Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain has his first success at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards; ITV’s Gabriel Clarke holds off past winners to bag Broadcast Journalist gong; Mark Chapman retains Presenter prize; Monday Night Football is TV Show of the Year, while talkSPORT claim two audio categories…
When the shortlists were announced for the Broadcast section at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards 2023, the friendly rivalry between a Sky Cricket double act was one of several intriguing category partnerships.
The verdict arrived on Monday night at the awards gala, with Nasser Hussain claiming the trophy – the first time in the former England captain’s career that he has got his hands on the silverware after several previous nominations.
With Michael Atherton having won over a dozen times in the Written section (including a pair of prestigious ‘John Bromleys’ for Sportswriter of the Year), he’ll have been happy for his old England teammate and current colleague behind the mic.
Hussain couldn’t attend the awards in person on the night, sending an acceptance video from Sri Lanka.
That led to some high-jinks on stage as Athers came to collect the trophy on Hussain’s behalf, only to discover he’d made an unnecessary journey… the statuette had already been sent to its recipient abroad!
“Not only does he always have the right words for the big moment, but he also has the skill to keep the audience engaged when there is little happening,” said the judges of Hussain. “This is a commentator who adds considerably to the sport’s viewing experience.”
Also entering the winners’ circle for the first time – and holding off the challenge of two contenders who had cleaned up in the category in the three previous years – is ITV’s Gabriel Clarke, the SJA Broadcast Journalist of the Year.
Steve Scott (ITV News) and Dan Roan (BBC Sports News) were on the podium this time around.
Speaking of Clarke, the judging panel remarked: “This journalist is a master of the art of interviewing and journalistic TV presentation. He has very strong judgement, a second sense for the heart of a story and the expertise to fulfil his narrative pictorially. An outstanding professional performing at the top of his trade for several years.”
Retaining their Sports Content Organisation was Sky Sports, while another of the night’s major accolades also stayed in the same hands – Mark Chapman holding off the Presenter challenge of his BBC Sport and now Sports Agents accomplice, Gabby Logan.
Voted for by SJA members, it was ITV’s Ian Wright who picked up a very popular Pundit prize.
In the other categories, talkSPORT took Audio Live Event Coverage (FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023) and Audio Show (White & Jordan), with The Athletic successful for a second consecutive year in Audio Documentary (‘Go Deeper: Football on Turkey’s Fault Line’).
‘Everton: Nothing Will Be The Same’ by BBC Studios was first pick from the Podcast selection.
On screen, ‘Amputating Alice’ – made by Noah Media Group for Channel 4 – won Documentary, while Monday Night Football from Sky Sports made off with the TV Show award.
Jamie Carragher collected the trophy on behalf of the MNF team and had a few words for his fellow pundit, Gary Neville, who wasn’t in attendance.
The Women’s World Cup produced a trophy too for ITV in the Live Event Coverage category.
The winners of the two ‘Ones to Watch’ categories in Broadcast had previously been announced and were presented with their awards on the night. Both are on the Sky Sports News team – diversity and inclusion reporter Miriam Walker-Khan (On Air) and assistant producer Maryam Chaudhary (Off Air).
SPORTS CONTENT ORGANISATION
CNN Sport; Mail Sport; Sky Sports; talkSPORT; The Athletic; The Guardian
Winner: Sky Sports
AUDIO DOCUMENTARY
Arteta: The making of Mikel – BBC Sports News / BBC World Service; Bobby 90 – The Athletic; Go Deeper: Access All Areas – Brentford – The Athletic; Go Deeper: Football on Turkey’s Fault line – The Athletic; Play On! How Football Returned to War-Torn Ukraine – talkSPORT; The Sound of Arsenal – The Athletic
Bronze: Play On! How Football Returned to War-Torn Ukraine – talkSPORT; Silver: Arteta: The making of Mikel – BBC Sports News / BBC World Service; Winner: Go Deeper: Football on Turkey’s Fault line – The Athletic
AUDIO LIVE EVENT COVERAGE
AIG Women’s Open – IMG; FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – talkSPORT; PDC World Darts Championship – talkSPORT; The Grand National – BBC Radio 5 Live; The Hillsborough Miracle – BBC Radio Sheffield; The Women’s World Cup – BBC Radio 5 Live
