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Journalism students hope to make the headlines

10 November 2015

 

A group of Teesside University journalism students are hoping to make headlines after being shortlisted for a prestigious national journalism award.

Jamie Crow, Leonie Garlick, Matthew Brown and Adam Burford, who are due to graduate from Teesside University’s BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism later this month, have been recognised in the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ Awards for Excellence 2015.

Their work on The North Crowd website has been shortlisted in the Student Project of the Year category of the awards. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday 26 November.

The four journalism students created the website during the final year of their degree, producing multimedia online content focusing on news and entertainment, arts, culture and politics from across the North East region.

Leonie, who is now working as a journalist with The Gazette in Middlesbrough, said: 'I was shocked to learn we had been voted for an NCTJ Excellence award, especially as we were selected from universities in the whole of the UK. A lot of effort went into developing The North Crowd, but with all the skills we could bring to the table, it felt effortless. I am incredibly proud of my friends and team members, The North Crowd would not have happened without any one of them.'

Matthew, who is working in digital marketing and writing for NARC Magazine, said: 'To hear we had been selected by the NCTJ as one of the best student projects across the country was an incredible feeling. The skills and experience which the multimedia journalism course provided enabled us to flourish, from social media to conducting live political debates. It all stemmed from the lecturers who guided us during our degree and it also helped us to grasp what it would be like to work in a professional work environment.'

Jamie, who starts a journalism role in the New Year, said: 'The website was all about giving the region positive recognition and this shows we succeeded in our aim. I am so proud of the three friends I worked with on this, we put something really special together.'

Adam added: 'It's quite an incredible feeling to know that all the hard work we put into that project has been recognised at such a high level.'

Jonathan Brown, Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Teesside University, said: 'The North Crowd was an outstanding piece of work which really showcased the talents of our Teesside students. Judges were impressed that the multi-media site, which blended politics, culture and proper hard-hitting local news, was of a professional standard.

'This explains why members of the group, like many of their fellow year group, are already making their way in the industry of their choice and looking forward to exciting careers in the media. It is a great source of honour for everyone working and studying in the department that their achievement has received national recognition.'

The awards, held as part of the NCTJ Journalism Skills Conference, are open to students on NCTJ-accredited courses and journalism trainees who have been working in the industry for less than two years. The judging panel includes national newspaper editors and journalists. The awards aim to highlight the achievements of individuals with promising careers in journalism ahead of them.

Vist the North Crowd website.


 
 
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