Award Categories & How to Enter
(click to jump to section)
News journalism / Sports journalism / Top scoop/exclusive / Features of the year / Images of the year / Performance awards / Chairman's Award / How to enter
For each category there will be two awards:
 |
 |
One for students on NCTJ-accredited pre-entry courses (for coursework or published/broadcast work); and
|
|
|
One for those with less than two years' employment, whether they are working toward the NCE or have recently taken it. |
All the work must have been produced during the period 1 September, 2009 to 31 July, 2010. Entries will be judged on the original work and not for technical ability in terms of layout and design or video/audio editing and/or production techniques, unless otherwise stated.
This award will go to the student/trainee journalist who has demonstrated all-round qualities in news gathering and reporting. The judges will consider a number of elements including the work that went into getting the story, the number of sources used and reader/audience interest in the news.
Entrants should submit three reports (in print, broadcast and/or online format) to illustrate their qualities as a journalist, plus a supporting statement explaining the significance of each report (no more than 200 words in total for all three stories).
In choosing the winners, the judges will consider:
|
|
Style of writing/ delivery |
|
|
Story construction and structure |
|
|
Good use of quotes / clips |
|
|
Human interest potential |
|
|
Public service / audience value |
|
|
Evidence of in-depth interview techniques |
|
|
The range and variety of stories submitted.
|
See How to enter for more details.
back to top
This award will go to the student/trainee sports journalist who can demonstrate an all-round knowledge of sports journalism. We are not looking for an enthusiastic fan with a laptop. The prize will go to the entrant who has delivered more than a standard after-match analysis from the team manager and who has shown a willingness to ask revealing questions.
Entrants should submit three reports (in print, broadcast and/or online), along with a supporting statement explaining the significance of each report (no more than 200 words in total for all three reports). Ideally, one should be a backgrounder, feature or profile piece.
The judges will consider a number of elements including the work that went into getting the story, the number of sources used and reader/audience interest in the copy.
In choosing the winners, the judges will consider:
|
|
Style of writing / delivery |
|
|
Story construction and structure |
|
|
Good use of clips/quotes |
|
|
Human interest potential |
|
|
Due scepticism and/or public service value |
|
|
Evidence of in-depth interview techniques |
|
|
The range and variety of stories submitted.
|
See How to enter for more details.
back to top
This award will go to the single story (in print, broadcast and/or online) or image (still or moving) produced by a student/trainee journalist which, in the opinion of the judges, is the scoop of the year. Entrants should submit their chosen story/image/video plus a supporting statement explaining the work that went into landing the scoop and details of its significance (no more than 200 words).
Judges will consider a range of elements, including:
|
|
Audience interest in the story or image |
|
|
Evidence of how the scoop was obtained |
|
|
Content |
|
|
Style of writing / delivery
|
|
|
Human interest potential.
|
|
|
Public service value.
|
See How to enter for more details.
back to top
This category will identify the best student/trainee feature writer. Judges will be looking for a feature or news backgrounder (not an over-written news story) that gets to the heart of an issue and is well written. Entrants should submit two features (written or broadcast) and a supporting statement of no more than 200 words explaining the significance of both.
Judges will consider a range of elements, including:
|
|
Style of writing / delivery |
|
|
Construction and structure |
|
|
Human interest potential |
|
|
Public service / audience value
|
|
|
Originality
|
|
|
Content
|
|
|
Evidence of research and in-depth interview techniques. |
See How to enter for more details.
back to top
We are looking for a portfolio of still images or film which, in the opinion of the judges, reflect a broad range of news coverage and demonstrate all-round skills. Entrants should submit photographic or film coverage of three stories/subjects which must have been published or broadcast. Original and digital images should be sent, together with captions and a supporting statement detailing how they appeared online or in print. The significance of each image should be outlined in the statement, which should total no more than 200 words.
Judges will consider a range of elements, including:
|
|
Content and story-telling potential |
|
|
Composition |
|
|
Editing and production values |
|
|
Impact |
|
|
Captions.
|
See How to enter for more details.
back to top
There will also be three separate awards for the best-performing NCTJ journalists taking exams in the 2009/10 academic year. These are:
|
|
NCTJ Student Journalist of the Year
Awarded to the best-performing NCTJ student, based on preliminary exam results and portfolio.
|
|
|
|
NCTJ Photographer of the Year
Awarded to the best-performing photographer in the National Certificate Examination.
|
|
|
|
NCTJ Reporter of the Year
Awarded to the best-performing reporter in the National Certificate Examination.
|
|
back to top
A final award will celebrate a nominated individual's outstanding contribution to high standards of journalism training. Nominations are invited, detailing in no more than 500 words, why the individual is worthy of this award. See below for details on how to enter.
back to top
How to enter
It is free to enter the NCTJ Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2010.
Applicants may enter both the student and trainee sections, according to their status when the submitted work was produced.
Work must have been produced between 1 September, 2009 and 31 July, 2010.
Applicants may submit a maximum of one student entry and one trainee entry for each category.
The same piece of work may not be submitted more than once.
Please submit three copies of each entry. For example, if you are entering the News Journalism category, you will need to submit three sets of three stories. For the Images of the year, you will need to submit three CDs or DVDs, each holding three images/videos.
A completed entry form AND a supporting statement must be attached to each set.
For all categories, a mix of media may be submitted, ie if supplying three stories, it could be one video, one audio and one written piece.
Video and audio entries
Must be cut packages of not more than:
- In the case of video entries - 3' 00" duration
- In the case of audio entries - 4' 00" duration
- Should be accompanied by a copy of the script or, in the case of entries which consist of interviews, any questions or briefing materials prepared before recording
- The intended or actual outlet should be identified in the supporting statement.
Written entries
- Can be submitted as PDFs on a CD or in hard copy format
- Can be printed from a website
- A list of URL links to online work (including audio and video) can be submitted in a Word document. (NB If the link is unavailable at the time of judging, it will not be considered.)
Images entries
- Please supply high resolution (at least 300dpi) images on CD/DVD AND hard copies
- Supporting statement is needed in addition to the captions.
Download entry form
All entry forms should be posted to the NCTJ, to arrive by 5pm on Friday, 17 September, 2010. Tutors and editors may enter on behalf of their students or trainees.
Entries are not needed for the performance awards, as these are based on exam results.
NCTJ Chairman's Award
Nominations are invited for the NCTJ Chairman's Award, detailing in no more than 500 words why the individual is worthy of this award. It could be an editor, a tutor - anyone who has made an impact on the training of journalists. Please attach this to a completed NCTJ Chairman's Award nomination form (download here).
For each category, a panel of judges will draw up a shortlist and their names will be posted on the Shortlist & winners page on Friday, 15 October, 2010.
|
