News

Top names in broadcasting in Awards race

The final set of shortlists for the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards – those for the sports broadcasting categories – are published today.

The BBC's former football correspondent, Mike Ingham, was a delighted winner of the SJA Doug Gardner Award for services to sports journalism. He received the trophy from a guard of honour
The BBC’s former football correspondent, Mike Ingham, was a delighted winner of the SJA Doug Gardner Award for services to sports journalism last year. He received the trophy from a prestigious guard of honour

And the lists include some of the best-known names in British sports journalism.

The winners and highly commended entries in all of the categories will be announced at our gala awards dinner, sponsored by BT Sport, at the Lancaster London on Monday, February 22.

Mike Ingham, the former BBC Radio football correspondent and recipient of our Doug Gardner Award for services to sports journalism last year, was co-chairman of the broadcasting awards judges, and he welcomes the expansion of these categories by the SJA.

“The fact that the Broadcast Awards are now given such prominence during the Sports Journalism Awards evening indicate how closely the worlds of broadcasting and journalism are moving closer together,” Ingham said. “And it is interesting how many modern writers with a gift for words have found themselves a second home on television and radio.

“The SJA’s radio awards in particular have taken on an even greater significance at the moment in the current absence of the Radio Academy awards.

“Last year the Sports Journalists’ Association had awards for Presenter and Journalist but no category for Commentator, so I’m particularly pleased that this year our broadcast categories have been extended to recognise the work of the commentator because, when it comes to sports reporting, the commentator is at the coalface.

“What has been so impressive about the entries this year is that they have come from right across the whole world of broadcasting, local and national, radio documentaries and live event coverage have been of a very high standard and the judging, too, has come from a really broad spectrum of experience from decades of producing and presenting outside broadcasts.

“With the Ashes Series and the Rugby World Cup, it was another vintage year for sport and our broadcasters more than did it all justice.”

The shortlists for the SJA British Sports Photography Awards were published here.

The shortlists for the sportswriting categories at our awards can be seen here.

The shortlists

Broadcast Sports Presenter
Andy May – BT Sport
Jacqui Oatley – ITV
Mark Pougatch – ITV
Mark Saggers – TalkSport
Jeff Stelling – Sky Sports
Ian Ward – Sky Sports

Broadcast Sports Journalist
Richard Conway – BBC
Gabriel Clarke – ITV
Simon Crabtree – Premier League Productions
Des Kelly – BT Sport
Paul Kelso – Sky News
Caroline Rigby – BBC

Sports Commentator
Martin Gillingham – Freelance
John Hunt – BBC Radio 5Live
Sam Matterface – TalkSport
Conor McNamara – BBC Sport
Clive Tyldesley – ITV
Martin Tyler – Sky Sports

Radio Sport Documentary
30 Years On: The Story of the Bradford City Fire Disaster – Pulse1
Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick – BBC Radio 5 Live
Concussion in Sport – TalkSport
Ken Buchanan – BBC Radio Scotland
The Blind Faithful – BBC Radio 5 Live
Valley Parade: The Bradford City Fire Remembered – BBC Radio Leeds

Radio Sport Live Broadcast
@The Open Radio – IMG Media
Cheltenham 2015 – TalkSport
Live@Wimbledon Radio – IMG Media
Rugby World Cup – BBC Radio 5 Live
The FA Cup – TalkSport
The Island Games – BBC Radio Jersey

Television Sport Documentary
Catch Me If You Can – BBC Panorama
Death of a Gentleman – Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber
Million Dollar Dreams – MUTV
Missed Warnings: The Bradford City Fire – BBC Yorkshire
One Day in May – BT Sport
Rooney: The Man Behind the Goals – Goalhanger Films/Deadpan Films

Television Live Sports Broadcast
England vs France – ITV
European Rugby Champions Cup Final – Sunset + Vine For BT Sport
FA Cup Final – BBC Sport
Matchday Live: Chelsea vs Liverpool – Sunset + Vine For BT Sport
Rugby World Cup – ITV
The Ashes – Sky Sports

  • The SJA is the largest member organisation of sports media professionals in the world. Join us: Click here for more details
  • This year, the SJA’s nominated good cause is The Journalists’ Charity. To find out more and how you can donate on a one-off or regular basis, go to www.journalistscharity.org.uk

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