The culmination of months of reporting by investigations correspondent Harry Davies, along with colleagues at the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, this was a truly global scoop.

The story was widely followed up, including in Israel, where Yossi Cohen, the Mossad director who led the offensive and who threatened the then-prosecutor in a series of secret meetings, was a well-known political figure.

Highly complex and challenging, the investigation required the team to develop national security, intelligence, military and criminal justice sources across multiple jurisdictions. It was also extremely timely, published a week after the current chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced he was seeking arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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The campaign, codenamed ‘Tangerine Owl’, was piloted in Canada and expanded to the US by Spark Foundry, who launched a successful pilot marketing programme, with plans to roll it out worldwide. However these plans were abruptly cancelled following the FT’s reporting.

The investigation revealed internal communications, presentations and emails showing how Google employees advised Meta on how to “hack” audience safeguards, despite Google’s public ban on personalised ads for teens.

The exposé prompted the European Commission to demand internal documents from Google, raising the prospect of a formal inquiry. The FT’s investigation prompted a response from Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, who was contacted for comment. She said: “Big Tech companies cannot be trusted to protect our kids. They once again have been caught exploiting our children, and these Silicon Valley executives have proven that they will always prioritise profit over our children.”

In response, Google has tightened its policies, banned demographic targeting of the “unknown” group, and cancelled a quarterly business review with Meta and ad agency Spark Foundry.

The FT reported that Jeff Chester, executive director of the Centre for Digital Democracy, said of the tie-up between Meta and Alphabet-owned Google: “It shows you how both companies remain untrustworthy, duplicitous, powerful platforms that require stringent regulation and oversight.”

The FT’s reporting has already led to internal reforms at Google and renewed scrutiny of Big Tech’s handling of youth safety online. This story serves as a powerful example of investigative journalism driving accountability and shaping the public and regulatory agenda on digital ethics and platform responsibility.

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Eight months on, as a result of his groundbreaking investigation, the government confirmed that a second Post Office IT system was likely to have been faulty and may have led to wrongful convictions before Horizon.

A moment of national significance, vindication was achieved for the affected postmasters, many of whom acknowledged that this outcome may never have been possible without Steve’s reporting.

Steve’s investigation – interviews with former postmasters, obtaining internal Post Office documents, court records and transcripts, and Freedom of Information requests – pieced together the “second scandal” involving Capture, a primitive accounting system introduced by the Post Office in the early 1990s. At one point, Steve received a phone call, threatening him with legal action.

His exclusives led to the government launching its independent review and admitting it may have to extend its Horizon compensation schemes.

The primary source of the investigation was Steve Marston, 68, who was charged with criminal offences after Post Office auditors alleged £79,000 was missing from his Greater Manchester branch in 1997. He maintains his innocence but claims Post Office investigators pressured him into pleading guilty to avoid prison.

Despite scant available evidence after more than 25 years, Steve worked doggedly to corroborate Mr Marston’s story, including tracking down a paper copy of his indictment record from Preston Crown Court’s archives and cuttings from local newspaper coverage.

He also found more former sub-postmasters who were prepared to go on the record, including 73-year-old Liz Roberts, a sub-postmaster’s wife who was jailed for two-and-a-half years in 1999 despite insisting her innocence. She died just a few weeks after her story ran.

Steve’s reporting has had real world impact – Kevan Jones, the Labour MP who had supported Horizon victims for years, became convinced of a “second scandal” and questioned why the Post Office had not come clean about Capture cases before.

The Post Office admitted it was “very concerned” and in February, chief executive Nick Read told the Business and Trade select committee that there appeared to be at least four potentially wrongful convictions involving Capture and that the system had been used by at least 1,000 sub-postmasters.

In May, the government appointed US firm Kroll to investigate and in September, they confirmed what Steve’s reporting had already exposed: that there were faults with Capture, that the Post Office knew of these faults but prosecuted postmasters anyway – and that it even went as far as to ignore claims of faults when presented by defence lawyers in court.

