The Independent is a Digiday Media Awards 2022 finalist for its End the Death Penalty campaign

End the Death Penalty campaign aims to create awareness, encourage action, and ultimately end capital punishment

Thursday 19 May 2022 17:52 BST

Campaigners fear the omissions suggest the Government is no longer prioritising the two issues

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The Independent is honoured to be a Digiday Media Awards 2022 finalist in the Best Editorial Package category.

The shortlisting is in recognition of its End the Death Penalty campaign, which aims to create awareness, encourage action, and ultimately end capital punishment.

The project has simultaneously focused on in-depth coverage to educate audiences about capital punishment, and strengthening corporate buy-in on anti-death penalty work, augmenting companies’ stances to lobby for reform.

The overarching goal is to move society – in the US and beyond – to a place where the death penalty is eliminated.

US Editor Katie Davies said: “The Independent is dedicated to bringing awareness to social justice issues in the US and across the globe. We are incredibly proud of our work on the death penalty and hope this recognition helps to shine a light on the injustices and inequities carried out in the name of capital punishment.”

Blair Tapper, The Independent’s Senior VP US, added: “We’re thrilled that Digiday has recognised this incredible work and our mission to amplify voices. Authentic storytelling is at the root of our brand growth, reader connection and making change happen.”

The project was conceived of and executed in partnership with the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, an organisation that encourages businesses to get involved in criminal justice reform.

The Digiday Media Awards, formerly the Digiday Publishing Awards, recognise the companies working to modernise digital media.

Over the years, the awards have honoured industry-leading work from The New York Times, Dotdash, Meredith, PopSugar and more.

The winners will be announced on 30 June.

Read some of our work surrounding the campaign below:

Voices: Why it is beyond time for the US to end the death penalty

America’s death map: Which US states still have capital punishment, and who uses it the most?

10 shocking statistics about the US death penalty that you won’t believe are still true in 2021

The ‘stepchild of lynching’: How the death penalty targets Black people

‘I believe in redemption’: Inside the fight for religious rights in the execution room

Nathson Fields, the Midnight Crew, and the epic 40-year battle from death row against Chicago police torture

Voices: Joe Biden says he’s changed his mind on the death penalty. Why isn’t he doing more to stop it?

‘Broken beyond repair’: 150 executives including Sheryl Sandberg join The Independent to demand an end to the death penalty