A BBC team — Camilla Horrox, Fergus Walsh and Joshua Falcon — have picked up the headline award for Outstanding Contribution to Health and Medical Journalism at the 2025 MJA Awards.
Their entry Assisted Dying, North America was voted the best of the best by judges and announced by James Mole on behalf of AstraZeneca, the principal MJA Awards sponsor. Earlier in the evening, the team’s report won News Story of the Year, Broadcast award.
Judges said, “They secured extraordinary access to several contributors, including a man who had chosen to die. This was done with great care, sensitivity and balance and was deeply informative on a debate of immense public interest and controversy. The detail and breadth of the report, and the commitment shown to exploring the issue, reflect the very best of public service broadcasting.”
Assisted dying was also the subject for Ben Spencer of the Sunday Times’ winning entry for Feature of the Year for a general audience
Both were timely wins, given debate in the House of Lords this week on a UK assisted dying bill.
Talented freelancer Adele Waters was another big winner at the 2025 MJA Awards, taking home the trophies for Mental Health Story of the Year for her BMJ story on doctor suicides, “All I could see were tasks mounting, appointments being booked, and people constantly knocking on my door” and Feature of the Year, General for a story on hysteroscopy without anaesthesia The ‘barbaric’ procedure that leaves women traumatised, in agony and no longer wanting to have sex, which was published in the Daily Mail.
The Medical Journalists’ Association Awards 2025 Winners
Newcomer of the Year
Winner: Rebecca Barry
ITV News: Mother fears son will ‘become another Valdo Calocane’ without mental health care
The judges said, “Although an experienced journalist, Barry is a newcomer to health. Her report was revelatory, topical, compelling and important. She drew on an impressive range of sources, and her story was clearly impactful across NHS mental health and up to Wes Streeting.”
Highly commended: Lilia Sebouai
The judges were impressed by Lilia’s “Impressive on-the-ground reporting exposing devastating hunger and malnutrition caused by an oil-rich country’s government policies.”
Podcast of the Year
Winner: Jim Reed, Emma Crowe, Sebastian Parris, Kate Collins
BBC: The Covid Inquiry Podcast
“A great example of public service podcasting at its best,” was the judges’ verdict. “Five minutes on the Today programme and the longer form podcast made the most of the medium.”
Health and Climate Change Award – Supported by Haleon
Winner: Michael Peel, Ian Bott, Steven Bernard and Charlie Bibby
Financial Times: The race against time to defeat mosquito-borne diseases
Our judges described this as a “Fascinating look at medical research combating mosquito-borne diseases – which are becoming more prevalent as a result of climate change – presented in a compelling and accessible way.”
The Dr David Delvin Award for Sex and Sexual Health Journalism – Supported by Christine Webber
Winner: Noel Titheradge
BBC News website: Doctors didn’t warn women of ‘risky sex’ drug urges
Our judges said, “This article took us on a journey from the excitement of discovering a new drug that would prevent sexual transmission of HIV with near 100% efficacy to the crashing disappointment of deprioritising funding.
“The journalist’s in-depth knowledge of the subject came through very clearly.”
Case Study of the Year
Winner: Ben Spencer
The Sunday Times: My sister went to Dignitas at 58. She didn’t want to die like Mum did
Judges said, “Ben Spencer has succeeded in making a complex ethical issue deeply personal, navigating the emotionally and ethically charged topic of assisted dying with remarkable balance. A powerful and deeply human piece of medical journalism.”
Highly Commended: Ashish Joshi, Alice Udale-Smith
Sky News: Infected Blood Inquiry: Will the victims finally get justice?
Judges thought this was “A compelling report, with a striking intro. This piece really stood out amongst lots of coverage of this important story. It did justice to a horrific injustice.”
Mental Health Story of the Year
Winner: Adele Waters
BMJ: Doctor suicide: “All I could see were tasks mounting, appointments being booked, and people constantly knocking on my door”
The judges thought this was “A detailed account of an important issue, which rarely reaches the headlines.
“Adele highlights the increasing pressure that doctors are under. The statistics and stories are startling and the scope of her research, along with acknowledging the complexity and avoiding oversimplification is impressive. A strong and affecting article.”
Highly commended: Nick Triggle with Tara Mewawalla
BBC News website: Child mental health crisis: Is better resilience the solution?
Awards judges said, “Nick presents a nuanced take on a contentious issue and grapples with what’s behind the mental health problems among young people.
“He presents a balanced range of perspectives, from experts to those working with children every day. He examines the role of community spaces and antidepressants, as well as looking at what might really make a difference.”
Feature of the Year (broadcast) – Supported by Blue Lozenge
Winner: Patrick Russell, Cree-Summer Haughton, Eloise Swinton, Hattie Hamilton, Matt Williams and Ed Saunt
ITV X: Britain’s Backstreet Surgery Scandal
The judges said, “This documentary exemplifies the role that only well-resourced journalism can fulfil in our society. An outstanding insight into what is perhaps the biggest health ‘fad’ of the moment.
“It really delivers, with a top-class range of case studies, powerful expert input and confident yet natural reportage. It tells a gritty story in a way which is accessible and relatable to a wide audience.
“Excellent, and important work.”
Feature of the Year (specialist audience) – Supported by Doctors’ Association UK
Winner: Simar Bajaj
Nature: The World Was on Track To End the Aids Epidemic. Then Came Trump
The judges said, “Outstanding is the only way to describe this first in-depth account of how President Trump’s abrupt freeze on PEPAR funding is unravelling two decades of HIV progress.