Thanks to data obtained by Steve under FOI laws, we now know hundreds of postmasters may have been wrongly convicted for accounting issues related to Capture. Steve’s reporting has been praised by MPs, including new Post Office minister Gareth Thomas, who said he was “horrified” by Capture faults – and by postmasters and their relatives who believed they would never be heard.

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In most circumstances, if an abuser murders a partner or family member inside with a weapon, they will get a life sentence with a sentencing starting point of 15 years, 10 years less than if they had killed the same person in the street.

The Mirror was determined to end this injustice. The title launched the campaign with a front-page appeal for members of the public to take part in the government’s murder sentencing consultation.

Alongside this, the Mirror ran the first of many interviews with the relatives of murdered women who had been let down by the justice system. These included Julie Devey, whose daughter Poppy was stabbed nearly 100 times by her boyfriend – who was only sentenced to 16 years and 2 months – and Carol Gould whose daughter Ellie was stabbed and strangled to death by her boyfriend, who received 12.5 years in prison.

The campaign was supported by Jess Phillips MP, Spice Girl Mel B, Hetti Nanton, chair of Refuge, Dame Cheri Blair, and the then shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, among others. The Mirror also worked with the pressure group Killed Women, made up of bereaved family members. The stories were picked up by other publications, and the campaign was discussed widely in the broadcast media.

Then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak eventually pledged to change the law in June if he were to stay in power. The Mirror is now calling on the new government, many of whose members have been great supporters of the campaign, to follow suit. The Mirror’s Justice For Our Daughter campaign also called for domestic abuse experts in 999 call centres, and longer sentences for strangulation – a measure the Labour government is now introducing.

The campaign also demands that those who abuse someone to the point that they take their own life as a direct result to be charged with manslaughter. The Mirror interviewed grieving mum Sharon Holland at her home, whose daughter Chloe took her own life after being told to do so by her ex partner, and was harassed and abused to the point she felt there was no way out.

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More than 800,000 pensioners risked missing out on the payment, many simply because they had not registered for Pension Credit. To tackle this, The Sun assembled a dedicated Winter Fuel SOS crew, including consumer experts from Octopus Energy and Which?, as well as from AGE UK and The Sun’s head of consumer Tara Evans, and Sun Savers editor Lana ­Clements. Former Pensions Minister Sir Steve Webb offered practical advice and guidance.

The Sun opened its phone lines and inbox to readers, inviting pensioners and their families to get in touch. Thousands responded, seeking help to understand their eligibility and how to claim support. Those who couldn’t speak to someone on the day were promised a call back within a week.

The Sun editor-in-chief Victoria Newton said: “The huge number of calls into the Sun’s hotline this week has highlighted just how important our SOS campaign is, and how much of an issue the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment is for so many older readers. 

“The Sun has a long history of campaigning to make our readers’ lives easier and providing advice on how they can combat the increased cost of living.”

In addition to expert advice, The Sun rolled out a new newsletter series focused on saving money on heating bills. The campaign has already helped readers like 80-year-old Neil from Fife, who said he was grateful for the chance to speak to someone and get help understanding his options. Neil said, “I am very grateful to The Sun for doing this. It may turn out I don’t qualify, but it is nice to know someone cares and is on hand to help. 

“I don’t use the internet, so it was really helpful to speak to someone on the phone and get help working out if I might qualify for pension credit. If you don’t try, you don’t know.”

The campaign also worked with charity Turn2Us to launch an interactive benefits checker, allowing readers to quickly find out if they’re missing out on entitlements. Michael Clarke, head of information programmes at Turn2Us, said the tool could be a lifeline for the 700,000 eligible pensioners still not claiming Pension Credit.

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With one in four women in the UK experiencing domestic abuse in their lifetime – and over 1.4 million affected in the past year alone – Metro is using its platform to highlight the scale of the crisis. The campaign will prioritise the stories of victims, survivors, families and activists, while also promoting responsible reporting on crimes against women.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper backed the campaign, writing in the Metro that these crimes must be treated as a national emergency. She pledged Labour’s commitment to halving violence against women within the next decade and praised the campaign’s role in empowering the public to take action.

