SJA Academy member JASMINE TRAPNELL is a freelance sports multimedia journalist and presenter, studying for her NCTJ Diploma in Journalism at News Associates. She’s a BCOMS alumni and is currently on placement with Sky Sports News.
Kelly Cates pipped her future Match of the Day colleagues to the Presenter of the Year title at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, ending Mark Chapman’s winning streak.
Despite being praised for her warmth and empathy, Cates was shocked to have taken the top broadcast prize at the SJA’s annual awards event on Monday evening.
Cates was so unsuspecting that she had actually started tucking into her dessert before having to quickly gather herself as she was applauded onto the stage in front of 700 people.
She said: “This is the best award really, because it’s your peers who know what the job is, they understand it.
“So to be recognised by them is to be recognised by people who appreciate all the details of it.
“I’m so surprised to win. I genuinely I looked at the short list and everybody on it is absolutely brilliant.
“Obviously Gabby [Logan] and Chappers [Mark Chapman], I’m going to be working with them on Match of the Day next season, so they’re people that I really admire and think is brilliant.
“I was just sitting there eating my ice cream and thinking I’m not going to have to get up, but then I thought ‘this might be me’.
“Then I heard my name, so it was very exciting – I’m still quite shaky.”
Looking towards next season, Cates will be joining the Match of the Day team, sharing the responsibilities with Chapman and Logan following Gary Lineker’s planned departure.
While revealing that she believes nothing will change, Cates did jest that even MOTD won’t be as exciting as winning Presenter of the Year.
She said: “I am really looking forward to presenting MOTD, but nothing is as exciting as this.
“I’m not really sure how it’s going to work at the moment, we’re going to be sharing everything between the three of us.
“But that’s why it’s really lovely because I’m part of such a strong team and I really admire Gabby and Mark as well. I think they’re both brilliant.
“To be part of that three is just fantastic, I think we all bring slightly different qualities to it, so it will feel different, but it will still be very much match of the day.”
Just the third woman in the last decade to win this award, Cates hailed the importance of pushing for diversity within sports journalism.
She said: “Diversity and inclusion is crucial to any industry, not just to broadcasting.
“I saw it a little bit as I came through as a woman, but obviously that’s only one part of the whole equation.
“I think diversity and inclusion leads to diversity of thought, which leads to diversity of ideas and all of that only makes our coverage stronger and better.”
With Cates’ career only continuing to soar, there will be many young aspiring journalists and presenters looking up to her.
She advised those wishing to get into presenting to always do the basics and make your dreams clear.
Cates said: “If you’re going to break into broadcasting, do all the basics turn up on time, be polite, be friendly, and tell people what you want to do.
“Don’t assume that they’re going to pluck you from obscurity and catapult you into your dream job.
“If you really care, be really clear about what you want to do, but also have fun. Enjoy it.
“Take all the opportunities, cause even stuff that you think might not be the right path for you can lead to you meeting people, which can lead to new paths opening up.
“Just take all the opportunities and make sure you really enjoy it because that comes across too.”