Sky News secures ninth News Channel of the Year award as Yalda Hakim, Yousra Elbagir and Mollie Malone honoured at RTS Awards

Thursday 5 March 2026

Sky News secures ninth News Channel of the Year award as Yalda Hakim, Yousra Elbagir and Mollie Malone honoured at RTS Awards

Sky News has once again been recognised at the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards, securing News Channel of the Year for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year, alongside major individual honours going to some of Sky News's most powerful journalistic voices.

In a standout night for the newsroom, Yalda Hakim was awarded Network Presenter of the Year, Yousra Elbagir picked up the Network TV Journalist of the Year award, Mollie Malone received the Emerging Talent award, and 24 Hours in the Kill Zone won Digital Journalism. The awards highlight the strength and breadth of talent at Sky News, from established global presenters to the next generation of reporters shaping the future of the newsroom.

Sky News winners:

News Channel of the Year

Judges credited Sky News's consistent ability to be in the right place at the right time, highlighting its distinctive and impactful reporting.

Commenting on the win, David Rhodes, Sky News Group Executive Chairman, said: We are so proud to continue the rich legacy of Sky News in live and breaking news for people across the UK and-- especially at this time-- around the world. Sky News has changed so much since we first won this award, when we were a single TV channel. Adding streaming and digital audiences, we've never left behind that commitment to eyewitness video that the judges have recognised, which makes it more meaningful for so many hardworking colleagues to receive this award.

Network Presenter of the Year - Yalda Hakim, Lead World News Presenter

The judges credited Yalda for an exceptional year - anchoring rolling news live from war zones, interviewing world leaders and memorably reporting on atrocities from inside a Syrian prison.

On her win, Yalda added: I'm deeply honoured to be named RTS Presenter of the Year. During one of the most intense and consequential periods for global affairs it's a privilege to be on the ground, face to face with the people most impacted by conflict. In a world that can so quickly turn to war, journalism must have the courage to question those in power. I'm grateful to the extraordinary teams at Sky News who empower me to do this and invest in vital eyewitness reporting, and to our audiences who trust us to report with integrity and compassion at a time when the truth matters more than ever.

On Yalda Hakim's award win, David Rhodes added: It's so fitting that Yalda was reporting live from the war in the Mideast as she was revealed to have won this award. Had she attended these awards I'm sure she would have been anxious about not being in the field - and we her colleagues would have been anxious too. That's who she is, and it's who we are at Sky News: always about the full story, first. Yalda really earned this award over an incredible year. Sky News are so pleased to have seen her win - and indeed, to have our presenters recognised by the RTS in this category in back-to-back years. We're privileged to have her as a colleague, and keeping in mind the safety and security of her team and of everyone in the field for our profession tonight.

TV Journalist of the Year - Yousra Elbagir, Africa Correspondent

The judges praised Yousra for dedicating herself to reporting on a conflict which hasnt had enough headlines, adding her own personal history and expertise to give a unique insight.

Yousra Elbagir said: Im deeply honoured to be named Network TV Journalist of the Year. Nearly three years in, Sudan remains the worlds largest displacement and worst humanitarian crisis. This conflict has been fuelled by a ruthless power struggle and foreign interference, leaving civilians trapped as their cities are torn apart. It is a crisis that has slipped from global attention even as the suffering worsens. The siege of my hometown, Khartoum, and the destruction of my family home brought the realities of this war painfully close - a reminder of whats at stake in the stories I share. This year Ive reported on Sudans genocide, mass displacement and humanitarian collapse, as well as conflict in the DRC, the drug epidemic in Sierra Leone and political crises across the continent. My work aims to challenge narrow portrayals of Africa and to centre the human stories so often overlooked. In an era of information warfare and growing distrust in the media, our job has only become harder - and more vital. To be recognised for this work is profoundly affirming. It gives me faith that people are still listening - and that they care."

Commenting on Yousra's win, Jonathan Levy, Executive Editor and Managing Editor, Sky News, said: Yousra's courageous reporting across Africa, including from her home country of Sudan, truly reflects the purpose, impact and power of journalism. We're thrilled to see her receive this thoroughly deserved recognition.

Emerging Young Talent of the Year - Mollie Malone, Home Correspondent

The judges praised Mollie for making the crime and prisons beat her own, and highlighted how her reporting has helped shape government policy on the violence against women and girls' strategy and prison recall rules.

Mollie Malone said: "Im delighted to receive this award, its testament to those that have supported and helped me make the recent transition from producing to reporting at Sky News. Being able to tell stories about injustices at the intersection of public safety, accountability and the real-world consequences of government decisions is an honour I dont take for granted. From exposing how organised crime exploits failures in prison security, to scrutinising policy designed to protect women and children, I always have the same aim: to ask the questions of decision

LINK:	https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-news-secures-ninth-news-cha...
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