NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE TRAINING OF JOURNALISTS

AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM 2013

WINNERS STUDENTS TRAINEES

NEWS JOURNALISM NEWS JOURNALISM

Eleanor Ross James Coldwell Fast-track multimedia journalism (part-time), News Associates - James completed his NCTJ training with News Associates in Manchester in Eleanor was praised for her entries, including a report on the occupation of a February 2012 and began working as a trainee reporter at the Hull Daily Mail in Battersea Park playground by protesters, with the panel commenting she “clearly July 2012. He is currently a business reporter for the Hull Daily Mail. The judges has an eye for a story”. Eleanor is now a freelance reporter for online said he submitted “a superb range of hard-hitting human interest stories sharply and The Sun features, and occasionally works at Southwark News. told.”

SPORTS JOURNALISM SPORTS JOURNALISM

Thomas Mordey Thomas Allnutt MA print journalism, University of Sheffield Newsquest Herts, North & East London

Thomas impressed the judges with his features on Red Bull’s impact on extreme Thomas previously completed the NCTJ-accredited fast-track at News sports; the evolution of climbing; and a story on the 15-year anniversary of the Associates in London and now works as a sports reporter. He said: “Covering Sheffield Eagles Challenge Cup. Thomas now works for as sport has always been my dream career and my first couple of years in the job a graduate trainee and his career ambition is to work on major events like the have been just as exciting as I’d hoped.” Olympics and World Cup.

TOP SCOOP / EXCLUSIVE TOP SCOOP/EXCLUSIVE

Sophie Mei Lan Slack Lauren Witherspoon PgDip journalism, University of Salford Dundee Evening Telegraph

A Journalism Diversity Fund recipient, Sophie is the founder and editor of Lauren has been completing her NCTJ prelims while working for The multi-award winning human rights publication, Verita Magazine. The judges were Evening Telegraph in preparation for the NQJ. Lauren was praised by the impressed by Sophie’s use of multimedia and said her submission on survivors judges for following her news radar in the face of official obstruction in her of child sex abuse “sheds genuinely new light on a topic that could scarcely be of story about a 12-year-old being charged with stealing a car involved in a greater public importance”. road traffic collision.. FEATURES FEATURES

Rachel Gorman Joanna Morris MA journalism, Trent University Northern Echo

Judge Jayne Savva, features editor for Best Magazine, commended Rachel for Joanna secured her job as a trainee reporter at while her “easy, gently observant style” and “clever stylistic touches” in her real-life finishing her NCTJ training at Darlington College. The judges were impressed by story of a paralysed musician. Rachel Is now working as a freelance journalist for her “engaging writing style, colourful, evocative and revealing first-person ac- The Nottingham Post and said of her win: “It is an amazing feeling to be count of what it’s like to be homeless.” acknowledged for your hard work, especially amongst such stiff competition.”

IMAGES IMAGES

Tom Maddick Harry Atkinson Diploma in journalism for press photographers and North West Evening Mail photojournalists, Sheffield College Harry completed his NCTJ photojournalism training at Sheffield College and is Tom is a photographer for Ross Parry Agency covering Yorkshire, , now working as a staff photographer for North West Evening Mail. The judges and for the national . Prior to his NCTJ commended him on his tenacity in securing a range of impressive images, which course, he worked at the Newark Advertiser as a freelance photographer. His included a military funeral, a fatal road traffic accident scene and a picture of a submissions included a mix of emotive and light-hearted images that were murder suspect, which remains the only picture taken of him since the incident. published in The Daily Mail and The Times. BEST STUDENT PUBLICATION CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

University of Central Lancashire David Kett The Baking Sheet Senior examiner for the NCTJ and member of the public affairs board The 36-page magazine for independent UK bakeries was produced by third-year students from the NCTJ-accredited BA honours in David Kett is a stalwart of the NCTJ training system and the journalism course at the University of Central Lancashire. doyenne of public affairs, having taught PA at accredited cen- tres for almost 40 years. He started teaching at Highbury A team of 11 students, under the editorship of Megan Habberfield, College in 1971, and later taught at the University of created a new product for their professional audience that featured trends in the bakery market, exclusive feature articles, e-commerce, Bournemouth, the Southampton Institute as well as tutoring at equipment reviews and an investigation into the rise of artisan bread. Up to Speed journalism training.

The judges said: “A superb entry that adopted a completely different David has been a valued and respected member of the NCTJ’s approach to crack a niche market. Certainly cashing in on a craze PA exam board for over 30 years – setting and marking exams, sweeping the country, this entry used some great design and really in- designing and updating the programme of study and pioneering teresting features to drag the reader in. It doesn’t matter whether you distance learning provision in this area. His knowledge of the like baking or not, you’ll love this magazine. A good mix of information subject is unparalleled but just as noticeable is his and human interest, it also featured engaging imagery and clever generosity and support to colleagues teaching at various NCTJ headlines. The icing on the cake was bagging some real celebrities – centres. with Deborah Meaden the cherry on the top.”

PERFORMANCE AWARDS JUDGES STUDENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR ● Ian Carter, editorial director, Kent Messenger Group

Alan Selby ● Mick Dennis, football correspondent, MA journalism (part-time), Brunel University ● Steven English, digital marketing manager, Caterham F1 Team Before graduating from Brunel University, Alan secured a place on Trinity Mirror’s newly re-opened training scheme, which is where he now finds ● Brian Flynn, investigations editor, The Sun himself. Over the next three years, Alan will be training across several Trin- ity Mirror regional papers, before returning to London to work at the Mirror’s national titles. He said: “It feels absolutely incredible to win my award. The ● Margareta Pagano, business columnist, Independent on Sunday last few years really have been a baptism of fire – and extremely hard work. I’ve been very lucky to end up where I am now, but this makes everything ● Andrew Parkes, group managing editor, Newsquest South London seem even more worthwhile.” ● Steve Phillips, group picture editor, South Evening Post

REPORTER OF THE YEAR ● Dominic Ponsford, editor, Press Gazette

Lauren Potts ● Alice Ryan, head of features, Cambridge Newspapers Pontefract & Castleford Express ● Haroon Siddique, news reporter, Lauren joined the Pontefract & Castleford Express as a trainee reporter having completed the NCTJ-accredited fast-track course at News Associates in Manchester. She passed the NCE (now NQJ) in November ● Karen Swayne, features and health editor, Prima magazine 2012 with the highest marks in the country. She said: “It’s a privilege to be given such a prestigious award and it was the last thing I expected. It’s made all those nights sitting with McNae’s in the run up to the exams worth it.”