The awards recognise the most outstanding motoring journalists and photographers in the business. The year’s accolades were presented at the Guild’s Annual Dinner and Awards at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London, on Thursday 4 December 2014 in front of a capacity audience including HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Guild President Nick Mason and BRDC President Derek Warwick.

Alex was awarded the new AA Campaigning Award, which aims to reward the journalist who best picks up a topic or topics of concern to his or her audience. The judges expected the winning story to present the issue it in a readable, understandable manner, providing compelling support information and offering advice. The AA award was previously for Environment coverage but from this year, was changed to the Campaigning award – reflecting the AA’s own campaigning strategies.

The award was made in recognition of Alex's article "How dirty are diesels?" and was presented by Ian Crowder of the AA who congratulated Alex, adding: 'Following the political imperative to cut carbon emissions, which encouraged growth in use of diesel cars, comes concern about NO_X emissions. New Euro 6 emissions standards are on the horizon however, but they may not deliver and the reasons why are explained using diagrams, expert opinion and an explanation of effort to accurately measure emissions.  

'In the judges’ view, the story presents the issue for fleet operators who will have some serious thinking to do about the shape of their future operations, very well: despite manufacturers’ efforts to reflect new emissions targets.'