The Guardian has won three awards at the Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards at a ceremony in London.
Anna Isaac, the Guardian’s city editor, was named the Media Freedom Awards National Journalist of the Year and was praised by the judges for her stories exposing a culture of sexual misconduct at the Confederation of British Industry.
Pippa Crerar took home the prize of Political Journalist of the Year, with the judges saying she has led the way in uncovering stories such as the bullying allegations made against the former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab.
Marina Hyde was named the Media Freedom Awards Commentator of the Year for her column.
Elsewhere, TalkTV presenter Piers Morgan was named Broadcast Journalist of the Year.
The Podcast of the Year was awarded to Partygate: The Inside Story by ITV News while The Daily Telegraph won national Investigation of the Year for the Lockdown Files.
Photojournalist of the Year went to Simon Townsley from the Telegraph Media Group, with the Guardian’s Alessio Mamo highly commended.
The TV presenter Dame Esther Rantzen was given an outstanding contribution to journalism award.
Earlier, culture secretary Lucy Frazer paid tribute to the courage of journalists worldwide and said that those working in war zones continue to “put their lives on the line for truth, freedom and democracy”.
She told the audience: “The work you do is fundamental to a true democracy. Through your reporting you are protecting the freedom of others. And in a world of social media, mainstream media plays a critical role.
“Your fact checked, legal proofed, thorough work allows truth to prevail in an increasingly uncertain world. And what you do takes courage. Immense courage.”
Frazer added that as well as updating the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, legislation such as the media bill and protections added to the economic crime bill would also work to prioritise freedom of expression.
She said: “I want you to know that we, in government, have your back. We understand what you are doing and why it is so important.
“It’s why we are protecting your physical safety with the launching of the updated National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists. We know that threats of violence and intimidation continue to rise – that is totally unacceptable.”
