Anti-Slavery Day Awards 2026: Media Shortlist

MEDIA CONTRIBUTIONS SHORTLIST

The Media awards recognise the work of those in the media who have highlighted the nature and prevalence of modern slavery and human trafficking in an accurate and effective way.

The shortlist for best news piece dealing with modern slavery comprises of:

• ITV News West Country (Marina Jenkins), 'I wanted to end my life': Modern slavery survivor forced to work night and day as care worker

• The Sun (Grace Macaskill), Gates to hell

• The Telegraph (Tom McArdle), Sexual exploitation of girls rises 50pc in five years

• The Times (Emma Yeomans), Court rules human trafficking decision on migrant policy unlawful

The shortlist for best investigative news article dealing with modern slavery comprises of:

• Open Democracy (Sian Norris), Kavin came here to work. He ended up a modern slave

• The Times (Geraldine Scott and Georgia Lambert), China ‘pressured’ UK university into ditching forced labour report

• The Standard (Hannah Wallace), The hidden scandal of modern slavery in London

• The Guardian (Amelia Gentleman), The malignant rise of OnlyFans managers: ‘It’s exploiting. It’s grooming. It’s predatory’

The shortlist for best broadcast piece dealing with modern slavery comprises of:

• BBC Radio Wales (Amy Derrick), Freedom through coffee

• Channel 4 (Tir Dhondy), I Went Undercover In Ayia Napa As A Party Promoter

• BBC (Grace Sweeney), Caitlin Hanna: Trafficked in Belfast

• Sky News (Katerina Vittozzi), Counterfeit Crime: Fake fashion, Gen- Z and Me

The shortlist for best written opinion piece dealing with modern slavery comprises of:

• The Big Issue (Eleanor Lyons), Overseas domestic workers are abused by employers. The UK visa system makes it worse

• The Law Gazette (Lara Strangways), The UK was once an anti-slavery champion - today we're falling behind

• Conservative Home (Will Prescott), How to reform the UK’s modern slavery system

• The Big Issue (Kate*), Few trafficking and modern slavery survivors get counselling. They have to face their trauma alone

*pseudonym used used for anonymity