By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
The excellence of the Mail's journalism – together with its resounding court victory over Prince Harry – has earned it the accolade of Press Media Title of the Year.
Judges at the London Press Club picked out the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday for their most prestigious honour ahead of a host of industry rivals, including The Times, Telegraph, Economist and Sun.
Calling the Mail 'an international media force' which is read 'from Waitrose to the White House', the judging panel of industry experts said that 'on its journalistic endeavours alone, with countless scoops, exposés and agenda-setting exclusives, [the Mail] would be a worthy winner'.
But they added that it was the overwhelming triumph against the Duke of Sussex and six other high-profile claimants which marked it out for special recognition.
They said the outcome of the legal battle was a 'victory for journalism and a free Press'. The judges noted that the claimants had 'failed to prove a single allegation of unlawful information gathering' in relation to the articles in question and that 'all 97 allegations were dismissed as the losers were hit with a legal bill and costs'.
Special Correspondent Arthur Parashar, pictured, was named the Young Journalist of the Year for his exclusive reporting on the mysterious death of Josh Rogers in Spain and the London property empire of the uncle of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad
Jordana Seal was highly commended in the Young Journalist of the Year category for her five-month investigation into the Catholic sect Opus Dei
Crime and Security Editor Rebecca Camber was also highly commended in the Specialist Journalist of the Year category
Paul Dacre, Editor-in-Chief of Associated Newspapers, said the case was a 'conspiracy to destroy both a great paper and the free Press' and described the verdict as 'an overwhelming vindication of Associated's magnificent journalists whose selfless hard work, decency and integrity is justly rewarded today.'
There was further success for up-and-coming Mail reporters, with Arthur Parashar, Jordana Seal and Mimi Yates taking three of the four spots on the Young Journalist of the Year shortlist.
Special Correspondent Arthur took the title for his exclusive reporting on the mysterious death of Josh Rogers in Spain and the London property empire of the uncle of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Judges praised the 'strength of his work', which 'marked him out in a remarkable year', and praised the quality of his reporting, which they described as 'extraordinary for a journalist under the age of 26'.
Meanwhile, Jordana was highly commended for her five-month investigation into the Catholic sect Opus Dei.
The Mail's Crime and Security Editor Rebecca Camber – who is the first woman to chair the Crime Reporters' Association since its foundation in 1945 – was also highly commended in the Specialist Journalist of the Year category.
Judges said her work showcased 'consistently strong crime reporting and a steady stream of exclusives'.