2020 Shorthand Awards: Meet the judges
This year’s judging panel is ready to help us recognise the best storytelling on the web
The judges
This year, we’ve enlisted the help of 8 storytelling experts — including judges from previous years and some brand new faces — to have the all-important final say.
Chris Stokel-Walker, returning judge
Chris Stokel-Walker, returning judge
Chris Stokel-Walker
Freelance journalist & author
Chris is a freelance journalist who has written for The Economist, Wired, New Scientist, and The New York Times. He wrote the launch longform story for BuzzFeed News back in 2012, and is the author of YouTubers: How YouTube Shook Up TV and Created a New Generation of Stars, published in May 2019, and TikTok Boom: China, the US and the Superpower Race for Social Media, which is being published in April 2021.
Jonathan Jessop Batty
Head of Content & Storytelling
IBM Europe
Jonathan is a storyteller and corporate communications leader with two decades of international experience. His expertise is in helping companies communicate their value to key stakeholders across business and society. As part of his current role, he also acts as Chief Communications Officer for the Mayflower Autonomous Ship project and is responsible for media and public engagement.
Jonathan Jessop Batty, new judge
Jonathan Jessop Batty, new judge
Livvy Haydock, returning judge
Livvy Haydock, returning judge
Livvy Haydock
Producer & presenter
Livvy reports and produces investigative documentaries. She has worked for BBC, ITN, Channel 4, Al Jazeera, National Geographic Channel, and Sky. With a focus on crime and hostile environments, her most recent films include Festival Drugs: Meet the Dealers, Inside Britain’s Black Market, and Inside Britain’s Moped Crime Gangs.
Mark Stephens
Executive Producer, Storytelling, Group Transformation
Lloyds Banking Group
Mark brings over 20 years’ experience in media, marketing, and strategy in the UK, Europe and US. He has delivered solutions to brands, including Google, Sony, and L'Oréal. At Lloyds Banking Group, Mark helped to launch an internal creative comms agency called “Storytelling”. The team — consisting of producers, animators, filmmakers and writers — tell the story of one of the largest corporate digital transformations in Europe and its positive impact on colleagues, customers, and partners.
Mark Stephens, new judge
Mark Stephens, new judge
Sarah Singer, returning judge
Sarah Singer, returning judge
Sarah Singer
Senior Director of Innovation
VICE Media
Sarah is a journalist whose career has spanned format and platform. She has worked in audio/podcasting, video/visual, and has produced digital interactive news products. Currently, she is the Senior Director of Innovation for VICE where she develops new formats to engage young and diverse audiences. Previously, she was Executive Producer of a podcast called Should This Exist? about the intersection of technology and humanity. Sarah also worked at Mic as EP of Video, Director of Innovation and Managing Editor.
Dr Skye Doherty
Lecturer & Director of Engagement
School of Communication & Arts
The University of Queensland
Skye is a journalism and interaction design researcher at The University of Queensland. Her work focuses on how new and emerging technologies can be designed for journalistic values and public-interest storytelling. She has a background in journalism, having worked in newsrooms in Australia, South East Asia and the United Kingdom, before moving into academic research.
Dr Skye Doherty, returning judge
Dr Skye Doherty, returning judge
Steve Carroll, new judge
Steve Carroll, new judge
Steve Carroll
Founder of Digital Live & charity influencer
Steve is a respected international sales leader and has been immersed in digital economies across the globe. He has held leadership roles at EMAP UK, News Corp Australia and REA Group. He also worked in the UAE while at PropertyFinder. Steve is now the Founder of Digital Live — an educational program bringing real estate and digital marketing together, and works tirelessly for the children’s charity Hands Across The Water.
Tom Langan
Social Director
Iris
Tom loves creating thumb-stopping stories for busy social feeds backed up by solid strategy work. For seven years, he's done this in-house with big-name brands, led brand building for a global digital publisher, and is now on the agency side bringing social to life for brands — including Starbucks and Samsung.
Tom Langan, returning judge
Tom Langan, returning judge
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