BT announces winners of 2007 IT Security journalism awards

The winners of the second BT IT Security Journalism Awards were announced yesterday by Ray Stanton, global head of BT’s business continuity, security and governance practice, and fellow members of a prestigious seven-man judging panel.

The top award – IT Security Journalist of the Year – went to Paul Marks, the New Scientist’s Senior Technology Writer, who impressed the judges with the clarity of his writing, the breadth of his coverage, and the depth of his industry knowledge. Bill Goodwin and Davey Winder, last year’s winner, were runners-up.

It also proved to be a very successful day for Computer Weekly’s Bill Goodwin. He walked away with the awards for Best Identity Management Story of the Year, for his story on Gallaher deploying smart tokens worldwide, and Best Business Continuity Story of the Year for his coverage of the Buncefield oil depot explosion. Both pieces were published in Computer Weekly.

The other winners were freelance journalist Peter Warren in the IT News Story of the Year category for ‘Smash and grab the high-tech way’, an article on a Chinese hacker attack on the Houses of Parliament, published in The Guardian; freelance journalist Davey Winder in the IT Feature of the Year category for ‘Identity Crisis’, published in PCPlus. Finally, Neil Baker scooped Best Secure Managed Communications Story of the Year for ‘Homing in on VoIP’, published in Financial-i.

Commenting on the awards, Ray Stanton said: “The standard of this year’s entries was outstanding and, in just their second year, these awards are already as hotly-contested as any in the business. IT security in all its guises plays a central role in the success of UK plc. These awards have once again shown that the UK’s IT press have the talent to bring the subject to life for all their readers, and to lead debates of national importance.”

BT’s annual awards event seeks to recognise the quality of security journalism in the UK while acknowledging the importance of IT security to British businesses. Forty journalists entered this year, submitting over 120 entries across six categories.

At the event, BT also unveiled a new, special award category, the BT Enigma Award. Presented to Bill Goodwin in recognition of his outstanding and consistent contribution to IT security journalism, Ray Stanton made the presentation of a limited edition Faberge Egg, which is to be passed onto next year’s Enigma winner when BT hosts the third IT Security Journalism Awards. The egg commemorates Colossus, the Second World War Enigma code breaking machine, and highlights BT’s heritage and historical connections with both security and Bletchley Park. The egg will reside in BT Centre for all visitors to see.

Joining Ray Stanton on the judging panel and in presenting the awards were: Dr Paul Dorey, vice president of digital security and chief information security officer for BP plc; Malcolm Marshall, UK lead partner for security and continuity services at KPMG; Paul Wood, Group Business Protection Director, Aviva; Ron Condon, former editor-in-chief, SC Magazine; Professor Fred Piper, director of the information security group at Royal Holloway University of London; and Graham Edwards, Head of Group Information and IT Risk, HBOS PLC.

The full shortlists for each category were as follows:
• IT Security Feature of the Year: Davey Winder (winner); Steve Mathieson; Jon Thompson. The award was presented by Malcolm Marshall.
• IT Security News Story of the Year: Peter Warren (winner); Bill Goodwin, Will Sturgeon; Davey Winder. The award was presented by Ron Condon.
• Best Secure Managed Communications Story: Neil Baker (winner); Ian Grant. The award was presented by Paul Wood.
• Best Business Continuity Story: Bill Goodwin (winner); David Honour; Michelle Price. The award was presented by Dr Paul Dorey.
• Best Identity Management Story: Bill Goodwin (winner); Steve Mathieson; Davey Winder. The award was presented by Professor Fred Piper.
• IT Security Journalist of the Year: Paul Marks of the New Scientist (winner); Freelancer Davey Winder, Computer Weekly’s Bill Goodwin. The award was presented by Ray Stanton.

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