Mr. Right could be sitting to your left: how NCTJ awards sparked a love story

Chris and Sian at the 2017 NCTJ Awards for Excellence

A chance seating arrangement at the 2017 NCTJ Awards for Excellence ceremony at Hampton Court Palace turned into the beginning of a lasting connection for journalists Chris McKeon and Sian Elvin. Neither walked away with an award that night, but they left with something far more meaningful – each other.

Now engaged, the couple reflects on their journey, their journalism careers, and the serendipitous role the NCTJ played in bringing them together.

Chris, then nominated for Student of the Year, was working at the Surrey Advertiser (now Surrey Live), while Sian, up for Multimedia Story of the Year, was at the Seveonoaks Chronicle. Their professional paths next crossed during joint training days at Reach, but it was the post-training pub trips that solidified their budding friendship.

Sian recalls a telling moment early on. “Once, when we were out for drinks, a woman came up to me and said, ‘You two make a lovely couple.’ I laughed it off at the time, but clearly, she saw something we weren’t ready to admit yet!”

Fast forward four years, through FaceTime calls during the pandemic and Chris’s stint in Liverpool as a local democracy reporter, their friendship evolved into romance. By 2023, they had moved in together in London – a milestone that solidified their future.

“It was during those first weeks of living together that I knew I wanted to marry Sian,” Chris said.

Chris and Sian, before the proposal, outside the room they met at Hampton Court Palace.

His proposal was anything but rushed. Juggling political reporting over the general election, Chris still found time to secretly plan, choosing to propose at Hampton Court Palace on their three-year anniversary.

Sian remembers the day vividly. She said: “That morning, I gave Chris his anniversary presents, and he told me, ‘You can’t have yours yet.’ When we got to the beautiful gardens at Hampton Court, he asked if I wanted my present. I casually said, ‘Yeah, sure,’ not realising what was happening. Then I saw him get down on one knee, and it hit me – this was the moment.”

Of course, Sian said yes.

Both credit the NCTJ not only with bringing them together but also launching their successful careers after studying with PA Training (now PA Media Academy).

Chris’s journey began as a trainee at the Surrey Advertiser before becoming a senior reporter and then a local democracy reporter in Liverpool. Today, he’s the lobby correspondent for PA’s political team.

“The NCTJ gave me everything I needed to succeed,” Chris said. “From court reporting to live, on-the-scene coverage, the skills have been invaluable. And shorthand? That’s been the most useful skill of all – I still use it every day.”

Chris and Sian in Singapore, on the seven year anniversary of the awards ceremony

Sian’s career has been equally impressive. After starting at the Kent Chronicle, she moved to London to help launch My London before joining the Metro. Now, she’s news editor at The Independent.

“For me, media law is the skill I use constantly,” Sian said. “As an editor, I’m always thinking about libel, contempt of court, and so on. The NCTJ laid the foundation for everything – how to construct a story, how to work under pressure. Looking back, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”

For Chris and Sian, the NCTJ provided more than just career opportunities – it brought them together. “We would love to know who organised the seating plan,” they joked.

This year’s Awards for Excellence ceremony is taking place at Halle St Peter’s in Manchester on 4 April. Find out more.