Bronze: PDC World Darts Championship – talkSPORT; Silver: The Grand National – BBC Radio 5 Live; Winner: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – talkSPORT
AUDIO SHOW
Fight Disciples – Independent; Kick Off – talkSPORT; Sportshour – BBC Sports News / World Service; Test Match Special – BBC 5 Live Sports Extra; The Monday Night Club – BBC Radio 5 Live; White & Jordan – talkSPORT
Bronze: Test Match Special – BBC 5 Live Sports Extra; Silver: Sportshour – BBC Sports News / World Service; Winner: White & Jordan – talkSPORT
BROADCAST JOURNALIST
Amanda Davies – CNN International; Antoine Allen – ITV News; Dan Roan – BBC Sports News; Gabriel Clarke – ITV; Kaveh Solhekol – Sky Sports News; Patrick Davison – Sky Sports; Rob Harris – Sky News; Sanny Rudravajhala – Freelance; Steve Scott – ITV News
Bronze: Dan Roan – BBC Sports News; Silver: Steve Scott – ITV News; Winner: Gabriel Clarke – ITV
COMMENTATOR
Conor McNamara – Freelance; Ian Dennis – BBC Radio 5 Live; Michael Atherton – Sky Sports; Nasser Hussain – Sky Sports; Peter Drury – Sky Sports; Ronald McIntosh – Freelance; Sam Matterface – ITV / talkSPORT; Steve Cram – BBC Sport
Bronze: Ian Dennis – BBC Radio 5 Live; Silver: Steve Cram – BBC Sport; Winner: Nasser Hussain – Sky Sports
PODCAST
Everton: Nothing Will Be The Same – BBC Studios; Fight Disciples – Independent; talkBOXING with Simon Jordan & Spencer Oliver – talkSPORT; The Game Changers – Fearless Women; The Guardian’s Football Weekly – The Guardian; The Rest Is Football – Goalhanger
Bronze: The Rest Is Football – Goalhanger; Silver: The Guardian’s Football Weekly – The Guardian; Winner: Everton: Nothing Will Be The Same – BBC Studios
PRESENTER
Ade Oladipo – DAZN; Adrian Durham – talkSPORT; Caroline Barker – Sky Sports; Gabby Logan – BBC Sport; Laura Woods – ITV; Mark Chapman – BBC Sport / Sky Sports; Mark Pougatch – ITV; Neil Reynolds – Sky Sports
Bronze: Adrian Durham – talkSPORT; Silver: Gabby Logan – BBC Sport; Winner: Mark Chapman – BBC Sport
PUNDIT
Ally McCoist – talkSPORT / TNT; Brian O’Driscoll – ITV; Ian Wright – ITV; Izzy Christiansen – Sky Sports; Jamie Carragher – Sky Sports; Karen Carney – ITV / Sky Sports; Lianne Sanderson – talkSPORT; Nasser Hussain – Sky Sports; Nedum Onuoha – BBC Radio 5 Live; Roy Keane – ITV / Sky Sports
Bronze: Ally McCoist – talkSPORT / TNT; Silver: Nedum Onuoha – BBC Radio 5 Live; Winner: Ian Wright – ITV
TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY
Amputating Alice – Noah Media Group for Channel 4; Is Cricket Racist? – Cornered Tiger; Mark Cavendish: Never Enough – Pitch International; Mighty Penguins – Production Company – Fever Media, Meadowlark & Firelight; Race to the Summit – Pitch International; Sam Holness – Autism: My Sporting Superpower – BBC Sports News; The Edge of Everything – Studio99
Bronze: The Edge of Everything – Studio99; Sam Holness – Autism: My Sporting Superpower – BBC Sports News; Silver: Mighty Penguins – Production Company – Fever Media, Meadowlark & Firelight; Winner: Amputating Alice – Noah Media Group for Channel 4
TELEVISION LIVE EVENT COVERAGE
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final – ITV; British Grand Prix – Sky Sports; Rugby World Cup 2023 – ITV; Ryder Cup 2023 – Sky Sports; Sky Sports Premier League – Sky Sports; The Ashes – Sky Sports
Bronze: Rugby World Cup 2023 – ITV; Silver: The Ashes – Sky Sports; Winner: 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final – ITV
TELEVISION SHOW
Channel 4 Formula 1 Highlights – Whisper / Channel 4; CNN World Sport – CNN International; Football Focus – BBC Sport; Monday Night Football – Sky Sports; NFL End Zone – Whisper / Channel 5; Stick to Football – The Overlap
Bronze: Channel 4 Formula 1 Highlights – Whisper / Channel 4; Silver: Stick to Football – The Overlap; Winner: Monday Night Football – Sky Sports
ONES TO WATCH – ON AIR
Alex Hartley – BBC Sport; Cameron Pope – Freelance; Danyal Khan – Sky Sports News; Ellen Ellard – Freelance; Megan Nicholls – ITV; Miriam Walker-Khan – Sky Sports News; Nick Ransom – Freelance; Ralph Karumazondo – ESPN; Uma Gurav – talkSPORT
Bronze: Ellen Ellard – Freelance; Silver: Alex Hartley – BBC Sport; Winner: Miriam Walker-Khan – Sky Sports News
ONES TO WATCH – OFF AIR
Charlotte Swift – BBC Sports News; Harshini Mehta – Sky Sports News; Jack Winstanley – IMG; Maddy Morrison – Sky Sports; Maryam Chaudhary – Sky Sports News; Mya Graham – talkSPORT; Shemi Adenekan – Sky Sports News; Sophie Penney – Freelance (Reuters, The Athletic etc.)
Bronze: Shemi Adenekan – Sky Sports News; Silver: Maddy Morrison – Sky Sports; Winner: Maryam Chaudhary – Sky Sports News