Tom Clarke and Brendan Monks have agreed to be the chairmen of our judging panels for the sports writing and photography competitions in the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards.
It is an onerous task, bringing together a range of judges and overseeing the scrutinising of entries for the world’s largest competition for sports journalists.
Clarke and Monks take over from Jon Ryan and Mike King, who undertook the job for the last two years.
“The Association owes a massive vote of thanks to Jon and Mike for all their hard work that has helped our awards continue to grow each year,” Steven Downes, the SJA secretary, said. “And we are also very grateful to Brendan and Tom for agreeing to take on the job for the next two years. As past judges themselves, they already have some idea of the work ahead.
“It is often a thankless task, but the SJA committee is delighted that such respected figures from our business will be heading up the judging process.”
As chair of the sports photography judges, Monks will call on his decades of experience on working as a picture editor on the sports desk of the Daily Mail and at the Daily Mirror.
Clarke is one of a select band – a winner of the SJA’s Doug Gardner Award for his services to sports journalism, through a career in which he was editor of the Sporting Life after having been sports editor at The Times, Daily Mail and Evening Standard. Overseeing the sports writing awards, Clarke’s experience of being a member of the Press Complaints Commission may also come in handy.
Entry forms for the 2013 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards are being distributed to sports desks, picture agencies and SJA members this month.
The awards are open to all professional sports journalists, and they judge work that has appeared in British publications in the 2013 calendar year.
Anyone – sports editors, magazine editors, agency bureau chiefs or individual sports journalists – who would like to be sent an electronic version of the entry forms should email their request to sja@s2fevents.co.uk.
- Between now and the end of 2013, anyone wishing to join the SJA may apply, with their initial fee covering their membership through until the end of 2014 – effectively 15 months’ membership for the price of 12. Click here for more details
UPCOMING SJA EVENTS
Tue Nov 12: Laureus Lunch with All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick. Click here to book your place
Thu Dec 12: SJA 2013 British Sports Awards. Bookings now open. Click here for details
2014
Mon Mar 24: SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, Grand Connaught Rooms, London
Mon Apr 14: SJA Spring Golf Day: Croham Hurst GC, Surrey. Booking details to be announced