Regional podcasts in line for industry awards
Society of Editors announces shortlist
Some of the leading podcasts produced by regional newsbrands have been shortlisted in a new set of indistry awards.
The Society of Editors has launched the inaugural News Podcast Awards to celebrate the work of journalists and producers using podcasting to deliver high-quality news and current affairs journalism.
The awards invited entries across 10 categories including one for best Regional or Community Podcast.
Seven podcasts have made the shortlist in the category covering a wide range of topics from regional politics to food and drink.
Nominees include Newsquest for The Buff Podcast, covering Bolton Wanderers FC, Reach plc for The Northern Agenda, and The Scotsman for its food and drink podcast Scran.
BBC Newcastle is also shortlisted for Felled, a series of podcasts about the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, while the Bristol Cable is nominated for a series on youth crime entitled We've Got Your Boy.
Announcing the shortlist, SoE chief executive Dawn Alford said: “Podcasting has become one of the most important ways journalists are informing audiences, scrutinising power and explaining complex issues in depth and the standard of entries for the inaugural awards have been exceptional.
"Across the UK, journalists and producers are producing brilliant news podcast journalism and we look forward to celebrating their achievements next month.”
The awards will be handed out a lunchtime ceremony on Thursday 18 June 2026 at the Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury and presented by Sky News’ lead politics presenter Sophy Ridge.
Booking is now open with tickets available at an early-bird booking rate of £165 per person available until Friday 22 May 2026. To book or for further information, contact office@societyofeditors.org.
The full shortlist is below.
News Summary Podcast of the Year
FT News Briefing, Financial Times
Global News Podcast, BBC World Service
KentOnline Podcast, Iliffe Media
The BelTel, Belfast Telegraph
The Intelligence, Economist Podcasts+
The Story, The Times and The Sunday Times
Today in Focus, The Guardian
Investigative Podcast of the Year
Foundling, The Observer
Impulsive, BBC Sounds and Radio 4
Pipeline: Left to Die, Daily Mail
The 9/11 Suspect, The Sunday Times
The Birth Keepers, The Guardian
The Wargame, Sky News & Tortoise
True Crime Podcast of the Year
Disclosure: Matched with a Predator, BBC Scotland
Missing in the Amazon, The Guardian
Murder in the Masai Mara, The Telegraph
Testimony: The Story that Haunts Me, Manchester Evening News
The Cruelty: Stolen Generations, BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland
The Poppy Day Bomb, The Times and The Sunday Times
The Trial, DMG Media
Showbiz & Entertainment Podcast of the Year
Anatomy of a Cancellation, BBC News – Long Form Audio
Second Act with Ateh Jewel, HELLO! Magazine
Showbiz Fix, The Sun
The Rest is Entertainment, Goalhanger
Top Comment, BBC Sounds
Political Podcast of the Year
100 Days of DOGE, The Weekend Intelligence: The Economist
Daily Politics, The New Statesman
Electoral Dysfunction, Sky News
Politics with Sam and Anne, Sky News and Politico
Quite Right! The Spectator
The News Agents, Global
The Rest is Politics, Goalhanger
Royal Podcast of the Year
A Right Royal Podcast, HELLO! magazine
Palace Confidential, Daily Mail
Pod Save the King, Reach plc
Royal Exclusive, The Sun
Talking Royals, ITV News
The Royals, The Times and The Sunday Times
Scoop / Interview of the Year
Angela Rayner Interview, Electoral Dysfunction, Sky News
BBC Newsnight also doctored Trump speech, The Daily T, The Telegraph
Dominic Cummings interview, Quite Right! The Spectator
New file uncovered in Starmer grooming gangs scandal, Daily Expresso, Daily Express
Nigel Farage interview, The Mishal Husain Show, Bloomberg
Sir Jim Ratcliffe interview, The Business, The Times and The Sunday Times
Business & Economy Podcast of the Year
Boss Class, The Economist
The Business, The Times and The Sunday Times
The Business of War: Financing Britain’s Military Rebuild, Bloomberg
The Economics Show, Financial Times
The Times Tech Podcast, The Times and The Sunday Times
Trumponomics, Bloomberg
Best Regional or Community Podcast
Felled, BBC Newcastle
Scran, The Scotsman
The BelTel, Belfast Telegraph
The Buff Podcast, Newsquest
The Irish History Boys, The Irish News
The Northern Agenda, Reach plc
We’ve got your boy, The Bristol Cable
Podcast of the Year
Foundling, The Observer
Iran: The Latest, The Telegraph
Pipeline: Left to Die, Daily Mail
The House at Number 48, BBC Long Form Audio
The Trial, DMG Media
The Wargame, Sky News & Tortoise
