Teesside student journalists to scoop top prizes

Teesside University is producing some of the best new journalists in the country and now their success is to be celebrated in an awards evening with prizes including work experience on national titles.

Prizes include national work experience on the Daily Mail, Sky News, Daily Mirror, Fabulous magazine (The Sun), Press Gazette, as well with popular local titles – the Evening Gazette, Northern Echo and Hartlepool Mail. There is also a masterclass for the best blogger with the legendary Fleet Street Fox.

Journalism students have been entering portfolios of work and they will discover who scoops the placements at an awards ceremony on Wednesday (15 May) starting at 6.00pm in The Dickens Inn, Middlesbrough.

Teesside University’s journalism courses have become increasingly popular with students attracted by figures such as 75% of the 2012 graduates had a foothold on the career ladder with a job in media or a paid internship within three months – more than 50% above the national average.

Recent graduates have gone on to work in leading media organisations including Sky, BBC, regional newspapers and in a range of digital media and content production roles.

Bethany Usher, senior lecturer in media and journalism and herself a former Fleet Street reporter, said: ‘The world of media and journalism is changing rapidly all the time. The rise of digital and mobile has revolutionised how people consume news and here at Teesside, we equip students with the skills to work across a range of platforms. This is why our students are in such high demand across the industry and our employment rates so competitive.

‘Students at Teesside work as journalists to produce their own newspaper, website and TV show so they have hands-on practical experience of the demands of the industry.

‘These awards are an opportunity to celebrate that excellence alongside our industry partners who contribute generously to the work we do and help make the course and our students successful.’

Professor Gerda Roper, Dean of the School of Arts & Media will be chairing the awards. She said: ‘It is a tribute to the calibre of our students and our courses here at Teesside that we have such prestigious media partners who are willing to give their time and expertise to give new young journalists that extra boost of work experience and placements which is so valuable when they are starting out in their careers.’

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