Women’s Aid joined as a formal partner of the campaign, with additional support from Refuge, White Ribbon, Killed Women, and the End Violence Against Women Coalition. Together, these organisations are helping to shape the campaign’s message and reach.

Metro editor-in-chief Deborah Arthurs said the statistics are stark – a 37 per cent rise in violence against women and girls between 2018 and 2023, more than 100 women killed each year in the UK by men, and a global figure showing a woman or girl is killed in her own home every 11 minutes. She said the campaign will not only give women a platform but also engage men, to empower all readers to take action against this systemic issue.

The campaign will harness Metro’s reach – five million daily readers across print and social media, and 78.3 million monthly online users – to spread the message that violence against women must end. It will signpost readers to support services, challenge harmful narratives and educate the public on how to be part of the solution.

Women’s Aid director of engagement Randip Thompson said the media has a pivotal role to play in ending gender-based violence – and that campaigns like This Is Not Right are invaluable in changing narratives, validating survivors and encouraging public action.

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An estimated 1.5 million buildings across the UK still contain asbestos. Despite being banned more than two decades ago, the material continues to pose a grave threat, killing at least 5,000 people every year. It remains the UK’s leading cause of workplace-related deaths.

The campaign calls for comprehensive reform, beginning with the creation of a national online database listing every non-domestic building that contains asbestos. It also urges the government to develop a National Asbestos Strategy – one that delivers a whole-of-society solution to a crisis that has been allowed to persist for far too long.

The Mail reported that the “call was backed by unions and campaigners yesterday, as ministers and officials met to discuss the problem and what can be done to tackle it. It is understood the Mail’s campaign was spoken about during the meeting in Westminster, in an indication that the issue has been raised at the highest level.”

The campaign has already prompted a response from the highest levels of government. As the Mail reported, the Prime Minister has acknowledged the scale of the problem, backing the Daily Mail’s campaign.

The Mail continues to report on the issue. In June 2025, an investigation by the Daily Mail “found deaths from exposure to asbestos in all the major supermarket chains, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Marks & Spencer and Morrisons – a state of affairs that they and others, including the shopworkers union, seem disappointingly reluctant to discuss.”

Steve Boggan and the Mail’s editorial team have been widely praised for their in-depth coverage and commitment to change. Their reporting has been welcomed by asbestos victims, families, and campaigners across the UK, who see the campaign as a long-overdue reckoning with a national scandal.

The Mail’s campaign also calls for the establishment of a national digital register – accessed by smartphone – to record where the material is and its condition. This would help to combat the accidental release of fibres in store renovations and other refurbishments.

The post Britain’s Hidden Killer appeared first on News Media Association.

With more than 170,000 people going missing in the UK each year, The Mirror used its national platform to ensure that every missing person is seen, heard, and remembered. At the heart of the campaign was a live, interactive map – developed by The Mirror’s data team – which allows readers to explore missing persons cases by region, city or town. Each entry includes a photo and a short description, helping to humanise those who are too often reduced to statistics.

The campaign achieved a powerful milestone by helping reunite 17-year-old Deante James with his family. After the Mirror shared his story in May, following his disappearance from Enfield on 31 March 2025, he was found and brought home safely. His mother, Vandana, publicly thanked the Mirror for raising awareness and helping push authorities to act, after an administrative error had delayed his identification.

Through its website, newspaper, newsletters and social media channels, The Mirror is telling the stories behind the names – focusing on the lives, personalities and families of those who are missing. The goal is simple but urgent: to bring at least one person home or to safety in 2025.

Editor-in-chief Caroline Waterston said: “In collaboration with Missing People, our mission is to bring awareness to EVERY publicly listed missing person in the UK through the live, interactive map created by our brilliant data team, while also shining a spotlight on cases that have been ‘missed’ or underreported. We hope that through this work, we can bring someone home this year to their loved ones. 

