The announcement was made by Sir Clive Cowdery, Founder and Chairman of the Resolution Group and owner of Prospect, at the Orwell Prize ceremony last night. The prize has been running successfully in previous years and has been instrumental in recognising powerful, public-interest journalism on domestic social issues. This new sponsorship reflects Prospect’s commitment to supporting fearless reporting that shines a light on injustice and drives public understanding of complex issues.
“Prospect challenges the way we think about our world,” Cowdery said. “And often that means exposing hard truths. Orwell’s legacy reminds us that social problems often arise through inaction, failed policy, or indifference. This prize celebrates journalism that refuses to look away.”
The Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils honours reporting that investigates the social fabric of the UK—covering topics such as poverty, housing, education, disability, welfare, and the impacts of government policy. The goal is to bring underreported stories to national attention, and to support journalists working on difficult, long-term issues that may not lead the bulletins but carry lasting impact.
Open to work published across all platforms—text, video, audio, photojournalism and social media—the prize is judged by an independent panel of experts.
The winner receives £5,000 and will be published in Prospect. Two runners-up will receive £2,500 each, and their work may also be featured digitally.
About Prospect
Prospect is the UK’s leading monthly magazine for politics, policy, and culture. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Prospect is known for agenda-setting essays, interviews, and analysis from across the political spectrum. According to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) report, Prospect’s combined print and digital circulation has risen to 40,273, a 30% year-on-year increase. The magazine is committed to providing rigorous, long-form journalism for readers who want depth, clarity, and insight on the issues that shape our world.
About The Orwell Foundation
The Orwell Foundation is a registered charity that exists to celebrate and build on the legacy of George Orwell, the author of 1984, Animal Farm and The Road to Wigan Pier. The Foundation awards the prestigious Orwell Prizes each year, honouring outstanding political writing and reporting that meets Orwell’s own ambition “to make political writing into an art.” Through its prizes, public events, and the Orwell Youth Prize, the Foundation promotes honest, independent journalism and public discourse guided by Orwellian values: clarity, integrity, and a commitment to truth.
Media contact:
Jo Murray: jo.murray@prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk | www.orwellfoundation.com
