Association of British Science Writers announces 2023 finalists
Research Professional News has been shortlisted for two Association of British Science Writers Awards 2023.
Europe reporter Andrew Silver is up for the Research Policy or Funding Story of the Year for his timely article exploring how sanctions on Russia were disrupting polar research in June 2022. The ABSW judges said the article was a “really good piece written on an important topic”, adding that “the reporting is challenging, executed well and clearly written”.
Meanwhile, Sarah Richardson, editor-in-chief of Research Professional News, has been shortlisted in the Editor of the Year category after scooping the same prize last year.
The judges commented: “Sarah’s application stood out for the steady readership growth under her tenure and her ability to drive forward expansion without losing focus on core activities.
“We were particularly impressed with her ability to launch a new US product while continuing to oversee some hard-hitting, impactful stories, and also taking the time to develop junior journalists.”
Richardson said: “I’m delighted that the ABSW has recognised Research Professional News’s reporting again this year with these shortlistings.
“To be nominated for these prestigious awards is a fantastic endorsement of the work of the whole team, whose coverage of the most pressing issues in research policy continues to go from strength to strength.
“I’m also especially pleased to see one of our newest reporters, Andrew Silver, making his name in the sector with his powerful coverage of the Ukraine war’s impact on research.”
The shortlistings follow a bumper year for the publication at the 2022 awards. In addition to Richardson’s win, senior reporter Robin Bisson and UK deputy news editor Sophie Inge scooped News Item of the Year for their joint story on the national funder UK Research and Innovation axing support for aid-funded research projects.
Inge also won the Research Policy or Funding Story of the Year for her piece on the UK government’s failure to deliver on its dementia research funding pledge.
This year’s awards ceremony is set to take place on 13 July.
Research Professional News was also shortlisted recently for three 2023 Talent Awards from the British Society of Magazine Editors. Features editor Fiona McIntyre and Inge were both listed for Best B2B Writer, while deputy group editor Daniel Cressey made the cut in the Best Deputy Editor category.
You can read a selection of shortlisted articles below:
Editor of the Year
Fraud: the strange world of R&D tax cold calls
UK winners of EU grants given two-month ultimatum
Manchester vice-president told to apologise over racism row
Research Policy or Funding Story of the Year