Organised by the British Journalism Review (BJR) in conjunction with the University of Westminster, the annual Charles Wheeler Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcast Journalism was awarded this year to BBC journalist, newsreader and bestselling author Mishal Husain.
Now in its 16th year, the Charles Wheeler Award is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the journalism calendar. Starting in 2009, with Jeremy Paxman as its inaugural winner, the award is presented each year by Charles Wheeler’s daughters Marina and Shirin.
This year’s winner, Mishal Husain, is a renowned British newsreader, BBC journalist and Sunday Times bestselling author. Since 2013 she has been a principal presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and occasionally presents the BBC’s News at Ten.
Husain has presented four critically acclaimed documentaries and series for the BBC: Malala – Shot for Going to School; How Facebook Changed the World – The Arab Spring; a three-part exploration of Mahatma Gandhi’s life; and Britain and Europe – The Immigration Question.
In 2016, she was recognised by the Sunday Times as one of Britain’s 500 most influential people and in 2015 was named Presenter of the Year at the Women in Film and TV Awards.
More recently, Husain visited the University of Westminster to speak about her 2024 book Broken Threads: My Family from Empire to Independence, a family memoir that tells the story of her grandparents’ experiences with the British Empire in India and the political upheaval that followed independence and Partition.
Following the presentation of the award, former Wheeler Award winner and Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum spoke passionately about the implications of Trump’s re-election as US President for journalism and for Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East.
In the subsequent Q&A, Hilsum and Husain emphasised the vital importance of professional journalism as a means of countering disinformation and the kind of polarisation that was apparent during the American presidential election and is growing throughout Europe.
In her speech Husain said: “I will be pinching myself for some time that my name is now among those honoured by this award. My 14 predecessors are foreign correspondents, presenters, reporters with a particular beat and yes interviewers. The lines or job descriptions don’t matter, the contribution does.”
Professor Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications and a founding member of the BJR Editorial Board, who initiated the Wheeler Award in 2009, said: “It is always a pleasure to celebrate the brilliant journalistic legacy of Charles Wheeler, and this year we were lucky to hear from two very distinguished journalists at a time of great political uncertainty. Reliable information from trusted sources has never been more important, and we were delighted to recognise the priceless contribution that Mishal has made to the twin journalistic imperatives of truth telling and holding power to account.”
Westminster’s collaboration with the BJR and the Charles Wheeler Award showcases the University’s strategic commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By spotlighting the importance of journalism in amplifying voices, informing the public and holding power to account, the University is helping drive forward SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Find out more about Media and Communication courses at the University of Westminster.
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