The nominations for the 31st Rory Peck Awards have closed and now the search is on for the world’s best freelance journalism.
The Awards, which celebrate their thirtieth birthday in 2025, are a vital celebration of courage and independence in journalism, shining a light on freelancers working in some of the world’s most challenging environments—those whose stories and images might otherwise go untold.
Nominees will contest four categories across news and current affairs, with judges drawn from across the media and independent journalism sector.
This year we mark a new chapter in the Awards’ history, reinforcing the Trust’s mission to support and recognise those who risk their lives to bear witness. In November, the individual judged to the best journalist overall will receive a new award, ‘Freelancer of the Year’. The award is sponsored by the Trust’s newest commercial partner, insurance company MIB who join our existing sponsors Sony and the Embassy of Sweden.
The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at BFI Southbank on Wednesday, 29th November. In another ‘first’, the Trust will award its first Fellowship. It honours an individual or group who has made an outstanding contribution to the cause of independent journalism—a ‘Hall of Fame’ which will serve as a living testament to the power of independent reporting and the individuals, past, present, and future, who embody Rory Peck’s values: brave, modest, and professional.
The 2025 Awards will also salute the contribution of the man who hosted the very first Rory Peck Awards in 1995.
For more than two decades Sandy Gall presented the UK’s most watched news programme, ITN’s News at Ten. But he relished being on the road, covering Vietnam and Afghanistan. He made the Afghan story his own, reporting from there for the final time, at the age of 82. After Rory died, Sandy was one of those who helped get the Trust off the ground, serving on its first organising committee and penning a portrait of Rory for the Awards brochure. He wrote:
“Rory Peck was the best sort… brave, modest and professional. The Awards are a worthy memorial to a brave and civilised man and an encouragement to those who would follow him.”
Sandy Gall CBE passed away, aged 97, just days before entries closed for this year’s Awards. His legacy continues to inspire and honour those who follow in Rory Peck’s footsteps.