EVERY ENTRANT HAS A CHANCE OF WINNING £500
The Steve Harris Award is presented to an outstanding entry from all the category winners and comes with a prize of £500
FREE TO ENTER: BEST REPRESENTATION AWARD AND ONE FREE ENTRY FOR EVERY ACCREDITED COURSE IN THE BEST MULTIPLATFORM NEWSDAY CATEGORY
All other entries are £20 per entry
Closing date – 7th October 2026
Backed by our industry partners…
Click on the below category titles for a description
This award recognises excellence in TV news reports and items such as bulletin packages, two-ways or interviews with a hard news edge. Successful entries will demonstrate the highest standards of TV journalism, the television production techniques that aid storytelling and communicating with the audience and the efforts made to ensure representation of the intended audience.
Running time: Up to four-minutes
This award recognises excellence in radio news reports and items such as short bulletin packages, wraps, voiceovers, two-ways or interviews with a hard news edge. Successful entries will demonstrate the highest standards of radio journalism, the sound production techniques that aid storytelling and communicating with the audience and the efforts made to ensure a mix of different voices.
Running time: Up to four-minutes
This award recognises excellence in TV feature journalism. Successful entries not only demonstrate the highest standards of journalism, but also the television production techniques employed to reach, inform and engage with the audience. Strong specialist journalism, in-depth reports or investigative work would all fall into this category. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation are also encouraged to be outlined within the entry form.
Running time: Between four-minutes and 15-minutes
This award recognises excellence in radio feature journalism. Successful entries not only demonstrate the highest standards of journalism, but also the use of sound production techniques to reach, inform and engage with the audience. Features may include issues of local, national or international importance. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation are also encouraged to be outlined within the entry form.
Running time: Between four-minutes and 15-minutes
This award celebrates outstanding examples of positive, uplifting, human-interest or humorous journalism that highlight people, communities or initiatives making a meaningful difference. Successful entries will demonstrate strong editorial judgment, clear storytelling and the effective use of television production techniques to engage audiences. Judges will look for journalism that informs and inspires, while reflecting the diversity and experiences of the intended audience.
Running time: Up to five-minutes
This award recognises excellence in online news reports. Successful entries will demonstrate engaging writing and use of multimedia visuals or interactive elements to communicate with the audience. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation are also encouraged to be outlined within the entry form.
This award is for an individual, team or institution that demonstrates creative, compelling storytelling in sport. Judges will look for entries that engage the audience particularly in coverage that goes beyond the mainstream sports and match reports. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation are also encouraged to be outlined within the entry form
Entries can be one specific story, or a compilation of up to three items. The complete entry should be no longer than 15-minutes in duration.
This award recognises excellence in documentary production that is grounded in the principles of television journalism – accuracy, impact, ethics, creativity, research and reporting – together with excellent filmmaking. Judges will be looking for creativity in concept, approach and execution. Documentaries may include issues of local, national or international importance. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation are also encouraged to be outlined within the entry form.
Running time: Between 15-minutes and one hour
This award recognises excellence in documentary production that is grounded in the principles of radio journalism – accuracy, impact, ethics, creativity, research and reporting – together with excellence in sound recording. Judges will be looking for creativity in concept, approach and execution. Documentaries may include issues of local, national or international importance. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation are also encouraged to be outlined within the entry form.
Running time: Between 15-minutes to one hour
This award recognises excellence in production of audio podcasts. Successful entries not only demonstrate the highest standards of communication and production, but also the use of engaging conversation, sound production techniques to reach, inform and engage with the audience. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation are also encouraged to be outlined within the entry form.
Running time of between 10 and 20 minutes
This award recognises excellence in production of social media video across all platforms. The entry can range from vertical video on social media to bespoke video content for social media (YouTube shorts, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, X) that engages and informs the audience, with clear examples of creative storytelling practices and techniques. A URL link to the content and a short supporting note should summarise the content and responses inspired by the video. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation are also encouraged to be outlined within the entry form
Running time: Up to three-minutes
This award recognises a journalist’s multiplatform commitment to shining a light on one or more underrepresented communities, including, but not limited to, age, body image, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, regional identity, sexuality and social class. The entry should consist of up to three examples, from two or more platforms. (TV/Radio/Website/Social Media/Podcasts).
*Entry is free for this category
Running time: Up to seven-minutes
This award recognises newsday coverage across multiplatform, reflecting industry standard. This could include TV/radio bulletins, website video updates, social media videos/interaction, associated podcasts and online continuous coverage of stories. All work submitted must have been produced during one BJTC industry simulated newsday. Efforts to ensure inclusion and representation and a clear commitment to multiplatform storytelling should be clearly outlined within the entry form. The entry needs to demonstrate at least two of these platforms: radio, TV, online, social media, podcast. Only one entry per course
*One free entry per accredited course, submitted by the course leader.
Complete programme or inserts, material not exceeding a running time of 30 minutes.
The Steve Harris Award for Excellence in Journalism is presented to an outstanding winner from all of the above categories.
Check out last year’s finalists here
Closing Date: 7th October 2026
All shortlisted students will be invited to attend an industry-backed awards ceremony at Bauer Media HQ, in central London, on 19th November 2026