David Cohen
Evening Standard
The Dispossessed
THE Standard’s dispossessed campaign had three distinct phases, the first being a five-day series focusing on poverty in London today. It revealed that four in ten children in the capital are living in poverty and exposed the continued existence of mass paupers’ graves.
Following this, Cohen showed that more than 1,000 communal burials had taken place in London in the past three years and that, unbeknown to parents, some babies were being buried in mass graves of up to 30 bodies.
The final phase of the campaign saw the launch of the Dispossessed Fund, the idea being to raise at least £1m from the private sector. Crucially the paper had secured a promise from government to match whatever they raised. The money is to be distributed to grassroots charities tackling poverty.
Peter Geoghegan & Khadija Sharife
Democracy for Sale
How Labour Together hired a PR firm to target journalists
The Private Eye Paul Foot Award for Investigative and Campaigning Journalism 2026 has been awarded to PETER GEOGHEGAN & KHADIJA SHARIFE, DEMOCRACY FOR SALE, for their entry How Labour Together hired a PR firm to target journalists.
The Democracy for Sale newsletter uncovered how campaign group Labour Together hired a PR firm to build dossiers on reputable journalists with the intent to discredit them. The investigation led to the resignation of former Labour Together chief Josh Simons from his post as parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office.
The award, worth £8,000 and now in its twenty-second year, was set up in memory of renowned journalist Paul Foot who died in 2004, and recognises the UK’s most brilliant, talented and determined journalists working in the fields of investigative and campaigning journalism.
The 2026 awards ceremony was hosted tonight at BAFTA by Ian Hislop, Editor of Private Eye, who said: “Any excuse for a party, as Zack Polanski put so beautifully. It's been an extraordinary year for the news. Journalism, even though it takes a long time, is worth doing, as none of it goes away. It's extraordinary also what people do now to make journalism affordable and accessible. My final words to you now are what the whole country wants to say to the Prime Minister: ‘Why don't you return to the bar?’.”
Pádraig Reidy, Chair of Judges, The Private Eye Paul Foot Award, commented: “Each year, the Paul Foot Award is a chance to learn about new talent, new issues, and new ways of telling important stories. The shortlists reflect only a fraction of the skill, knowledge, talent and sheer bloody-mindedness of journalism in this country.”
A piece on the winners will appear in the print issue of Private Eye, available on 10th June. Interviews with all the shortlisted journalists will also be available on the Private Eye Page 94 podcast.
On the night, a special award worth £1,000 was given also to Suzanne Antelme, The Reading Chronicle, for her investigation Remedicare: the SEND provider run by a drug smuggler. Meanwhile, Ian’s speech also recognised with a special mention Simon Ezra-Jackson, The Damned Magazine, for his inquiry 'Fashion Police: Does the St Andrews Charity Fashion Show...give to charity?'.
The Shortlist
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY JOURNALIST:
Lindsay Bruce
The Press and Journal
Trapped by RAAC Campaign
Aberdeen’s Press and Journal led a relentless fight for justice for homeowners facing financial ruin after their houses were found to be unsafe due to the use of RAAC (aerated concrete) in their construction. The campaign, driven by reporter Bruce, eventually secured a £4.3m package for residents in one of the poorest parts of the city.
Adam Bychawski
Big Issue/The Lead
How the UK fails victims of miscarriages of justice
Bychawski’s reporting revealed how a 2014 legal change led to many people who were wrongly convicted and imprisoned, often for years, being denied compensation for their ordeal.
Joe Duggan
i paper
Silicosis scandal of killer kitchen worktops
Duggan told the story of workers who have suffered and even died of silicosis after cutting quartz kitchen worktops without sufficient protection. The reporting has been followed by a criminal investigation into one death and the tabling of a bill outlawing unsafe quartz cutting.
Peter Geoghegan & Khadija Sharife
Democracy for Sale
How Labour Together hired a PR firm to target journalists
The Democracy for Sale newsletter uncovered how campaign group Labour Together had hired a PR firm to build dossiers on reputable journalists with the intent to discredit them. The investigation led to the resignation of former Labour Together chief Josh Simons from his post as parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office.
Chloe Hadjimatheou
The Observer
The real Salt Path investigation
Hadjimatheou’s investigation into the story behind the publishing sensation The Salt Path uncovered a trail of deceit, questionable claims and dubious medical diagnosis at odds with the inspiring story of triumph over adversity portrayed in the bestselling books and film.
Daniel Timms, Mollie Simpson, Dan Hayes, Jack Walton, Abi Whistance
Sheffield Tribune
Andrew Milne: the litigious bully who demanded five-figure sums from homeowners
The Tribune newsletter investigated allegations that London-based solicitor Andrew Milne used leasehold loopholes to extract sums of £25,000 upwards from Yorkshire homeowners. Milne has subsequently been arrested as part of a criminal investigation.
Peter Geoghegan and Khadija Sharife join a distinguished list of journalists to have received the Paul Foot Award since it was established twenty-two years ago, including:
2025: Patrick Butler & Josh Halliday, The Guardian
2024: Tristan Kirk, Evening Standard
2023: David Conn, The Guardian
2022: David Collins & Hannah Al-Othman, The Sunday Times
2021: Robert Smith, Financial Times
2020: Alexandra Heal, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism/Various Outlets
2019: Emily Dugan, Buzzfeed
2018: Amelia Gentleman, The Guardian
2017: Emma Youle, Hackney Gazette
2014: Heidi Blake & Jonathan Calvert (The Sunday Times) and Andrew Bousfield & Richard Brooks (Private Eye)
2013: David Cohen, Evening Standard
2012: Andrew Norfolk, The Times
2011: Nick Davies, The Guardian
2010: Clare Sambrook, End Child Detention Now campaign, Various Outlets
2009: Ian Cobain, The Guardian
2008: Richard Brooks (Private Eye) and Camilla Cavendish (The Times )
2007: Rob Evans & David Leigh (The Guardian) & Deborah Wain (Doncaster Free Press)
2006: David Harrison, The Sunday Telegraph
2005: John Sweeney, Daily Mail
Queries
Any queries should be directed to Anna Zanetti at Midas PR.
Tel: 0758 312 7515
Email: Anna.Zanetti@midas-group.com