“It’s a masterly piece of journalism, which draws on an impressively wide range of interviews from all over the world and uses jaw dropping statistics to convey what is likely to happen if global funding is not restored.”
Feature of the Year (general audience) – Supported by Genolier Patient Services
Winner: Adele Waters
The ‘barbaric’ procedure that leaves women traumatised, in agony and no longer wanting to have sex, published in the Daily Mail.
“We felt that the power of this piece lay in the exposure of the trauma a routine procedure could have,” the judges said.
“It is well written and interwoven with strong case histories and interviews with experts. It had a big impact and five weeks after this feature was published The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists updated its patient advice.
“A strong example of a charity working hand in hand with a journalist for maximum impact.”
Highly commended: Tom Whipple
The Times: Carol Jennings was the teacher….
The judges verdict was, “A powerful feature about Alzheimer’s disease with an excellent introduction leading into a terrific piece. Tom writes tenderly and sensitively and yet has all the research and involved all the family – with interviews with experts woven in.”
The Gordon McVie Award for Reporting Cancer Research – Supported by Claudia McVie
Winner: Liam Drew
Nature Outlook: Faecal transplants can treat some cancers — but probably won’t ever be widely used
The judges thought, “Immunotherapy has shown great promise and provided effective cures for several cancer patients, but scientists don’t yet fully know why it works so well for some and is ineffective for others.
“Liam’s piece engagingly and effectively explores a potential way to improve the success of immunotherapy.”
Freelance of the Year – Supported by Pharma Nord
Anjana Ahuja
Financial Times: Questions behind the Ozempic baby boom
Financial Times: On assisted dying, are we really any good at predicting survival?
Financial Times: Rising rates of cancer in young people prompt hunt for environmental culprit
The judges said, “Anjana’s regular contributions in the Financial Times offer opinion and insight on developments in health and science.
“Her three stories were fascinating and thought-provoking and answered questions that many people are asking about subjects ranging from the Ozempic baby boom to increasing rates of cancer in young people.”
Highly commended: Simar Bajaj
The Guardian: He was shot in the throat. Now he saves gun victims as a trauma surgeon in Baltimore
MIT Technology Review: This AI-powered “black box” could make surgery safer
Nature: How students and grandparents could solve the global mental-health crisis
The judges said, “Simar’s three stories, each in a different publication aimed at differing audiences, were extremely well written and thought provoking.
“The Guardian feature article about the campaigning Baltimore surgeon who, himself, had been a victim of gun crime, was a compelling human-interest story reflecting Simar’s own persistence and resilience in gaining access to the consulting rooms and operating theatres of one of the world’s top hospitals.”
Science Explained – Supported by Roche
Winner: Amanda Ruggeri
BBC.com: Foetal alcohol syndrome: Why fathers need to watch what they drink too
The judges verdict? “Gripping explanation of complex issues that provided actionable insights for the reader.”
News Story of the Year (broadcast) – Supported by Virgo
Winner: Camilla Horrox, Fergus Walsh and Joshua Falcon
BBC Ten O’clock News: Assisted Dying, North America
The judges said, “They secured extraordinary access to several contributors, including a man who had chosen to die. This was done with great care, sensitivity and balance and was deeply informative on a debate of immense public interest and controversy. The detail and breadth of the report, and the commitment shown to exploring the issue, reflect the very best of public service broadcasting.”
Highly commended: Christina Michaels, Tessa Chapman and Ben Effemey
5 News, ITN: Buvidal: A Postcode Lottery
Judges said this was “A very human story of a former addict that illuminated a range of social problems, showing very powerfully the consequences of providing, or withholding, access to Buvidal. The sensitive storytelling brought to life the disturbing inequalities of access to the drug and offered clear policy actions.”
News Story of the Year (specialist audience) -Supported by Real Chemistry
Winner: Elisabeth Mahase
Obesity: Only half of England has access to comprehensive weight loss services, for the BMJ
Judges described this as, “A thoughtful and well-researched story on obesity services – one of the most important yet poorly understood areas in healthcare.
“This story is informative, balanced and well-written and explains how obesity services are being neglected.”
News Story of the Year (general audience)
Winner: Eleanor Hayward and Poppy Koronka
The Times: Boom in weight-loss drugs
“An informative, attention-grabbing story on an important issue, with excellent case studies,” was the judges’ verdict.
Highly commended: Lucy Elkins
Daily Mail/Mail Online: Baby born after womb transplant in UK first
Judges said, “Cracking UK-first story that has broad public appeal and a great, familial human-interest story.”
Editor of the Year -Supported by ABPI
Winner: Jennifer Richardson
Bmj.com: Food industry has infiltrated UK children’s education: stealth marketing exposed
Our judges said, “This special investigation series into Children and Food had major political and policy salience. This editor had clear objectives from the start for these major investigations: journalistic excellence, reach, and impact – and she hit all of them.
“The series was strategic in its planning and delivery, uncovering powerful and compelling new angles on well-covered topics.”
Outstanding Contribution to Health and Medical Journalism – Supported by AstraZeneca
Winners: Camilla Horrox, Fergus Walsh and Joshua Falcon
For their winning News Story of the Year (broadcast) entry BBC Ten O’clock News: Assisted Dying, North America
Congratulations to all our winners and thanks to the 2025 judges and the sponsors who make this celebration of excellence possible.
