Every year, thirty stars are born. A S I B FOREWORD by Alex Bigg The UK boasts one of the most vibrant media sectors in the world. British-trained journalists are sought after across the globe and this country is a magnet for some of the most talented international journalists seeking to join this thriving industry. It is encouraging to see that despite countless surveys The range of subjects covered is also an interesting in which reporters often figure as the UK’s least popular reflection of the UK and wider world in 2018. We saw people, there is no shortage of young and talented articles about acid attacks, knife crime and the plight people who want to work in the media. of migrants. Gender identity, the impact of social media and tattoos also featured widely. 30 to Watch is in its seventh year and it is not an exaggeration to say we have been overwhelmed this There was so much good work it was almost impossible year by the quality and volume of entries. Our judges to single out 30 winners. Our key criterion is that each looked through cuttings, clips, social posts, long reads, winner has achieved something remarkable and shows videos and graphic sequences from almost 400 huge promise for the future. journalists under the age of 30. We are proud that the growing list of 30 To Watch The material we looked at was published in 97 alumni boasts many names like Jim Waterson, Sophy different titles, from the mainstream to the exotic. Ridge and Isabel Hardman that were relatively unknown The Telegraph Media Group was the leader in terms of when they won, but now are instantly recognisable. the numbers – with 23 journalists submitting an entry. We hope that this year’s 30 winners will also go on to 30 To Watch is a useful barometer of the media achieve even greater success. We congratulate them industry – the variety of titles illustrates the impact of and wish them well. digital publishing, as no subject is too niche to warrant coverage. A vibrant media industry relies on young people with ideas, energy and new skills to communicate with an audience who have not grown up on newspapers, TV and radio alone. MHP AND 30 TO WATCH by Adam Batstone A MHP HAS BEEN The truth is that the lines are MHP is helping its clients navigate CELEBRATING THE BEST blurring and fewer young journalists this new networked world – where YOUNG JOURNALISTS can or want to rely on only one kind influencers come in many forms and IN BRITAIN SINCE 2012. of work. That’s a key reason why we an individual often has more impact THE EVENT HAS GROWN have changed the format this year – than a single column or slot would S IN STATURE EVERY YEAR to reflect that shift in the industry. ever provide. These awards help AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE us understand the changing nature of This year we asked our entrants influence and the young people who RECEIVED MORE ENTRIES to submit work in different subject shape our collective understanding THAN EVER BEFORE. categories: news, politics, health, of the world. lifestyle, financial, business & trade, Looking back at the original list campaign and innovation. We felt The record-breaking number of of winners, it is interesting to see this was a better reflection of how entries has produced the most that the large majority worked journalists work than dividing into eclectic range of nominations in the I for national newspapers – categories based on the medium history of the Awards. By broadening Jack Sidders of Construction they work in. the range of categories, we have been News was a notable exception. able to celebrate a wider array of talent. This pattern is one we see reflected Spool forward to this year and our in the world of public relations and Looking forward, we hope that 30 to 30 winners are from a very diverse communications, where clients are Watch can help to promote diversity set of titles; still many newspaper responding to changes in the media in the industry by giving a platform journalists – but plenty of digital and seeking news ways to reach to the widest range of voices – and natives, regional, broadcast and their audience. we will be working hard to encourage trade journalists too. more young people to enter the awards B in future. MHP AND 30 TO WATCH 7 YEARS OF 30 TO WATCH 6 TOP JUDGES 367 ENTRIES FROM ACROSS THE MEDIA - A NEW RECORD 28 MEDIA BRANDS SPECIAL 97 REPRESENTED COMMENDATIONS THE 2018 WINNERS INCLUDE: 13 NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE JOURNALISTS MHPMission Control 8 BROADCAST JOURNALISTS 4 JOURNALISTS FROM DIGITAL NATIVE BRANDS 4 SPECIALIST MEDIA JOURNALISTS OUR PRESENTERS DAVID DINSMORE David is the Chief Operating Officer of News UK, the company where he has spent the large majority of his journalistic career. He