There were 16 categories in the 2020 round:
British Science Journalist of the Year
£1,000, sponsored by the The Association of the British Pharmaceurical Industry
The British Science Journalist of the Year award celebrates the work of a journalist who promotes excellence and creativity in journalism. This award is for individuals only, not for teams.
The recipient is recognised for entertaining and informing audiences, for inspiring new generations of journalists and writers, and for innovation in their main area of expertise.
Editor of the Year
£1,000
The Editor of the Year award is judged on the quality of editing demonstrated through a submitted statement of achievement in the award entry year, which can include links to supporting articles or broadcasts.
The award is for editing achievements in STEM subjects that go beyond the ordinary and may include launching or relaunching new sections, publications, websites or other products, and/or showing an extraordinary leadership or excellence in breaking significant stories, supporting reporters and shaping up their copy.
Innovation of the Year
£1,000
The Innovation of the Year award is for innovative approaches in the gathering, presentation and/or delivery of STEM journalism. The award is made to the individual or team considered to have made the most innovative approach in the entry year; this will include out-of-the box thinking, and new, unusual and disruptive approaches to journalism. The success/impact of the approach is also considered.
The Steve Connor Award for investigative journalism
£1,000, sponsored by UK Research and Innovation
Entrants to the Steve Connor Award for Investigative Journalism are expected to have undertaken an in-depth investigation into a topic of interest and produced a conclusion. We expect that investigations may have involved lengthy or complicated evidence gathering, and entrants should indicate any difficulties involved in this work on their entry form. We also anticipate that the entrant should have pursued an issue that others do not want the audience to know about. The award can be for a single item or a series of items, although only one item in the series can be entered for judging.
Science Under the Microscope
£1,000, sponsored by IBM Research Europe
The recipient of the Science Under the Microscope award is chosen by the judges from all shortlisted entries and is made to the entry that provides the most insight into the process and personalities of science.
The National Union of Journalists Stephen White award for reporting of science in a non-science context
£600
The NUJ Stephen White Award recognises a journalist or team of journalists who make complicated ideas accessible to the non-specialist general public and in non-traditional outlets. It is for science stories that appear in unusual or surprising outlets that do not normally cover science. STEM publications and programmes, publications that routinely and frequently publish STEM articles, or STEM sections of publications are not eligible (eg: New Scientist, Inside Science – BBC Radio). If the entry is part of a series then it is judged on one submitted episode only.
The Dr Katharine Giles Award for best popular article written by a scientist or engineer
£600
The Dr Katharine Giles Award can be entered by an individual or a team and is for a specific article aimed at a lay audience. This award is supported by the Dr Katharine Giles Fund. Winners of this award will be offered media skills training through the Dr Katharine Giles Fund.
Opinion/Editorial of the Year
£500
The Opinion/Editorial of the Year award is for written work that expresses an opinion or aims to change opinion. This includes but is not limited to identifiable opinion columns, so also includes editorial, columns, blogs etc.
Engineering or Technology Story of the Year
£500, sponsored by the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association
The Engineering or Technology Story of the Year award is for stories about research in the engineering and technology sector.
Research Policy or Funding Story of the Year
£500
The Research Policy or Funding Story of the Year award is for stories that tackle policy and funding agenda-related to science and technology research.
News Analysis or Explanatory Reporting of the Year
£500
The News Analysis or Explanatory Reporting of the Year award is for stories that are neither hard news nor fully-fledged features, that provide an insightful explanation of science behind the headlines, and provide valuable new context and background to the news.
News Item of the Year
£500
The News Item of the Year award is for a news item published or broadcast in any medium. The award is for a single news item rather than a series of items. Entrants should explain on their entry form why it should be considered in this category eg: breaking news story, first in-depth report.
The judges look for evidence that the story is new to the relevant audience, as well as excellent writing and original reporting.
Feature of the Year – for general/lay audience
£500
The Feature of the Year (general) award is for a feature published in any print medium or online that is primarily consumed by and aimed at a general, lay audience ie mass media, broadsheet, tabloid.
Only one item may be submitted, although this feature may be part of a series. The judges look for excellent writing and substantial reporting.
Feature of the Year – specialist audience
£500
The Feature of the Year (specialist) award is for a feature published in any print medium or online that targets specific, specialist audiences rather than the general public, such as scientists, GPs, chemists, engineers etc ie trade press or other specialist publication.
Only one item may be submitted, although this feature may be part of a series. The judges look for excellent writing and substantial reporting.
Video of the year
£500
This award is judged on the quality of reporting demonstrated through the script and programme content and is made to the individual or team responsible for the content of the script/programme.
The award is for a programme where STEM is the primary issue covered. The award can be for a single programme or a series, although only one item in the series can be entered for judging.
The Royal Society Audio of the Year
£500
The Royal Society Audio of the Year award is judged on the quality of reporting demonstrated through the script and programme content and is made to the individual or team responsible for the content of the script/programme.
The award is for a programme (or podcast) where STEM is the primary issue covered. The award can be for a single programme or series, although only one item in the series can be entered for judging.
Newcomer of the Year
£500
The Newcomer of the Year award is for individuals only and not for teams. There are no age restrictions for this award however the entrant should have published their first piece of journalism within the last three years ie between 01 January 2017 and 31 December 2019. Entrants should be currently working in journalism, either freelance or staff, full-time or part-time. The judges look for evidence of initiative and career progression.