“At the Mirror, we are passionate about enacting real change and my thanks goes to Lynda Moyo, our Head of Emerging Content Editor, who has driven this forward so passionately. Every day, we’ll be sharing these stories and working to bring people home or to safety.  Ultimately every missing person, no matter their background or life choices, is someone’s son, daughter, mother, father, sister, brother, partner, friend and they are always missed.”

Nerissa Tivy, whose son Alexander Sloley has been missing since 2008, said: “As a mum, I know just how unbearable it is to have a loved one go missing. That’s why the partnership with The Mirror and Missing People means so much to us. They help us share the stories of our missing loved ones with compassion and care, giving families like mine hope and making sure those who are missing are never forgotten. It’s about more than headlines – it’s about helping families when they need it most.”

The campaign continues to call for systemic change. The Mirror and Missing People have launched a joint petition urging the government to publish a new national strategy for missing children and adults. The petition calls for better coordination between police, health and social care services, investment in prevention for those most at risk, and improved support for individuals when they return.

Ross Miller, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Missing People, said: “We are incredibly grateful to The Mirror for recognising that going missing is a crisis that can affect anyone. This powerful collaboration is not only raising vital awareness of the thousands of people who go missing each year, but it is also ensuring that families searching for answers feel seen, heard, and supported. 

“By amplifying appeals, driving change through petitions, and helping us raise essential funds, The Mirror is making a real difference in the lives of those affected by disappearance. Together, we are bringing hope to families and working towards a future where fewer people face this devastating experience.”

As part of the campaign, The Mirror continues to publish the name and photograph of a missing person each day, helping to raise awareness, maintain visibility, and drive meaningful change.

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The Telegraph told the story of Jamie Scott and his wife, Kate, who brought the test case. Mr Scott – a father of two – suffered a significant permanent brain injury that had left him unable to work as a result of a blood clot after receiving the jab in April 2021.

The legal action was the first of dozens of other claims, which could be worth up to £80 million in total.

The High Court action argued that claims over the Covid vaccine’s efficacy were “vastly overstated” The story also exposed for the first time that at least 144 people had died or been injured after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab, according to information obtained under data laws. The exclusive was followed up around the world by hundreds of outlets. Affected families were invited to appear across the broadcast media to tell their stories.

In the UK, the government faced questions about the support given to affected families. The Telegraph told the story of some of those who had died or been left seriously injured after having the vaccination, with many having to wait more than a year for any financial assistance.

In response, the former vaccine minister called on the government to examine the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, and MPs debated the issue in Parliament.

Later in the year, the Telegraph revealed how AstraZeneca had admitted for the first time in court documents that the Covid vaccine can cause a rare side effect, in an apparent about-turn. The exclusive stories held not only the government to account, but also a pharmaceutical giant. The reporters gave a voice to a group who feel they have been marginalised and “cast into the shadows”. The exclusive had just under 500,000 page views and was one of the Telegraph’s best-performing stories of the year.

With thousands of online comments, readers commended the Telegraph for telling a difficult story in a fair and balanced way. Kate Scott, whose husband Jamie launched the test case, said that the issue had been covered with “compassion and integrity”. Another reader commended the Telegraph on “thoughtful and very considered” journalism.

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Following tenacious communication with the Metropolitan Police over the months since Edwards was arrested, senior reporter Michael Hamilton finally got the Crown Prosecution Service to confirm the charge on 29 July, breaking the story online an hour later. The revelation was the culmination of 18 months’ investigating, unravelling and reporting on the shocking online life Edwards had been leading for years.

Hamilton and chief Sunday reporter Scarlet Howes were contacted by a man who revealed Edwards had been sending his teenage stepson money in exchange for sexual images, and that a detailed complaint to the BBC had yielded no response. The Sun handed a dossier of evidence to the BBC, which resulted in an apology to the boy’s parents, Edwards’s resignation, and new staff guidelines.

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