Sky News Secures Ninth Consecutive News Channel of the Year Award at Royal Television Society Ceremony
Sky News has once again been crowned News Channel of the Year at the prestigious Royal Television Society (RTS) Awards, marking an impressive ninth year in a row of receiving this top honor. The awards ceremony, held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, also saw several of the network's journalists recognized for their exceptional work across various categories.
Executive Leadership Celebrates Team Achievement
Sky News executive chairman David Rhodes expressed immense pride in the network's continued success, stating that the award "reflects the commitment, talent, and teamwork across Sky News." He emphasized the channel's dedication to delivering live and breaking news to audiences both in the UK and globally, particularly during critical weeks of international coverage.
Journalists Honored for Groundbreaking Reporting
The awards highlighted the outstanding contributions of individual Sky News journalists:
- Yousra Elbagir was named Television Journalist of the Year for her extensive and poignant reporting on the war in Sudan. Elbagir, who investigated the "killing fields" where thousands have been targeted, shared that the siege of her hometown, Khartoum, and the destruction of her family home brought the realities of the conflict painfully close, underscoring the stakes of the stories she covers.
- Yalda Hakim, host of the international news show The World With Yalda Hakim, won Presenter of the Year. Unable to attend the ceremony due to her on-the-ground reporting in the Middle East, Hakim noted it was "a privilege to be on the ground, face to face with the people most impacted by conflict." Her notable interviews included one with Pakistan's defence minister, who admitted the country had been "doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades" regarding funding and training terrorists.
- Mollie Malone, home news correspondent, was awarded Emerging Talent of the Year. Malone has covered critical issues such as safety concerns in UK prisons, including the use of drones to transport contraband, and has reported on criticisms of the government's violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.
- John Sparks, international news correspondent, won in the Digital Journalism category for his coverage 24 Hours In The Kill Zone, which documented his experiences with Ukrainian troops in areas targeted by explosive-carrying drones. Like Hakim, Sparks was unable to accept the award in person due to his ongoing reporting in the Middle East.
Additional Nominations Showcase Broad Excellence
Sky News further demonstrated its journalistic prowess with several other nominations at the RTS Awards:
- Deputy political editor Sam Coates was nominated for Political Journalist of the Year.
- Data and forensic correspondent Tom Cheshire received a nomination for Specialist Journalist of the Year.
- Special correspondent Alex Crawford was also nominated in the Television Journalist of the Year category.
- The network's coverage, Syria: After Assad, was nominated in the News Coverage - International category.
These accolades underscore Sky News's sustained commitment to high-quality journalism, innovative reporting, and comprehensive coverage of global events, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the television news industry.
