The SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, sponsored by Canon, will this year be held at the London Palladium on Monday, April 27; SJA President Darren Lewis says everyone is welcome at the gala evening, as a new chapter is written in the history of the industry’s ‘Oscars’…
By Darren Lewis, SJA President
This year’s SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, sponsored by Canon, carry a new tagline: “New Venue, New Era.”
Those words are not simply marketing. They reflect a deliberate shift in how we celebrate our profession, how we bring people together, and how we respond to the enormous changes shaping sports journalism today.
On April 27, we move to the iconic London Palladium, one of the capital’s most historic and celebrated theatres, to host what has long been recognised as the industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.
This isn’t just a change of address. It is a statement of intent. We are embracing a format that reflects where our industry is heading, not where it used to be.
For many years, the SJA Awards were defined by the traditional sit-down dinner format. That model served us well, but times change. And so must we. This year, there will be no formal sit-down meal, and that is a conscious decision.
It allows us to make the event more accessible, more affordable, and more inclusive for freelancers, young journalists, digital creators and new entrants who may previously have found the cost of attendance a barrier.
Accessibility matters. If our awards only represent those who can afford the most expensive tickets, then they fail to represent the industry we serve. By removing the formal dining element, streamlining the evening and focusing on celebration and connection, we are opening the doors wider than ever before.
Because this really is about bringing the old guard and the new generation together.
Sports journalism is undergoing profound change. Some of that change is exciting. New platforms, new voices, new storytelling formats.
Some of it is challenging. Shrinking newsrooms, uncertain funding models, and the relentless pace of technological disruption. Yet through all of that, the core of what we do remains the same: we tell stories that matter, we hold sport to account, and we capture moments that define generations.
These Awards are evolving to reflect that reality.
We now have more categories than ever before, recognising the breadth of modern sports media. From traditional writing and photography to digital storytelling, social content and innovative production. That expansion reflects the fact that sports journalism no longer exists in neat boxes. It is multi-platform, multi-skilled, and constantly evolving, and our Awards must evolve with it.
With more than 40 categories recognising excellence across the sector, we are ensuring that every part of our industry has a voice on the night.
- Photography shortlists: Champagne, ski jumping and Salah selfie among Picture contenders
- Writing and Open Media shortlists: England managers in Scoop mix
- Broadcast shortlists: Trophy holders take on new talent
Alongside that growth comes a more streamlined delivery. The evening at the Palladium will be sharper, more focused and more energetic. A celebration rather than a marathon. Crucially, it will also create more time for networking, conversation and collaboration. The moments that so often spark new ideas, partnerships and opportunities.
Because that, ultimately, is what “New Venue, New Era” really stands for.
It stands for an industry recognising its past while preparing for its future. It stands for welcoming the podcast producer alongside the newspaper veteran, the TikTok storyteller alongside the radio commentator, the student journalist alongside the seasoned editor.
And it stands for unity.
At a time when our profession faces unprecedented pressures – technological, financial and cultural – coming together matters more than ever. Celebrating excellence matters more than ever. Supporting each other matters more than ever.
That is why I encourage everyone across the sports media landscape – editors, broadcasters, freelancers, content creators, photographers, producers, students and sponsors – to buy a ticket and be part of this new era.
Not just to watch the Awards.
Not just to applaud the winners.
But to help shape what comes next.
Because this year, at the London Palladium, we are not simply hosting an awards night.
We are marking the beginning of something new.
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