PinkNews wins Editorial Team of the Year at prestigious Drum Awards
Throughout 2021 PinkNews reported on protests demanding a ban on conversion therapy, safety for LGBT+ refugees and improved rights for trans people. (Getty)
PinkNews was named Editorial Team of the Year at The Drum Awards for its unrivalled LGBT+ journalism.
The Drum Awards for Online Media recognised PinkNews for its depth and breadth of coverage across 2021 on topics such as HIV/AIDS, the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the ongoing fight for transgender rights across the globe – including the first trans civil rights case ever to reach the UK Supreme Court.
At a time when LGBT+ rights, particularly trans rights, are being used as ‘culture war’ fodder, 2021 saw PinkNews hold politicians to account over issues including reforms to the Gender Recognition Act and a proposed ban on conversion therapy.
Among the highlights of its UK political coverage was an apology from DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley for the party’s “atrocious” anti-LGBT+ record.
The apology, which came at the PinkNews Virtual Summer Reception in Belfast, received national news coverage, and was reported on by the BBC and ITV, among others.
To counteract the negative narrative of trans lives in the media, 2021 also saw PinkNews launch a series on Trans Joy. This focused on positive, uplifting and authentic representation, including the story of Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen, Asifa Lahore, and insights into the feeling of gender euphoria a simple hair cut can bring.
Benjamin Cohen, CEO of PinkNews, said: “With LGBT+ rights being under attack politically and from the mainstream media, the journalism that PinkNews does in written and video form has never been more important.
“It is therefore so important for our content to have been recognised by these important awards.
“At PinkNews, we want to create content that informs our audience, inspires change and empowers people to be themselves. Everything we do at PinkNews runs through this mission, including our content.
“We understand that people want to hear about important news stories affecting them alongside being entertained with our culture and lifestyle coverage. This is what makes PinkNews so special and why up to 100 million people consume our content each month.”
The Drum Awards took place on 29 April in London, and were judged by a panel of digital advertising leaders from CNN, NBCU, Bloomberg, Elle, LinkedIn, Wired UK, The Athletic and Insider.
Other winners included ITV News, awarded Breaking News Story of the Year for breaking ‘Partygate’, and Channel 4 News, which took home Outstanding Digital Team of the Year.
PinkNews‘ flagship Snapchat show, The Queer Catch-Up, was recently named Best Snapchat Show at the 2022 Digiday TV and Video Awards.
PinkNews is nominated for Editorial Team of the Year: Consumer, Best Online Brand: Consumer and Best Use of Video for The Queer Catch-Up at the upcoming AOP Digital Publishing Awards 2022, which takes place on 15 June.
