As the June 1st deadline for the 2025 Medical Journalists’ Association Awards approaches, health and medical journalists across the UK and Ireland are polishing their entries drawn from their work over the past year. With £500 cash prizes and prestigious trophies available across 16 different categories, these awards represent a significant opportunity for our members to get the recognition they deserve for great work.
But what is the secret to a great entry?
MJA Chair Shaun Lintern, who has won many awards over the years, told us: “The best candidates don’t just submit great work — they understand exactly what makes their journalism shine and ensure the judges can see it too. It’s all about the back story and of course the impact that the story had once it was published.
“If you did something extraordinary to get a story over the line or if you overcame some particular block or problem that needed skill, make sure you tell the judges in your submission.”
To be in with a chance work must have been published or broadcast in the UK or Ireland between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025 and be health- or medicine-related.
Selecting the right category is key. For broadcast journalists, categories like Feature of the Year (broadcast) will evaluate production quality and information density within time constraints, while News Story of the Year (broadcast) focuses on concise packages where construction and audio/visual elements are paramount. Writers can choose between general and specialist audience categories for both features and news, with different expectations for each.
When your work has generated tangible effects — follow-up coverage, policy changes, public debate, or increased awareness of underreported issues — this should be explicitly highlighted in your supporting information. Judges cannot recognize the ripple effects of your journalism unless you make them visible.
Across all categories, judges are seeking evidence that you understand your audience deeply and have tailored your approach accordingly. A brilliant explanation of complex science that mismatches its audience’s knowledge level will not succeed, nor will technically sound reporting that fails to engage readers or viewers emotionally when the subject demands it.
For those submitting multiple entries, consider the cost strategy: non-members pay £75 per entry, while MJA members enter for free. At £55 for annual membership, joining the MJA quickly becomes cost-effective while providing additional professional benefits.
Lintern added: “The best entries connect the dots for judges between the journalism itself and its significance in the broader healthcare landscape. When we see that a journalist truly understands the weight and impact of their own work, it speaks volumes about their expertise and commitment to the field.”
The clock is ticking so don’t be late with your entry – you can enter the 2025 awards from our Awards page or at https://mjauk.org/about/enter-the-2025-mja-awards.