The NCTJ has revealed its shortlist for its annual Awards for Excellence to be handed out early next year.

Judges have shortlisted 72 students, trainees, apprentices and training providers across the 20 award categories.

More than 400 entries were received for the awards, which aim to showcase the achievements of the most outstanding journalism students and trainees over the past 12 months.

The Awards for Excellence ceremony will take place in early 2025, with details to be revealed in the new year.

 

Shortlisted in the student and trainee categories are:

	Student	Trainee/apprentice
News journalism	Emma Dodd, Darlington College	Yzabelle Bostyn, The Olive Press
	George Palmer-Soady, Nottingham Trent Uni.	Max Kendix, The Times
	Ruby Watson, University of Sheffield	Isabelle Parkin, Express & Star
Sports journalism	Evie Ashton, St Mary’s University	Ben Fleming, Metro
	David Olaseinde, News Associates London	Reuben Threllfall, talkSPORT
	Oscar Pick, St Mary’s University
Top scoop	Nicole Haynes, News Associates London	Jonathan Addai, BBC News
	Charles Pring, Glasgow Clyde College	Tom Burgess, The Northern Echo
	Eduardo Tansley, St Mary’s University	Shing Hei Yip, The Chaser News
	Lucy Wilde, News Associates London	Isabella Ward, Bloomberg News
	Conor Wilson, News Associates London
Features of the year	Jessica Benjamin, University of Portsmouth	Sharin Hussain, The Times
	George Nash, News Associates London	Charlotte McDonald, BBC News
	Richard Sladden, News Associates London	Elysia Taylor-Hearn, The Daily Record
Podcast of the year	Joshua Brooks, University of Salford	Hayley Clarke, BBC News
	Rosabel Crean, News Associates London	Dell Goonetillake, talkSPORT
	Holly Nichols, News Associates London	Josephine Watson, TechRadar
Data journalism	Charlotte Bend, News Associates London	Eleri Griffiths, BBC Wales News
	Joanna Burrell, University of Portsmouth	Imogen James, BBC News
	Lucy Rowan, News Associates London	Isabella Ward, Bloomberg News
	Lisa Valentine, News Associates Manchester
Videojournalism	Na Ao, University of Sheffield	Mirek Gosney, Newbury Weekly News
	Jay Blakeaway, Glasgow Caledonian Uni.	Simran Sohal, BBC News
	Tommy Lawrence, University of Lincoln	Lydia Wilson, BBC Sout
	Izabella Thornley, News Associates London

Shortlisted in the specialist categories are:

Student project of the year

‘Sink or Swim – a cultural deep dive’: Cynthia Ajayi, Liverpool John Moores University
‘The Geography of Suicide’: Joshua Day, University of Salford
‘The Numbers Game’: Adam Tones, University of Sunderland

Innovation of the year award

Ulster University  – Mediastrong mental health awareness campaign
University of Sheffield – Virtual reality immersive newsgathering workshop
University of Sunderland  – AI on-the-scene reporting simulation

Equality, diversity and inclusion award (individual)

Hayley Clarke, BBC News
Shaheena Uddin, Muslim Journalists Connect
Grace Wheeler, BBC Sport
Lydia Wilson, BBC South

Equality, diversity and inclusion award (organisation)

City of Liverpool College
News UK
University of Sheffield

Level 5 apprentice of the year award

Phoebe Abruzzese, Darlington College, The Northern Echo
Annabelle Ariyanayagam, PA Media Academy, BBC World Service
Ezekiel Bertrand, Darlington College, Newsquest South London
Jasmine Dufraisse, PA Media Academy, BBC News
Harry Goodwin, PA Media Academy, The Sun
Dell Goonetillake, PA Media Academy, talkSPORT
Niamh Robinson, PA Media Academy, The Telegraph

Level 7 apprentice of the year award

Tom Burgess, Darlington College, The Northern Echo
Hayley Clarke, University of Kent, BBC News
Daniel Hordon, Darlington College, The Northern Echo
Sanjana Idnani, University of Kent, BBC Wales News
Jacob Ridley, University of Sunderland, PC Gamer
Josephine Watson, University of Sunderland, TechRadar

The shortlist for the student of the year and trainee of the year awards will be announced in early 2025.

The chair’s award will be presented at the ceremony in spring 2025.