The plan is to provide an editorial and journalism awards scheme for national newspapers in the UK that is independent of any one newspaper, fair and cost effective with proceeds retained within the industry.
The national newspaper publishers’ organisation has asked the Society of Editors to undertake the 2011 Awards and to make appropriate arrangements on the division of the proceeds.
It is intended that the awards will generate a surplus which will be retained within the newspaper industry helping to fund campaigning by the Society of Editors on behalf of the media and to support the Journalists’ Charity.
The SoE will have full and sole responsibility for organising and running the 2011 Awards and will plan and deliver them in consultation with representatives of national newspapers who will be consulted about categories of entries, the judging process and the awards ceremony.
NPA members have undertaken to participate in the awards and will not take part in any competing events.
The SoE will cover the costs from revenue generated by entry fees, table sales and sponsorship and will guarantee a minimum donation to the Journalists Charity of ten per cent of the net profits from the awards.
In recent years the awards have been organised by Wilmington and the awards supported Press Gazette when the company published the magazine.
Clive Milner, chairman of the NPA, said: “Wilmington did a great job but we wanted proceeds from the awards to stay within the industry to help secure on-going finance for the work of the Society of Editors. Along with the society we also want to provide a regular contribution to the Journalists’ Charity.”
Donald Martin, president of the Society of Editors and editor of the Sunday Post in Scotland, said: “We are honoured to be asked to take over the organisation of the awards that celebrate the achievements of the best, most diverse and exciting press in the world. We have powerful membership across all sectors of the media but funding has always been limited. This arrangement will hopefully help to ensure we can continue working for the benefit of a free media and the public’s right to know.”
Bob Satchwell (pictured), executive director of the Society of Editors, has chaired the judges of the British Press Awards for the past two years. He will oversee the awards in consultation with Jonathan Grun, editor of the Press Association and a former president of the SoE who chairs an advisory forum and the Journalists’ Charity.
The plan will be reviewed after the first year.
