From Guild Bursary to journalism award

Many congratulations to former Guild Journalism Bursary winner Connie Dimsdale who has won a Write to End Violence Against Women Award in the Best News category.

The annual awards are run by the End Violence Against Women Coalition – a group of organisations and experts from across the UK – and “recognise UK journalists and writers who raise awareness and report responsibly, sensitively and accurately on violence against women and girls.”

Now a reporter for the i newspaper, Connie won the award for her article “‘I was groomed on Facebook’: Child abuse victims demand action to tackle targeting of girls online.” It tells the story of Frida, who was contacted when she was 13 then groomed for five years by a 30-year-old man on Facebook.

The article also reported on the campaign by Frida and other survivors to call for more funding of victim support services and to urge greater accountability for tech companies in the Online Safety Bill.

The Bill was subsequently amended and the landmark Online Safety Act has now passed into law, giving regulator Ofcom the power to create a safer life online for children and adults in the UK.

Following the announcement on Tuesday, Connie said she was “incredibly honoured to win the Best News award for my work on online grooming, particularly given how much amazing journalism was in the category.”

We at the Journalists’ Church wish her many congratulations and every success in her continuing career, and thank her for providing such a clear demonstration of the positive impact journalism can have in our society.