NCTJ graduate wins Darren Joliny Award
A trainee reporter has been awarded a prize established in memory of a journalism graduate who died suddenly at the age of 21.
A trainee reporter has been awarded a prize established in memory of a journalism graduate who died suddenly at the age of 21.
Hayley Parr, who is a reporter for the Dunfermline Press, was presented with the Darren Joliny Award from Glasgow Caledonian University after graduating from an NCTJ-accredited MA in multimedia journalism this year. She was the highest performing student in her year.
Hayley was awarded the prize in memory of Darren, a journalism graduate from the university who collapsed and died suddenly while playing football in January 2012 from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome.
She said: “Although I never met Darren, I’ve heard so much about him and I am honoured to get this award in his name. It was lovely to meet Darren's family at the ceremony and to speak of his great character.
“The course at GCU has been fantastic and I was able to enhance it with work placements. I had spells at the Independent in London, the Sunday Post in Glasgow and the Dundee Evening Telegraph.”
Hayley added: “I’ve been at the Dunfermline Press for two months. I’ve covered everything from court to health to education. Having the degree behind me has been a massive help. The multimedia element of the programme has prepared me to experience something different each day.”
