Entries are now open for Amnesty International UK’s annual Media Awards 2026 

The awards celebrate excellent human rights journalism over the past year  

Entries can now be submitted at: https://amnesty-media-awards.org.uk/ 

Amnesty International UK has launched its annual Media Awards 2026 today.  

The prestigious set of awards recognise the vital role journalists play and the serious risks they face in highlighting human rights abuses around the world and holding power to account. 

Journalists and media workers are invited to enter their work across 10 categories, including Broadcast News, Written Feature, Investigations, Radio & Podcasts and Photojournalism.  

The closing date for entries is Friday 30 January 2026 and the award ceremony will take place at BFI Southbank in London on Wednesday 6 May 2026. 

Entries must be from a media outlet based in the UK or from international outlets with bureaus in the UK. Each piece must have been published or broadcast for the first time in the UK between 1 January and 31 December 2025. 

A list of previous winners can be found here.  

CATEGORIES 

Written News 

A single written-word, short-form news report on a current and/or breaking story relating to a human rights issue. This can be print, online or multimedia. 

Broadcast News 

A single film news report on a current and/or breaking story relating to a human rights issue. This can be TV or online. The entry should be no longer than 20 minutes. 

Written Feature 

A single written-word long-form newspaper, magazine, online or multimedia piece that creatively explores human rights issues. 

Broadcast Feature 

A single broadcast news report or documentary that observes or reports on human rights issues. This can be TV or online. The entry should be between 15 and 90 minutes long. 

Written Investigation 

An outstanding piece of investigative written-word long-form journalism relating to human rights issues. This can be a single report or up to three items covering the same story. This can be a newspaper, magazine, online or multimedia piece. 

Broadcast Investigation 

An outstanding piece of investigative broadcast journalism relating to human rights issues. This can be a single report or a number of items covering the same story. This can be TV or online. The whole entry (including compilations) should be between 15 and 90 minutes long. 

Radio & Podcasts 

This can be either excerpts from a series, a full-length radio documentary or podcast, a news report or compilations from a magazine programme which observe and report on human rights issues. The whole entry (including compilations) should be between 15 and 60 minutes duration. These must have been broadcast or available online. 

Photojournalism 

A single photograph or a series of up to 12 photographs covering a human rights issue. These must have been published by a UK media outlet (newspaper, magazine or online). Only the entered piece will be judged, but overall impact will be considered if published elsewhere in the UK and submitted as supporting material. This category is free to enter. 

Nations & Regions 

This category is open to any UK regional media outlet and can be print, online or broadcast. This should be a single piece but links to two additional pieces may be included in the synopsis as supporting material. Entries may cover global or regional human rights issues. This category is free to enter. 

The Gaby Rado Award for New Journalist 

Open to journalists who have been working for five years or less in paid employment as a journalist at the time of publication or broadcast of their entry. Journalists should enter one piece in which they are the lead journalist. This can be broadcast, print, radio or online. This award was established with the help of the family, friends and colleagues of the journalist Gaby Rado, who died in Iraq in 2003. Finalists will be asked for evidence of their eligibility. This category is free to enter. 

ENTRIES AND FEES: 

For more information on how to enter, the entry criteria and fees, visit: https://amnesty-media-awards.org.uk/  

Multiple entries discount  

A discount of 20% will automatically be applied to the entry fees of your second and subsequent submissions. 

The Nations and Regions, Photojournalism and Gaby Rado categories are free to enter.