The judges have shortlisted 82 students, trainees, apprentices and training providers in the 2025 Awards for Excellence.
Over 550 entries were received for the annual awards, which highlight the achievements of individuals with promising journalism careers ahead of them and those doing outstanding work in the media and training sector.
The NCTJ is also proud to launch the Andrew Norfolk Investigative Journalism Award, in partnership with The Times – offering a one-year paid investigative internship to a gold standard NCTJ-qualified journalist. The winner of this category will be announced at the event in March.
The NCTJ is grateful to Reuters, our headline sponsor, and to all the media organisations that support the event: Alder Media, Yahoo, Sky News, Mark Allen group, the BBC, the Market Research Society, British Polling Council, News UK, Sky Sports News and the Financial Times.
Shortlisted in the student and trainee categories are:
| Student | Trainee/apprentice | |
| News journalism | Bill Curtis, NCTJ distance learning Olivia Kemp, News Associates London Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, Glasgow Caledonian University |
Elli Hodgson, KentOnline Oliver Leader, KMTV Zach Saunders, Isle of Wight County Press |
| Sports journalism | Alexander Lancaster-Lennox, News Associates London Alex Oakhill, Bournemouth University Jasmine Trapnell, News Associates London |
Flo Clifford, The Independent Joseph Harston, The Times George Nash, Freelance |
| Top scoop | Luke Alsford, News Associates London Blaise Cloran, News Associates London Bill Curtis, NCTJ distance learning |
Nia Price, BBC News Jodie Yettram, All Island Media Shing Hei Yip, The Chaser News |
| Features of the year | Emma Butterworth, News Associates Manchester Yennah Smart, News Associates London Owen Thomas, News Associates Manchester |
Thomas Bryden, The Sun Rory MacNeish, Freelance George Nash, Freelance |
| Podcast of the year | Cassidy Chan and Maddi Fern, University of Sheffield Alex Charlton, St Mary’s University Twickenham Jack Dean, University of Sheffield |
Thomas Copeland, BBC News Jamie Russell, BBC Scotland George Walker, BBC News |
| Data journalism | Tacita Quinn, News Associates London Yennah Smart, News Associates London Adam Termote, News Associates London |
Emily Doughty, BBC News Hannah Karpel, BBC News Jodie Yettram, All Island Media |
| Videojournalism | Sharon Browne-Peter, News Associates London Adam Husicka, University of Sheffield Mia Williams, News Associates |
Marcus Boothe, BBC Points West Evie Flynn, Southwark News Oliver Leader, KMTV |
Shortlisted in the specialist categories are:
Student project of the year
- ‘Sidelines magazine’: Amelia Cox, James Morgan-Wynne, Cerys Jones, Angel Sang, Amy Hamerslagh, Gus Ballantine, University of Sheffield
- ‘Is it Time to Move on from Prison?’: Greta Mizere, University of Essex
- ‘Female athletes feel failed by their sportswear ‘: Molly Sutherland, Nottingham Trent University
- ‘Food for Thought ‘: Yanotai Tragoolpadetgrai, Nottingham Trent University
Innovation of the year award
- News Associates – How to be a journalist podcast
- University of Portsmouth – Innovative approach to court reporting
- University of Brighton – Multi-platform sports news impact
- Ulster University – North/South political issues
Equality, diversity and inclusion award (individual)
- Sharon Browne-Peter, Freelance/News Associates London
- Kit Taylor, BBC News
- Jasmine Trapnell, Freelance
Equality, diversity and inclusion award (organisation)
- Aziz Foundation
- CNN
- University of Lincoln
Student of the year award
- Izzie Addison, PA Media Academy
- Haris Armstrong, Cardiff University
- Mary Neale Smith, PA Media Academy
- Hannah Walton-Hughs, Cardiff University
- Louise Sadler, Cardiff University
- Leah Renz, News Associates London
Level 5 apprentice of the year award
- Olivia Carter, Newsquest London, Darlington College
- Oscar Frost, The Telegraph, PA Media Academy
- Chad Kibuka, S&P Global, PA Media Academy
- Alexandra Osborne, BBC Plymouth, PA Media Academy
- Hannah Quinn, Times Radio, PA Media Academy
- Lydia Wilson, BBC South, PA Media Academy
Level 7 apprentice of the year award
- Lucy Acheson, BBC News, University of Kent
- Hannah Karpel, BBC News, University of Kent
- Alex O’Leary, Northern Echo, Darlington College
- Nia Price, BBC News, University of Kent
Trainee of the year award
- Elli Hodgson, KentOnline, PA Media Academy
- Ross Waldron, Suffolk News, Nottingham Trent University
- Beth Williams, BBC Wales, University of Kent
- Daniel Wood, Swindon Advertiser, Darlington College
The chair’s award and the Andrew Norfolk Investigative Journalism award will be presented at the ceremony in Brighton on 24 March 2026.
