Judging day for our annual awards was, as ever, a day of lively chat and deliberations, with many judges commenting that the high standard and diversity of entries was a testament to the strength of good journalism in difficult times.
MJA administrator Rosalie Smith also added blini-builder to her list of many talents when we discovered that the catering we’d ordered required a degree of self-assembly.
Our independent judging panel brings a broad range of expertise and opinions to the process and includes former health journalists, communications specialists from across the healthcare and charity sectors and media medics. We are hugely grateful for the time, care and focus they devote to this often challenging task.
Each category is decided by a sub-group of judges who weigh up the entries to decide their own ‘shortlist’. These are then collated to create a longer ‘shortlist’ and all the judges in that category come together on our judging day, or via video meetings, to debate and decide their category winners.
If they think it’s worthy, judging panels can also put their category winner forward for our best-of-the-best Outstanding Contribution Award, which is supported by our principal sponsor AstraZeneca, This is decided by a majority vote of all judges.
No members of the Executive Committee are involved in the judging. However, to ensure that EC members are not disadvantaged by serving on the committee, they permitted to enter. However, those who do so are not involved in any Awards’ decisions.
Winners will be announced at the MJA Awards Ceremony, September 17, 2025 at the News Building (17th Floor), 1 London Bridge St, London SE1 9GF.
With thanks to our 2025 Awards judges:
Rebecca Asher Partnerships and engagement manager, Wellcome Trust; freelance consultant
Susan Bahl Head of media, NHS Providers
Yuba Bessaoud Media lead, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)
Adam Brimelow Director of communications, NHS Providers
David Brindle Chair, Ambient Support
James Brindle CEO Journalists’ Charity
Claire Burroughs Executive director of communications, policy, and research, Royal College of Physicians
Alison Cranage Scientific communications and engagement manager, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre
Laura Dibb Head of communications, Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Natasha Donovan Director, Happytohealthyou; clinical educator
Helene Feger Former health correspondent and NHS communications director
Christine Hancock Founder and director, C3 Collaborating for Health
Jon Hibbs Director of communications and engagement, Barts Health NHS Trust
Richard Hoey Founder, Amplify Science
Dr Catherine Hood NHS doctor; specialist in psychosexual medicine; broadcaster and writer
Anna Jefferson Director media and regional communications, Care Quality Commission
Louise Jury Writer/Editor/Communications consultant
Dr Stella Kingett Consultant psychiatrist in the NHS
Ben Kolbington Head of communications and deputy director, Institute of Cancer Research
Edel McCaffrey Independent Communications Consultant
Andrew McCracken Joint interim director of communications, head of external affairs, The Kings Fund
Kaye McIntosh Freelance health journalist
Laura Milne Media officer, Institute of Cancer Research
Katrina Nevin-Ridley Director of Reputation for medicine and dentistry at Queen Mary University of London
Kerry Noble Communications consultant in medicine and science
Katherine O’Brien Head of campaigns and communications, British Pregnancy Advisory Service
Susan Osborne Director of communications, The Goodwork Organisation
Steve Palmer Director of communications, Wellcome Sanger Institute and Wellcome Genome Campus
Jane Plumb Chief Executive, Group B Strep Support
Mark Purcell Managing director, Jonathan Street PR, health communicators
Daniel Reynolds Director of communications, NHS Confederation
Genevieve Robson Senior writer and operations director, SWM Health
Lee Rodwell Health writer and author
Barbara Rowlands Hon research fellow in journalism, City, University of London
Nick Samuels Director of healthcare, Freshwater UK
David Schley Deputy director, Sense about Science
Henry Scowcroft Communications consultant, writer and editor
Kate Sidwell Charity sector communications, media and PR specialist
Michele Simmons Health journalist; editorial consultant and author
Matt Tee Executive director of communications and engagement, NHS Kent & Medway
Antony Tiernan Director of communications and engagement, NHS Blood and Transplant
John Underwood Director, Centre for Health Communication Research
June Walton Freelance writer, editor, consultant
Cressida Ward Director, Dudley healthcare communications
Edward Ware Head of news, MIND mental health charity
Richard Westcott Head of communications and engagement, Cambridge University health partners, Cambridge biomedical campus
Kate Wighton Resident doctor; former research media manager, Imperial College, London
Jo Willey Healthcare, media and communications consultant Jo Willey Media