We are delighted to announce the winners of the 30 To Watch: Journalism awards for 2026.
For 15 years, MHP Group has celebrated some of the best young talent in the media. This year we received more than 250 entries from all corners of the UK.
A special thank you to our independent judging panel, chaired by Alison Phillips, former Editor in Chief at The Mirror. The panel included Paul Morgan Bentley, Head of Forensic Journalism at The Times, Anne Alexander, Head of Politics at ITV and Alex Goss, Head of News at The Sun.
We were particularly pleased to welcome back former 30 To Watch winners as judges including The Guardian Senior Correspondent Geraldine McKelvie and The FT Global Transport Correspondent Peter Campbell.
30 To Watch Breakthrough Award
Hebe Campbell, The Independent
City & Business
Laith Al-Khalaf, Financial Times
Lars Mucklejohn, Dow Jones
Samuel Norman, City AM
Highly commended – Maria Ward Brennan, City AM
Culture, Entertainment & Lifestyle
Fred Kelly, Daily Mail
Yennah Smart, The Times
Emily Webber, Sun on Sunday
Megan Wallace, Freelance
Highly commended – Grace Dean, BBC News
Disinformation
Matt Murphy, BBC Verify
Health
Sophie Braybrook, Channel 4 News
Hannah Brown, The Herald
Anna Colivicchi, Pulse
Highly commended – Marine Saint, Freelance
International Affairs
Jack Denton, Freelance / Sunday Times
Olive Enokido-Lineham, Sky News
Caolan Magee, Al Jazeera
Highly commended – Rachel Hagan, Sunday Times
News & Investigations
Riva Japaul, Freelance
Olivia Mustafa, ITV News
Jane Prinsley, Jewish Chronicle
Kamal Sultan, Daily Mail
Katharine Swindells, Inside Housing
Highly commended – Daisy Graham-Brown, Mail on Sunday
Personal Finance & Consumer Affairs
Mary Downer, The Times
Noah Eastwood, The Telegraph
Highly commended – Emily Braeger, The i
Politics
Martina Bet, The Sun
Noa Hoffman, The Sun / The Spectator
Matilda Martin, Politics Home
Highly commended – Henry Dyer, The Guardian
Production
Maya Bowles, ITV News
Allegra Goodwin, CNN
Kirsty Hickey, Sky News
Highly commended – Mimi Yates, Daily Mail
Science, Environment & Technology
Esme Stallard, BBC News
Katie Templeton-Knight, Sky News
Highly commended – Ayesha Tandon, Carbon Brief
Massive congratulations to all of our winners. We look forward to seeing you on the 4th June for the awards ceremony.
Anne Alexander, ITV Good Morning Britain
Peter Campbell, The Financial Times
Annabelle Collins, Health Service Journal
Adam Crafton, The Athletic
Claire Ellicott, Daily Mail
Anthony France, Evening Standard
Alex Goss, The Sun
Robert Guest, The Economist
Ellie Hayward, The Times
Daniel Hewitt, ITN
Graham Hiscott, The Mirror
Guy Kelly, The Telegraph
Emily Kent Smith, Goalhanger
Geraldine McKelvie, The Guardian
Paul Morgan Bentley, Channel 4
Madhumita Murgia, Financial Times
Matt Nixson, The Express
Jonathan Paterson, John Schofield Trust
Alison Phillips, 30 To Watch Chair
Kerri-Ann Roper, LADbible
Terry Slavin, Reuters’ Ethical Corporation Magazine
Colletta Smith, BBC News
Sarah Whitehead, Sky News
Ben Wilkinson, The Times
Matt Williams, ITV News
