I am so honored and kinda shocked that I’m on this list. Only non-UK person too, I think

The Groucho Club Announces Maverick Shortlist

The shortlist for the 2011 Groucho Club Award – announced today – reflects an
unprecedented year which has seen major global shocks and shifts in the world of media,
politics and finance.

Featured amongst the six shortlisted ‘mavericks’ are the campaigning journalist who
uncovered the News of the World phone-hacking scandal; the MP who spoke out about it;
and the artist who used her work as an activist to support Wall Street Occupy.

The shortlist for the 2011 Groucho Maverick Award is:

Molly Crabapple
An artist and activist, Molly began her career doing covers for the pornographic
newspaper, Screw and earlier this year designed the murals for nightclub, The Box in
Soho. Also this year she has made her art political though her use of art to protest at
Wall Street Occupy

Nick Davies
The Guardian investigative journalist whose relentless commitment to the truth led to
the uncovering of much of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal

Idris Elba
The talented British actor who went to America to find work and became an
international star in The Wire. He has now returned to the UK to star in Luther and
continues to campaign for a greater diversity of roles for black actors

Hilary Lloyd
An artist who, in films and installations, shows the world at its most ordinary and
boring – underpants, tower blocks, glossy fashion mags – and flips the meaning to
make it suddenly menacing and strange.

Caitlin Moran
The outspoken Times journalist, Caitlin is the author of How to be a Woman, the
book which everyone’s reading, in which she redefines feminism and proves that
women can be as funny as men

Tom Watson
The Labour MP who, by asking questions no one else dared ask in the House,
bought much of the phone-hacking scandal into the public consciousness

—–

Launched in 2010 as ‘the antidote to other awards’, the Maverick Award celebrates
people who have broken the mould in their own particular field, by challenging and
making a significant contribution to our culture in the past 12 months, either in the UK or
internationally.