, The Guardian
Highly commended: Gabriel Pogrund, The Sunday Times and John Stevens, The Mirror

Freelance Journalist of the Year: Joshua Baker, BBC
Highly commended: Tom Odula, BBC Africa Eye

Podcast of the Year – presented by Google News Initiative: Partygate: The Inside Story, ITV News
Highly commended: The Shamima Begum Story, BBC News Long Form Audio

Campaign of the Year – National – presented by Newsworks: School Hunger, Evening Standard and The Independent
Highly commended: Clean it Up, The Times

Campaign of the Year – Regional – presented by Camelot: Awaab’s Law, Manchester Evening News
Highly commended: Knife Crime Taskforce, The Northern Echo

Photo Journalist of the Year – presented by Grove Gallery: Simon Townsley, Telegraph Media Group
Highly commended: Alessio Mamo, The Guardian

National News Media Organisation of the Year – presented by Grove Gallery: The Telegraph
Highly commended: Times Media

Regional News Media Organisation of the Year: Sunday Life
Highly commended: Liverpool Echo

International News Media Organisation of the Year: Bellingcat
Highly commended: Investigate Europe