Newsquest’s The 21 Campaign has been shortlisted for the Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards 2024.

According to the Society of Editors, the awards “set the benchmark for a celebration of UK public interest and campaigning journalism”.

The awards also aim to shine a light on the “crucial role” the news and media industry plays in “promoting media freedom, championing the public’s right to know and holding power to account”.

The 21 was an investigative campaign to humanise London homicide victims.

Reports from Newsquest’s 20 London newspapers contributed by reaching out to and interviewing bereaved families or investigating knife crime.

Some of these stories included the view points of Metropolitan Police commanders, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, concerned headteachers and of course, the families who have lost loved ones to knife crime.

In London, violent crimes are reported on almost daily – they are so commonplace the public is becoming desensitised.

In July 2024, The Guardian reported that the Court News agency barely sells knife murders from the Old Bailey anymore as the nationals don’t even see London stabbings as worth reporting.

But Newsquest London firmly believes that when we lose sight of victims’ humanity, we lose sight of the true horror of knife crime.

Behind every death is a victim. Behind every victim are dozens or hundreds more lives forever marred: parents, grandparents, siblings and loved ones.

By showing this, Newsquest hoped to help challenge the culture of kids carrying knives and becoming involved in violence.

One example of how Newsquest London brought light to this issue was reporter Poppy Huggett's first-person account of learning of how to save a life within three minutes of catastrophic injury.

Poppy attended an event that brought together friends and families of people taken by tragic circumstances: stabbings, suicides, domestic abuse.

Another example was reporter Joseph Reaidi’s interview with Patrick Green, CEO of major anti-knife charity the Ben Kinsella Trust.

It was formed in 2008 after Ben, 16, was killed in an unprovoked Islington attack during his GCSE results celebration.

The Ben Kinsella Trust lauded the 21 campaign, with Patrick commenting: "Knife crime statistics are a stark reminder of the number of young lives tragically lost, but they don't capture the depth of the pain families endure or the trauma inflicted on communities. 

“The 21 campaign serves a vital purpose.

“By personalising the statistics, it allows the reader to grasp the devastating impact of knife violence.

“It is only when you truly understand the complexity of knife crime that you can start to address it root causes.

“This understanding is crucial to building momentum and creating real change.”

The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 12 at the Underglobe in London, presented by ITV News Journalist and Presenter Lucrezia Millarini.

Announcing the shortlist, Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors and co-chair of the judges said: “Once again we have been astounded by the exceptional standard of entries for this year’s Media Freedom Awards and the tenacity, intelligence and bravery of our colleagues across broadcast, national, regional and online platforms.

“We are delighted that ITV News’ Lucrezia Millarini will, once again, helm our evening of celebrations and we are grateful to our partners for their support and recognition of the vital role the UK news industry plays. 

“We look forward to welcoming those shortlisted, alongside their colleagues, on November 12.”

We have compiled a list of the other campaigns shortlisted for regional Campaign of the Year.

  • Ban Zombie Knives, Express & Star
  • Cavity Wall Insulation campaign, Burnley Express
  • Grenfell, ITV News London
  • Hillsborough Law, Liverpool Echo
  • Keep Hitachi on Track, The Northern Echo
  • NI Sexual Offences Anonymity campaign, Belfast Telegraph
  • The 21, Newsquest London