Justice Media Awards 2021

Entries are now closed for the 2021 Justice Media Awards.

The awards recognise outstanding print and broadcast journalism that contributes to the public’s understanding of justice, the legal system and legal issues. 2021 marks 30 years of the Justice Media Awards, the longest running media awards in Ireland.

The 2021 Justice Media Awards will take place online on Thursday 24 June 2021. 

James Cahill
President, Law Society of Ireland 

Guidelines

The objective of the awards is to give national recognition to published works or broadcasts which follow certain guidelines:

• Promote the highest standards in legal journalism
• Foster greater public understanding of the law, the legal system or any specific legal issue
• Inform and educate citizens as to the roles in society of the law, the courts, law enforcement agencies and the legal profession
• Disclose practices or procedures needing reform so as to encourage the development and modernisation of Irish laws, courts and law enforcement agencies, and/or
• Assist the legal profession, the judiciary, and all others involved in the administration of justice in attaining the highest professional standards.

Entries for the 2021 Justice Media Awards are now closed.

Contact Details

Tel: Siobhán Masterson on (01) 672 4831

Email: Send queries about the awards or application process to awards@lawsociety.ie.  

List of 2021 categories

Entries were accepted under the following categories:

1. Print/online journalism (daily)
   Outstanding legal journalism published in daily national newspapers (excluding Sunday papers) and on national news websites.
2. Print/online journalism (Sunday)
   Outstanding legal journalism published in Sunday newspapers or on national news websites on Sundays. These are usually, but not necessarily, long-form pieces.
3. Print/online journalism (local)
   Outstanding legal journalism published in local newspapers or on local news websites.
4. Broadcast journalism (radio/podcast – national)
   Outstanding legal journalism broadcast on national radio stations or on national podcasts. This can be in various forms including news reports, current affairs programmes, documentaries, etc.
5. Broadcast journalism (radio/podcast – local)
   Outstanding legal journalism (excluding court reporting) broadcast on local radio stations or on locally-focused podcasts. This can be in various forms including news reports, current affairs programmes, documentaries, etc.
6. Broadcast journalism (TV/video)
   Outstanding legal journalism (excluding court reporting) broadcast on television or online in video format. This can be in various forms including news reports, current affairs programmes, documentaries, etc.
7. Court reporting (print/online)
   This category is for outstanding court reporting published in national and/or local newspapers or on national and/or local news websites.
8. Court reporting (broadcast)
   Outstanding court reporting broadcast on television or on national and/or local radio stations and podcasts.
9. Human rights/social justice reporting (all channels)
   Outstanding journalism on human rights and/or social justice issues across all platforms, both national and local.
10. International justice reporting (all channels)
    Outstanding international legal journalism, falling under one of the following categories:
• an Irish-based journalist reporting on a legal story happening abroad and published/broadcast by an Irish news outlet;
• a foreign-based journalist reporting on a legal story happening abroad and published/broadcast by an Irish news outlet; or
• coverage of an Irish legal story by a publisher/broadcaster/website which is not based in Ireland.
11. Newcomer of the year (all channels)
    This category is to recognise outstanding legal journalism across all platforms by a reporter who has been working full time in a journalistic role for three years or less.
12. Best Student Journalism (all channels)
    This category is to recognise outstanding legal journalism across all platforms by second-level and third-level students who have had their work published in Ireland.

We particularly encourage entries from journalists from diverse backgrounds, and entries covering topics relating to the law that increase representation for gender equality, diversity and inclusion issues in Ireland. If you have any queries, please email awards@lawsociety.ie.

Judging

This criteria includes:

• Highest standards in legal journalism
• Information value and/or educational merit
• Creativity
• Thoroughness, and
• Impact.

The Adjudication Committee may, or may not, elect to present Justice Media Awards or Merit Certificates in each category. The number of awards made is at the discretion of the committee. Principal factors when judging are:

• The value of the entry in promoting the objectives outlined under 'About the Awards',
• The judging criteria listed above, and
• Compliance with the rules of the competition.

No correspondence is entered into in relation to judging criteria or judging decisions. The presentation of an award by the Law Society is not contingent upon, and does not necessarily represent, an endorsement by the Law Society of winning entrants' views.

Eligibility

• Any individual or media organisation that has published a newspaper article or has made a broadcast in Ireland is eligible to submit entries to the Justice Media Awards. There are exceptions - see 'Prohibitions' below.
• Entries may relate to the work of the legislature, judiciary, legal profession, law enforcement agencies, penal institutions or to the law itself and may be  current, historical or futuristic.
• Only materials originally published or broadcast during the period 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021 will be considered. 
• Entry is free but there is a limit of three entries per journalist (or team of journalists) in each category.  

Prohibitions

• The submitted articles/broadcasts must be intended for the general public and not a particular audience with specialist knowledge.
• The principal occupation of the author(s)/broadcaster(s) of entries in the respective categories must be one of the following: journalist, broadcaster or film-maker with exception to category 12 where the principal occupation of the author must be student.
• The competition is not open to legal publications primarily intended to be read by lawyers, or text books published for lawyers or law students.
• Materials prepared by, or associated with, any member of staff of the Law Society or member of the Adjudication Committee of the Justice Media Awards are ineligible.
• Entries may be disqualified if they do not comply with the rules governing the form of submission of entries.

View details of the winners and citations from previous awards. 

2020

The Justice Media Awards 2020 were presented on Thursday 25 June 2020 by President of the Law Society Michele O’Boyle and Director General Ken Murphy online. View details of the 2020 winners. Watch the 2020 Justice Media Awards presentations online. 

See photos of the event in the 2020 gallery.

2019

The Justice Media Awards 2019 were presented on Thursday 27 June 2019 by President of the Law Society  Patrick Dorgan and Director General Ken Murphy at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. View details of the 2019 winners.

See photos of the event in the 2019 gallery.

2018

The Justice Media Awards 2018 were presented on Thursday 21 June 2018 by President of the Law Society Michael Quinlan and Director General Ken Murphy at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. View details of the 2018 winners.

See photos of the event in the 2018 gallery.

2017

The Justice Media Awards 2017 were presented on Thursday 22 June 2017 by President of the Law Society Stuart Gilhooly and Director General Ken Murphy at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. View details of the 2017 winners.

See photos of the event in the 2017 gallery.

2016

The Justice Media Awards 2016 were presented on Thursday 23 June 2016 by President of the Law Society Simon Murphy and Director General Ken Murphy at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. View details of the 2016 winners.

See photos of the event in the 2016 gallery.

2015

The Justice Media Awards 2015 were presented on Thursday 4 June 2015 by President of the Law Society Kevin O’Higgins and Director General Ken Murphy at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. View details of the 2015 winners.

2014

The Justice Media Awards 2014 were presented on Thursday 12 June 2014 by President of the Law Society John P. Shaw and Director General Ken Murphy at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. View details of the 2014 winners.

2013

The Justice Media Awards 2013 were presented on Thursday 13 June 2013 by President of the Law Society James McCourt and Director General Ken Murphy. View details of the 2013 winners.

2012

The Justice Media Awards 2012 were presented on 7 June 2012 to the by Director General Ken Murphy and President of the Law Society Donald Binchy. View details of the 2012 winners.

2011

The Justice Media Awards 2011 were presented on 2 June 2011 by Vice-President of the Law Society Kevin O’Higgins. 

2010

The Justice Media Awards 2010 were presented on 3 June 2010 by past-President of the Law Society John D. Shaw.