Eligibility:

Please note updated eligibility requirements:

• The Awards welcome entries highlighting human rights abuses both in the UK and around the world.
• For online and broadcast entries, submissions must be from a media outlet with headquarters in the UK, or international outlets with bureaus in the UK.
• For print and photojournalism entries, submissions must have been printed in the UK, specifically for a UK audience.
• All entries should be able to demonstrate impact on a UK audience either because they were broadcast on a UK terrestrial or satellite channel, published in the UK or have been on theatrical general release in commercial cinemas in the UK. If only available online, they must have originated in the UK and/or were demonstrably marketed to and/or consumed by a UK audience. All entries must originally be in English (subtitles in English will be accepted for broadcast entries).
• Work must have been published or broadcast for the first time by the entering outlet between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025.
• All entries must be submitted online. For details of how to enter and fees where applicable.
• The closing date for entries is midnight on 30 January 2026, no entries will be accepted after this.

Judging Process:

All entries will be reviewed by a shortlisting panel to generate a shortlist of 10 entries for each category. The shortlist will then go to our judging panels, made up of journalists from across the broadcast, print and online media plus Amnesty senior team members, who will select four finalists for each category. The finalists for each category will be published on the Amnesty International UK website at the end of March 2026 and all entries will be informed by email. The finalists will be invited to the Amnesty Media Awards ceremony to be held at BFI Southbank on 6 May 2026, where the winners will be announced.

Judging Criteria:

Shortlisting and judging panels will be looking for excellence in human rights journalism, judged by the following criteria:

Relevance:
Entries will be judged for how they:

• fit the category description
• expose human rights issues
• introduce a human rights topic to the outlet’s audiences, either for the first time, or in a fresh and innovative way
• include case studies or first-hand witness accounts or testimonials.

Well-crafted and responsibly produced:
Entries will be judged for how they:

• are well researched and accurate
• are balanced and fair (news reporting)
• are engaging and appropriate for the audience for which they were intended
• show care and consideration for those whose stories are being told.

Reach and impact:
Entries will be judged for reach and impact. This could be demonstrated through:

• total audience reached and the audience demographic – particularly those less likely to be well informed about human rights
• further media coverage of the issue as a result of the piece
• positive attitudinal change towards human rights
• demonstrable human rights change – this could be a change in policy or law, or proof of a positive impact on the lives of those whose stories have been told
• for the Nations and Regions category, it is acknowledged that certain outlets may be limited in their budget and resources, and this category will be judged accordingly

Copyright:

Media Awards entries may be used or reproduced by Amnesty International to promote the Amnesty International Media Awards. This includes being used in the Amnesty magazine and promotional materials for the awards, on the Amnesty International UK and Amnesty Media Awards websites, at the Amnesty Media Awards ceremony and other Amnesty events, and in other Amnesty communications. Please be aware of this should the content of your entries be sensitive.

Disclaimer:

It is the responsibility of the entrant to provide complete, accurate information about the entry. Amnesty International shall not be liable for errors or omissions in the entry forms or credit information. If the entry form is inaccurate or incomplete, if the entry does not meet the eligibility requirements, or if it is deemed ineligible for any other reason, then the entry will be disqualified. Entry fees cannot be refunded for any entry that is thus disqualified.

The decision of the judges is final and no discussion can be entered into regarding the final results.

Privacy Statement:

Amnesty International UK will store and process your data in order to provide you with the information necessary to process your entry to the awards, and as a past entrant to inform you of future award events. You can opt out of receiving information about future awards at any time by email or calling us, or by clicking the ‘unsubscribe’ link in our emails. Contact details will not be shared with any third parties without your agreement.

How to Enter:

You will be asked to submit your entries in one of the following ways:

• by uploading files ideally as PDF, JPG, MP3 or MP4 to our viewing platform.
• a link to your own viewing platform (eg: Vimeo/YouTube).
• URL (for entries published online).

Each entry should be submitted along with the following information:

• Synopsis and impact statement.
• Credits for up to 4 people connected with the entry.
• High quality photo/still image associated with your entry.
• Logo for the entering media outlet.

Please Note:

• Any links supplied must be accessible up to April 2026. Should this not be the case, alternative access to the entry must be provided.
• We do not require hi-res or HD versions at this stage as these will only be used for shortlisters and judges to view online. If you are a finalist, we will come back to you to request higher resolution versions to show during the ceremony if necessary.
• If submitting more than one entry, a separate online entry form and entry fee will be required for each.

Entry Fees:

Category	Fee
Nations & Regions	Free to enter
Photojournalism	Free to enter
The Gaby Rado Award for New Journalist	Free to enter
All Other Categories	£200.00 (exc. VAT)

Discounts are available for those submitting more than one entry. A 20% reduction in entry fees will automatically be added when making two or more entries at the same time.

Sponsorship:

Sponsorship is available for freelance journalists and film makers or media outlets (print, broadcast or online) which are not for profit, campaigning, or serve small, targeted audiences on tight budgets. If you feel you fit any of these categories, tick the box and give us a very brief explanation. If you do not hear from the awards team before the closing deadline, please assume that your application for sponsorship has been successful. If you have not been successful, we will inform you and check if you still wish to enter, the fee will be applicable and invoiced.