Eleven top-performing student journalists and traiunees have been added to the shortlist for NCTJ’s annual Awards for Excellence.

As previously reported, the main shortlist for the awards was published in December, with 72 students, trainees, apprentices and training providers listed across the 20 award categories.

However the shortlists for the student of the year and trainee of the year awards were held back, pending the results of their Diploma in Journalism and National Qualification in Journalism Exams.

The 11 journalists who achieved top marks in those exams have now been added to the shortlist for the awards, which will be handed out at a ceremony in Manchester on 4th April.

Seven candidates have been shortlisted for the student of the year award following their outstanding results in the Diploma in Journalism in 2023-24.

They are:

• Benedict Coneybeare, News Associates London
• Imogen Garfinkel, PA Media Academy
• Floris de Bruin, PA Media Academy
• Joseph Gilbert, University of Sheffield
• Laura Howard, St Mary’s University
• Holly Nichols, News Associates London
• Rebecca Sproston, News Associates Manchester

A further four journalists are nominated for the trainee of the year award, based on their performance in the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) in 2023-24.

They are:

• Hayley Clarke, University of Kent, BBC News
• Maia Davies, University of Kent, BBC News
• Daniel Hordon, Darlington College, The Northern Echo
• Jacob Ridley, University of Sunderland, PC Gamer

All four shortlisted trainees completed the NQJ as part of the level 7 senior journalist apprenticeship.

The full Awards for Excellence shortlist can be viewed here.