The Bevins Prize

We are glad to announce the competition for the second Bevins Prize for outstanding investigative journalism.

The prize is awarded in honour of Anthony Bevins, the leading political journalist who worked for a wide range of newspapers during his career: the Liverpool Post and Echo, the Sun, the Daily Mail, the Times, the Independent, the Observer and the Daily Express. Tony often seemed to represent an almost one-man stand against what Nick Davies, the journalist and author, has called ‘churnalism’. Wherever he worked, Bevins researched rigorously, and regularly broke otherwise untouched – even ‘untouchable’ – stories. This award aims to encourage and promote that relentless pursuit of truth.

The first award went last year to Deborah Haynes, Iraq Correspondent for The Times, for her series of articles highlighting the plight of translators who worked for the British Army in Iraq during and after the Gulf War. The judges said that Deborah had been chosen “from an exceptionally strong field from all parts of the media”. They added: “This serious expose was achieved by persistent and courageous investigation in the face of official intransigence. It was the kind of dogged and determined work most associated with Tony Bevins, and of which he would have been proud. The articles revealed a serous and dangerous injustice to brave men and women. As a result of these revelations their cause has, we hope, been won.”

Deborah was presented with her award by Andrew Marr at the annual conference dinner of the Society of Editors in Bristol in November. Happily, the Society of Editors has again agreed to support the award this year.

The Prize is a bronze statue of a 'Rat up a Drainpipe', Bevins' favourite phrase, capturing the essence of his approach to journalism.

Nomination procedures for the award are outlined in the Terms and Conditions. Entries must be received by the Bevins Trust by 5pm on 10 July 2009.