Mark Townsend
The GuardianMark Townsend has reported for the Guardian and its former sister newspaper, the Observer, for almost 25 years, covering many of the world’s major stories. Currently a senior reporter on the Global Development desk, he covers international politics, inequality and human rights. His many accolades include Reporter of the Year at the British Press Awards and the Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils.
His shortlisted pieces are:
- Children executed and women raped in front of their families as M23 militia unleashes fresh terror on DRC
- The brutal truth behind Italy’s migrant reduction: beatings and rape by EU-funded and UK-backed forces in Tunisia
- Atrocities mount daily. Promised aid does not arrive. Why has the west turned its back on Sudan?
The emotional impact of Mark’s coverage of the Sudan conflict – where unimaginable brutality is a mundane reality – is amplified by his coolly dispassionate reporting. His documenting of the wilful blindness and hypocrisy of nations and institutions serves as a rebuke to them – and to all of us. Exemplary coverage of an “unfashionable” war
– John Pienaar, Judge, The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2025
