The Paul Foot Award 2026
Submissions are now open
The Private Eye Paul Foot Award for Investigative and Campaigning Journalism recognises the UK’s most brilliant, talented and determined journalists working in the fields of investigative and campaigning journalism today, and was set up in memory of revered journalist Paul Foot, who died in 2004.

The winner of the Private Eye Paul Foot Award 2026 will be awarded £8,000 at an Awards Ceremony on 1st June 2026 while shortlistees will receive £1,500 per entry.

Download the Entry Form here »

Submission Criteria

Entries must be received by noon, Tuesday 17th March 2026 - submissions received after this date will not be considered.

The submission must be journalistic work published in a UK-based newspaper or magazine, including digital-only publications; broadcast content is not eligible. Eligible entries must have been first published between 5 March 2025 and 28 February 2026, inclusive. Submissions may be produced by an individual journalist, a team of journalists, or a publication, and may comprise a standalone article, a multi-part investigation, or a campaign. Journalists may submit more than one entry, provided each entry is made using a separate application form.

A maximum of two entries may be submitted per journalist or team.

How to submit a nomination

Entries must be submitted as PDFs by email only to: awards@private-eye.co.uk with the email subject The Paul Foot Award 2026.

Applications will not be considered complete until all items listed below have been received.

  • An entry form (completed electronically; handwritten forms will not be accepted).
  • Cover letter (maximum 2 A4 pages): This may include an overview of your investigation or campaign, for example a brief history or context, key challenges, and major milestones.
  • PDF copies of submitted article(s) in the format in which they originally appeared (print or online). For multi-part investigations and campaigns, please attach each article as a separate PDF, along with a separate A4 document listing all relevant articles and their publication dates. If your campaign ran over an extended period, we recommend including only a selection of key coverage as PDF attachments, while listing the remaining articles on the A4 document.
  • Please number the articles and record how many you have attached. Links will not be opened.
  • For team entries: Please nominate a single person as the point of contact and list all entrants in your order of preference.
The strict deadline for entries is noon, Tuesday 17th March 2026.

Queries

Any queries should be directed to Anna Zanetti at Midas PR.

Tel: 0758 312 7515

Email: Anna.Zanetti@midas-group.com

The Paul Foot Award was set up in memory of revered investigative journalist Paul Foot, who died in 2004.

Paul Foot, an investigative journalist, editor and left-wing campaigner, worked variously for the Daily Record, the Daily Mirror, The Guardian and Private Eye. He was involved in many high-profile campaigns throughout his illustrious career, including the Birmingham Six, the Bridgewater Four and the John Poulson scandal. His accolades include the Journalist of the Year, the Campaigning Journalist of the Year, the George Orwell Prize for Journalism and in 2000 he was honoured as the Campaigning Journalist of the Decade.

Paul Foot died in 2004 at the age of 66.

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