had a rapid rise through the ranks from a junior reporter for the Scottish Sun to being appointed as editor of The Sun newspaper in 2013. As COO he is now focused on developing the News UK operation including the company’s commitment to fostering the careers of young journalists. JAY RAYNER Jay has gained fame as one of Britain’s best known restaurant critics. He is a multi-award winning journalist who has written extensively about the food industry as well as social and political issues. In addition to his journalistic and broadcast work, jay has also written four novels and is an accomplished jazz pianist. As a previous winner of the British Press Awards Young Journalist of the Year, Jay is committed to encouraging young people to make a career in the media. OUR JUDGES AISHA GANI JO WILLEY DAVID FORD Aisha is a former 30 To Watch winner Jo is the former Health Editor at the David is an Executive Editor at who won in 2017 for her work as a Daily Express and has worked on CNN International with responsibility senior reporter at Buzzfeed. She has national newspapers for almost 20 for news output from the US network’s recently re-located to Qatar for a new years. She now runs Jo Willey Media, London bureau. He has a long career job with Al Jazeera +. She specialises a media consultancy business working in broadcast news as one of the original in writing about issues and people with PR agencies, pharmaceutical team of producers on BBC Radio 5 whose stories are not always told – companies, charities and businesses, Live and the BBC News Channel. He spending several weeks with advising on everything from storytelling, left the BBC to manage Sky Sports Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh – media and corporate strategy to News where he was responsible for from where she reported for BBC campaigns and media training. developing the careers of a team Radio. Aisha uses social media She is also a meeting facilitator and of young reporters and presenters, throughout her reporting and as a freelance, is a member of, and many of whom have gone on to has 25,000 followers on Twitter. Collective Media Maestro for, The become household names. Difference Collective. She still works as a freelance journalist. CAMILLA MANKABADY PETER CAMPBELL ROGER ALTON Camilla is a programme editor Peter is the Financial Times’ global Roger is currently a freelance for ITV News where she is one Motor Industry Correspondent, based journalist, working as a contributing of a small team responsible for the in London. He joined the FT three editor at the Daily Mail. He has edited News at Ten and ITV Evening News. years ago after five years at the Daily the Observer and the Independent, She joined ITV after many years at Mail, first on the graduate training and was Executive Editor of the BBC News where she was an output scheme and then for four years on the Times. He worked on the Guardian editor of the BBC News at Ten and business desk covering energy, media, in several roles, including Sports BBC News at Six. She has a particular telecoms, technology, industry and Editor, Magazine Editor, Arts Editor, interest in developing the careers of tax. He was named Young Journalist and Features Editor. He also writes young journalists, and is dedicated of the Year at the British Press Awards a sports column for the Spectator. to encouraging more diversity for 2014, and was winner of MHP’s in the newsroom. 30 To Watch Gold Award in 2013. Alpha CRA NASA, ESA 500 LY A S I B WINNERS’ BIOGRAPHIES BUSINESS/TRADE CAMPAIGN Gold Award Gold Award James Phillips Sabah Meddings Natasha Preskey Professional Pensions The Sunday Times Freelance James graduated from City, Since joining the Sunday Times in Natasha is a freelance journalist who University of London in 2016 with June 2017, Sabah has been thriving has really got under the skin of her an MA in Newspaper Journalism, in one of the most competitive specialist subject area. The judges and from the University of Birmingham newsrooms around. The judges noted were impressed by the quality of her in 2015 with a BA in Political Science her impressive writing across a range work – and by the impressive range and Philosophy. James joined of subjects and breaking stories, with of titles who are publishing her work. Professional Pensions in June 2016 special praise reserved for her lively Mental health has gone from being as a correspondent and has swiftly reporting on the pharmaceutical a topic that was brushed under the established himself as a high quality industry. She began her journalism carpet, but is now being taken writer across the pensions and career at the Norwich Evening News increasingly seriously across the investment space, whether that be and has also worked at the Daily Mail.