Journalism training news

July 3 2008

UCLAN and Norton College students dominate awards

WINNERS from the University of Central Lancashire and Norton College in Sheffield dominated the UK Press Gazette Student Journalism Awards.

The winner of Student Journalist of the Year Ricki Dewsbury of UCLAN also won Student Scoop of the Year and Student News Writer of the Year. Now working for South West News in Bristol, he said: "It's really fantastic. It seems hard work and a lot of good luck make a winning formula." Natalie Whelan of Leeds University was highly commended for Student Journalist of the Year. UCLAN students took six of the eleven awards. Along with Ricki's three, they were: Thomas Clarke, Student Radio Journalist of the Year; Frida Larsson, Student Multimedia Journalist of the Year, and the group from Homefront magazine won Student Team of the Year.

UCLAN tutor Delwyn Swingewood said: "The awards are a tribute to the students' talent and dedication. My colleagues and I are delighted. All these students have a bright future ahead, I congratulate them all."

All six nominations for Student Photographer of the Year attended NCTJ-accredited courses at The Norton College, Sheffield. Ian Chapman was crowned the winner. He said: "I'm absolutely blown away, I can't believe it."

David Reed, of Nottingham Trent University won Student Television Journalist of the Year; Student Feature Writer of the Year was Gwyn Roberts, of Goldsmiths, University of London; Natalie Wheelan, of Leeds University, won Student Editor of the Year, and Rhoda Buchanan, from Sheffield University, was Student Interviewer of the Year.