The third Rupert Cornwell Prize for Journalism has been won by Thomas Graham, a scientist by training and now a freelance writer on a broad range of topics.

The annual award is aimed at younger journalists towards the start of their careers, and Mr Graham was the most impressive of the candidates in another crowded field of talent. His winning proposal is for a series of features on the Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, exploring in particular how the territories are being affected by the continuing migrant crisis. The onset of Covid-19 has, as elsewhere, complicated an already difficult life for those seeking refuge and a better life.

I am very pleased and excited to have been offered this opportunity. It is an honour to undertake this project. I hope that I can live up to the reputation of a much-missed and fine writer, Mr Graham said.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

The 5,000 prize is supported by The Independent and will be awarded by the Rupert Cornwell Trust.

On behalf of the judges and the trust, Cornwells widow Susan, US congressional correspondent for Reuters, praised Mr Grahams innovative and thoughtful proposal.

We were especially pleased to see how Tom was able to identify so many intriguing and compelling stories in such a relatively neglected corner of the world. Tom is plainly a talented journalist who greatly deserves our support.

In a competition which attracted a high calibre of candidates, the judges also highly commended Ellen Halliday and Amanda Coakley for their proposals which were extremely promising and imaginative.

The Rupert Cornwell Prize was established in memory of the distinguished foreign correspondent and writer who died three years ago. The goal is to help fund a suitable journalistic project in any of the broad regions Cornwell spent much of his career covering North America, Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Thomas spends time in Bolivia when reporting on a story about some planned hydroelectric dams (Thomas Graham)

Cornwell was one of the most elegant of writers in recent times, and embodied the pioneering spirit of The Independent when he joined it as one of its first recruits in 1986. He remained one of its wisest and most eloquent voices, writing for the title until his death in 2017.

From his earliest reports for the Financial Times in Rome to chronicling the decline of the USSR, and on to the Trump phenomenon, he was a source of inspiration for all his colleagues, and now for a new generation of writers.

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Rupert Cornwell Prize 2020: Thomas Graham named this years winner - The Independent