2024 Write to End Violence Against Women Awards shortlist announced

Write to End Violence Against Women Awards 2024: the shortlist

The Write to End Violence Against Women Awards recognises journalism that addresses men’s violence against women and girls responsibly, with sensitivity and insight. Our joint initiative with Zero Tolerance takes a stand against sensationalism, victim-blaming, misconceptions and stereotypes – championing thoughtful, nuanced reporting that challenges the attitudes driving violence against women and girls (VAWG), accurately reflects its root causes, centres survivors’s voices and experiences and raises awareness of support available.

What sets our awards apart?

Each year, following public nominations, we bring together an expert steering group  and a panel of judges from across British media and expert women’s organisations to shortlist outstanding articles in a number of categories:

• News

• Features

• Opinion and Comment

• Broadcast – Experts’ Pick

• Best Investigation

We’re looking for a combination of brilliant writing in line with Zero Tolerance’s Media Guidelines and other expert guides, and the ‘wow factor’ – writing that sheds light on the issue in an innovative way, from a unique perspective or covers an under-reported aspect of VAWG.

We’re delighted to present our shortlist for 2024:

NEWS 

Rape victim facing six-year trial delay says justice system has ‘revictimised’ her by Martin Evans, the Telegraph, 4th February 2024

Forced marriage cases will stay ‘underground’ after law change by Shehnaz Khan, BBC News, 15th February 2024

‘I was told not to have therapy because it could let my rapist walk free’ by Connie Dimsdale, iNews, 15th February 2024

Crown Prosecution Service lawyers trivialise teen sexual abuse, report says by Alexandra Topping, the Guardian, 11th March 2024

London man jailed for ‘stealthing’ after removing condom without consent by Haroon Siddique, the Guardian, 13th June 2024

INVESTIGATION

Premier League teams are playing footballers facing abuse claims by Hannah Price, BBC News, 30th November 2023

Mental health patients ‘raped and sexually assaulted’ as NHS abuse scandal revealed, by Rebecca Thomas, the Independent, and Rob Mulhern, Sky News, 29th January 2024

A war on two fronts: How the British military fails women who report rapes by Sian Norris, Open Democracy, 13th June 2024

Family Court Files Series: Kristoffer Whirte:TBJI wins court battle to publish name of sex offender; Mother ‘devastated’ after rapist father granted contact with child; Serial Rapist Stripped of parental responsibility by Hannah Summers, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, 16th July – 15th September 2024

FEATURES

Inside the Taylor Swift deepfake scandal: ‘It’s men telling a powerful woman to get back in her box’ by Emine Saner, the Guardian, 31st January 2024

Britain’s Asylum Process Endangers Sexual Violence Survivors by Amandas Ong, Jacobin, 7th April 2024

The women who knew they’d be killed – and the police who did nothing to stop it by Sophie Gallagher, iNews, 3rd July 2024

Portugal: Police Brutality Against Black Women and Claudia Simões’ Battle for Justice by Jamila Pereira, Migrant Women Press, 12th August 2024

It’s Time To Connect The Dots Between Stories About Gendered Violence And What Causes It by Gina Martin, ELLE magazine, 18th September 2024

OPINION AND COMMENT

We must fix our broken legal system to help protect women from sexual abuse by Cherie Blair, the Independent, 11th October 2023

Why does Cassie’s trauma need to be seen to be believed? by Mireille Harper, Glamour UK, 21st May 2024

Gisèle Pélicot is a one-woman challenge to the still too common myths about rape by Yvonne Roberts, the Observer, 15th September 2024

My stalker said he’d kill me – but the police just laughed at his d*** pics by Emily Sheffield, the Independent, 21st September 2024

I survived child sex abuse – here’s why Huw Edwards’s sentencing matters by Hannah Shewan Stevens, the Independent, 18th September 2024

BROADCAST EXPERTS’ PICK 

To be announced!

The pieces that have made our 2024 shortlist are examples of responsible writing. They’ve caught our eye not just for their factual reporting, but for showing sensitivity; treating survivors’ stories with the complexity and respect they deserve, rather than reducing them to shocking headlines.

The shortlisted pieces connect individual stories to broader societal contexts, looking at how various factors contribute to this complex issue – both informing readers and supporting those affected.

Good journalism can builds bridges of understanding, challenge long-held misconceptions and offer a supportive hand to survivors who might be considering seeking help. To our brilliant shortlist – thank you bringing these vital stories to light!

Join us for the celebration 

Join us for our online award ceremony on Thursday, 28th November, from 4PM to 5:30 PM. Together, we’ll celebrate the journalists reshaping the narrative, one powerful story at a time.

Register here to attend

Media contact

Sinéad Geoghegan, Head of Communications, media@evaw.org.uk