Sport Journalism graduate, Jamie Phillips, has won the NCTJ’s prestigious Trainee News Journalism award in the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2020.

Jamie, who graduated in 2018, was nominated for his campaigning work against misspent council funds at Surrey Live as a senior reporter.

Speaking after the event, hosted by Sky News, Jamie said that it was a genuine honour and a privilege to win the award for exposing council corruption and financial wrongdoing.

“The NCTJ is prestigious within the journalism industry and always one of the first qualifications potential employers look for, so it is an amazing feeling to have been recognised for my work.

“I vehemently believe journalism has never been more important than in the current climate and continues to be a super industry to work in.”

He also spoke about the help he had received from the Sports Journalism course team during his studies:

“I worked particularly hard during my time at the University of Brighton to attain 100wpm shorthand and a gold standard diploma alongside my degree, but I must also give thanks to the lecturers who helped me along every step of the way.”

Some 54 students, trainees, apprentices, journalists and training providers were shortlisted in the awards.