It's been another turbulent 12 months in the media and for the second year running The Media Blog is calling for nominations for your Media Hero and Villain Of The Year. It could be an individual, an organisation or a publication or broadcaster.
Just drop us an email, or post a comment below with your suggestions and a brief line on why they deserve either award (unless it's screamingly obvious). We will then create a shortlist and throw it open to a public vote in time to announce the winners before the end of the year.
In last year's awards the Hero crown was won by The Telegraph for its relentless exposure of abuses of Commons expenses, while the Villain of the year was Daily Mail columnist Jan Moir for her poisonous piece about the death of pop star Stephen Gately. Big shoes to fill.
Adam Boulton for his hissy fit and the total meltdown of any professionalism he may once have had on college green Westminster. Villain obviously. Ali Campbell a hero for clearly pushing him to breaking point.
Posted by: John | Dec 08, 2010 at 19:35
I'm torn. Either Richard Littlejohn for the vile lies he tells or the PCC for consistently failing to step in and halt the rabid nonsense of our tabloids.
Posted by: Anon | Dec 08, 2010 at 19:37
... or how about Andy Coulson for villain! Not only has he moved over to 'the dark side' but we've yet to fully fathom just how dark the previous side of the fence was under his stewardship.
Irrespective of what may or may not have happened at the News Of The World, his role in greasing David Cameron into power is reason enough to hate him for eternity and a day.
Posted by: Anon | Dec 08, 2010 at 19:41
I think it's been a great year for satire in social media, teaching traditional media some important lessons both personal and professional.
I think MyDavidCameron.com and Dan and Dan's Daily Mail song should be in there.
Posted by: Richy P. | Dec 08, 2010 at 20:02
What about 'us', the people on Twitter, tuning in at home, for doing stuff like saving Radio 6 Music? Sure, big names rally round but the power of Twitter is in the followers, not the followed.
Posted by: Joe Public | Dec 08, 2010 at 20:17
Charlie Brooker, for all his awesome Screen Burn pieces which sadly ended this year. A hero to many in this cynical day and age.
Villain, that awful c**t AA Gill for being AA Gill really, but if you need specifics there was all the homophobic stuff about Clare Balding. In fact, put Clarkson in there as well - same reason.
Posted by: Vote Gill! | Dec 08, 2010 at 20:31
Good shout on Dan & Dan - DEFINITELY!!!
Posted by: Alex | Dec 08, 2010 at 21:01
Julian Assange, obviously!
...just not sure if he's a hero or villain.
Posted by: #wikileaks | Dec 08, 2010 at 21:11
The Guardian for being fooled by Nick Clegg and leaving the UK with a Tory government.
Posted by: Steph Thompson | Dec 08, 2010 at 22:15
That was a nomination for villain obviously. Sorry.
Posted by: Steph Thompson | Dec 08, 2010 at 22:16
Fuck satire or joke youtube videos pick a proper journalist making a difference like Clare Sambrook who won the Paul Foot award for her campaigning work.
Posted by: Me | Dec 08, 2010 at 23:07
Private Eye's the best for breaking real scandal in the media and keeping them as honest as they can be. It should be a hero to anybody in the media. Meanwhile the Daily Mail and everybody who works for it should be taken out and shot. Villains to the core.
Posted by: Pete | Dec 08, 2010 at 23:33
Given the vote on tuition fees today it HAS to be the Guardian. Nick Clegg batted his eyelids and the Guardian swooned, betraying its roots and readers. Now we have a Tory government and Clegg, no surprises turned out to be a Tory through and through. The Guardian should have seen that coming!
Posted by: Louise B | Dec 09, 2010 at 07:10
Or how about Jeremy Hunt for Villain?
Posted by: Louise B | Dec 09, 2010 at 07:14
Andy Coulson, Rupert Murdoch, Dominic Mohan, Jeremy Hunt, Paul Dacre, Littlejohn, AA Gill, Clarkson, FIFA. All villains.
Posted by: Sad I Can't Think of Heroes! | Dec 09, 2010 at 08:39
Alex Beam
Posted by: Kopite | Dec 09, 2010 at 08:44
One of the Rory Peck Awards winners or finalists:
http://www.rorypecktrust.org/page/3088/News/77
Posted by: Nadia | Dec 09, 2010 at 09:37
Villain - Kay Burley, Sky News.
Anyone with any real intelligence or interest in current affairs will understanding that Kay Burley's questioning is sometimes, let's say. 'fluffy'.
She is in an insult to journalism, serious journalism anyway.
Posted by: CF | Dec 09, 2010 at 12:11
Hero: Panorama for being prepared to be unpopular for telling a story it believed needed to be told.
Villain: Fifa for thinking the independent media would ever be bullied by political or commercial interests.
Posted by: BBC fan | Dec 09, 2010 at 15:40
Nadia - and she made Peter Andre cry!
Posted by: FeeG | Dec 09, 2010 at 16:30
Angel of Death Kay Burley for numerous offences!
Posted by: Tommo | Dec 09, 2010 at 16:32
Darryl and Stephanie Mann for catching Cat Bin Lady on video and giving the media nearly a month's worth of stories!
Posted by: Lola The Cat | Dec 09, 2010 at 16:35
Hero: BBC 6 Music for sticking it to the man! Villain: ITV for being an even bigger shower of shit than the England team at the 2010 World Cup
Posted by: Robbie Earle's ticket allocation | Dec 09, 2010 at 16:38