New category celebrates an individual journalist’s contribution to human rights reporting over the past year 

Finalists, including Lyse Doucet, Owen Jones and Nesrine Malek, were nominated by Amnesty UK supporters  

Vote now goes to public who can submit their choice here 

Amnesty International UK has today (Wednesday 7th May) launched the public vote for a new category in the 2025 Amnesty Media Awards. 

As the awards enter their 33rd year, the ‘People’s Choice Award’ has been established to give the public the opportunity to vote for the UK journalist they believe has made an outstanding contribution to human rights reporting over the past year. 

A shortlist of ten journalists, as nominated by Amnesty supporters, will be put to a public vote, which will be open for two weeks (closing at midnight on Wednesday 21 May). Voters will also have the chance to win tickets to the awards ceremony.  

The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced on Wednesday 4 June at the BFI Southbank and will be livestreamed on the night on the Amnesty Media Awards website. 

To vote, click here. 

Nominees and links to their bios 

• Owen Jones - newspaper columnist, commentator and author 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘Owen has been one of the very few journalists who has had the courage to speak the truth about the Genocide in Gaza.’ 

• Jonathan Cook – columnist and author 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘In his reporting, he provides deeply insightful, yet clear, easily readable and straight-to-the point analysis.’ 

• Nesrine Malik – columnist and author 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘[Nesrine’s] knowledge and research on matters of global justice and conflict shine through every piece. She is unafraid to take a different view if that enables us to better understand the people at the heart of the stories. I just love her journalism.’ 

• Fergal Keane – journalist and broadcaster 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘He is always at the centre of any major story and focussing on the human story within which always highlight human rights issues.’ 

• Ash Sarkar and Michael Walker - Novara Live 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘[Their work is] informative, balanced and heroic.’ 

‘Committed to independent, truthful journalism.’ 

• Lyse Doucet – journalist and presenter 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘Lyse is incredibly brave and always at the forefront of news in war regions.’ 

• Patrick Cockburn – journalist and author 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘Every column, every week is full of humanity, understanding and knowledge in a world of soundbites he is always detailed and shows huge knowledge and understanding.’ 

• George Monbiot – journalist, author and activist 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘Outstanding, well researched, independent and honest journalism.’ 

• Jeremy Bowen - journalist and author 

What Amnesty supporters said: 

‘Brave, truthful and good as it gets.’ 

2024: The deadliest year yet for journalists 

Each year Amnesty’s Media Awards showcase the incredible work of journalists and other media workers who strive to expose injustices being perpetrated around the world – often at a great deal of personal risk. 

However, press freedom is more under attack than ever. Disturbingly, last year was the deadliest year for journalists since records began three decades ago. In 2024, at least 124 journalists and media workers were killed. A staggering 70% of those were at the hands of the Israeli military in Gaza and Lebanon.  Other countries with high death tolls include Sudan, Pakistan, Mexico, Syria, Iraq and Haiti. Hundreds more languish in prison as a direct result of their work.* 

Media workers across the world continue to operate under the threat of censorship, harassment, prosecution and worse, with many risking their lives to expose abuses and corruption. 

Now, more than ever, it’s crucial we work to defend press freedoms and help enable journalists to continue doing their vital work.