The judges have shortlisted students, trainees, apprentices and training providers in the 2023 Awards for Excellence.
Some 699 entries were received across 17 categories 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 grateful to News UK, this year’s headline sponsor of the awards, and to all the media organisations which support the event.
Shortlisted in the student and trainee categories are:
| Student | Trainee/apprentice | |
| News journalism, sponsored by Iliffe Media | Tempany Grace, NCTJ distance learner Max Kendix, News Associates London Martin Read, NCTJ distance learner Daniel Wood, Bournemouth University |
Dolly Carter, East Anglian Daily Times Kia-Elise Green, iNews Jamel Smith, PA Media |
| Sports journalism, sponsored by Sky Sports News | Elise Hamersley, News Associates London Leon Imber, University of Brighton Adwaidh Rajan, St Mary’s University |
Uma Gurav, talkSPORT Alec McQuarrie, Freelance Ben Parsons, Bunkered, DC Thomson |
| Top scoop, sponsored by Sky News | Oliver Murphy, News Associates London Lily Shanagher, City of Portsmouth College Bethan Wild, Cardiff University |
Harry Baker, Live Science Ruth Cassidy, KentOnline Sabrina Miller, The Mail on Sunday and The Daily Mail |
| Features of the year, sponsored by Mark Allen Group | Constance Bowker, News Associates London Harry Robinson, The University of Sheffield |
Charlotte Alt, The Times Rory Bennett, MyLondon Bethan Finighan, Kennedy News and Media |
| Podcast of the year, sponsored by Politico | Jonathan Bentley, University of Salford Michael Johnston, St Mary’s University Francisco dos Santos / Reagan Yip, Nottingham Trent University |
George Crafer, BBC Jacob Evans, BBC Carla Rosch, BBC |
| Data journalism, sponsored by Market Research Society/British Polling Council | Eleanor Gunn, News Associates London Max Kendix, News Associates London Petra Matijevic, NCTJ distance learner |
Hayley Clarke, BBC Eamon Akil Farhat, Bloomberg Jack Fifield, The Oldham Times |
Shortlisted in the specialist categories are:
Student project of the year, sponsored by The BMJ
- How to heal a city, by Asher Gibson, News Associates London
- The hidden heroes of our society, by Megan Sarah Payton, University of Kent
- Angle News Bulletin from the University of Gloucestershire, by Kaleigh Pritchard, University of Gloucestershire
Innovation of the year award, sponsored by i
- Lisa Bradley, from the University of Sheffield
- Mark Bradley and Michelle Rawlins, from the University of Sheffield
- Polly Rippon, from the University of Sheffield
Equality, diversity and inclusion awards, sponsored by the Financial Times
- Liverpool John Moores University, journalism department
- Zeenia Naqvee, Cardiff University
- Emaan Warraich, journalism researcher, BBC
Community News Project award, sponsored by Meta
- Maxine Denton, Cornwall Live
- Jack Fifield, Oldham Times
- Mirek Gosney, Newbury Weekly News/ Newbury Today
- Paul McAuley, Liverpool Echo
- Eszter Tárnai, Glasgow Times
Apprentice of the year award, sponsored by Yahoo
- Karimah Bangura, ITN, PA Training
- Eamon Akil Farhat, Bloomberg, PA Training
- Ayisha Gharu, Haymarket, PA Training
- Ella Hambly, BBC, University of Kent
- Amrit Singh Mann, Sky News, PA Training
- Albert Tait, Newsquest, Darlington College
Student of the year award, sponsored by The News Movement
- Alexandra Bánfi, Cardiff University
- Eve Bennett, News Associates London
- Bethan Finighan, News Associates Manchester
- Noah Keate, News Associates London
- Harriet Muckle, University of Salford
- Molly Pavord, News Associates London
Trainee of the year award, sponsored by Alder Media
- Victoria Finan, The Yorkshire Post
- Megan Howe, Shropshire Star
- Jacob Panons, Eastbourne Herald
- William Payne, TTG Media
The chairman’s award will be presented at the ceremony in March.
