Courageous public interest journalism that saw an investigative reporter obtain a job in one of Britain’s most violent jails has been named winner of this year’s Cudlipp Award, sponsored by the British Journalism Review. Paul Morgan-Bentley (right) led the report into Bedford prison, in which The Times exposed poor conditions and lax security, earning praise from the judges for first-class journalism on a highly topical subject, enhanced by a video diary and podcast.

The Evening Standard court correspondent Tristan Kirk was highly commended for powerful work shining a light on the “single justice procedure” that saw millions prosecuted and criminalised with no public scrutiny. Kirk put the issue on to the national agenda, pressing ministers into change. The judges shortlisted: cash for care (Daily Mail), show respect campaign (Evening Standard, London), children’s dental health crisis (Daily Mirror), and chief constable’s fake war record (The Sun).

The late Hugh Cudlipp, managing editor of Mirror Group Newspapers, who was knighted and later made a peer, is recognised as a prominent influencer in the history of the British press. The award was presented at the London Press Club Awards at Stationers’ Hall, London, on 16 October.