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Writing Categories – SJA British Sports Journalism Awards

The Sports Journalists’ Association is delighted to announce the launch of the 2019 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards.  There are 13 writing categories at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards. 

The John Bromley Sportswriter of the Year is is chosen by a vote of national and regional sports editors. This category does not require a submission, however to be eligible for this award journalists must be shortlisted in one of the other competition categories. All other awards are subject to entered submissions. 

Colin Bateman, former cricket and Olympic correspondent for the Daily Express is the new chair of judges for the writing categories. Colin will be assembling panels of judges to study and deliberate on the hundreds of entries across the many categories.  

The deadline for entries is Midnight on 15 January 2020. All entries must be submitted via the online entry system www.BritishSportsJournalismAwards.co.uk. Shortlists will be released on the following dates; Photography (29 Jan), Written (30 Jan) and Broadcast (31 Jan) with the award winners announced at a gala awards ceremony taking place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on Monday 24 February 2020.

For detailed category descriptions please click the category names below or download the below PDF which also contains competition rules and information on how to enter. 

Writing Categories – Download PDF

The John Bromley Sportswriter of the Year

The John Bromley Sportswriter of the Year is chosen by a vote of national and regional sports editors. This category does not require a submission, however to be eligible for this award journalists must be shortlisted in one of the other competition categories. All other awards are subject to entered submissions which are then put before our panels of judges.

The Sports Newspaper of the Year

This award is for the newspaper that best covered sport in 2019. An independent judging panel will be looking for entries which show style, good writing,
exclusives and consistency throughout the year. Entries must consist of three full editions accompanied by a 500-word citation.

Note: In this category hard copy entries are accepted as well as digital entries. If you wish to submit hard copy entries please send 7 copies of each edition and citation to: SJA Awards c/o S2F Events,Unit 92, Capital Business Centre, 22 Carlton Road, South Croydon, CR2 0BS

Cricket Journalist

Open to journalists specialising in cricket. Entries must consist of three published reports and/or features. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Note: entrants in this category cannot also enter the Specialist Correspondent category.

Football Journalist

Open to journalists specialising in football. Entries must consist of three published reports and/or features. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Note: entrants in this category cannot also enter the Specialist Correspondent category.

Regional Sports Journalist

High-quality reporting, feature writing or investigative journalism, from regional or local media. Three published articles per entry. This category is open to
journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Note: Candidates in this category who are short-listed will each receive one free ticket for the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards dinner being held at the Westminster Park Plaza, SE7 1UT on Monday 24 February 2020.

Rugby Journalist

Open to journalists specialising in rugby, union or league. Entries must consist of three published reports and/or features. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Note: entrants in this category cannot also enter the Specialist Correspondent category.

Special Sports Edition

This award is for a special edition, section or supplement, online or in print, on a single event or subject and published on a single day. Video and audio content may be included in digital entries. The design as well as the content of the entry will be considered by the judges.

Note: In this category hard copy entries as are accepted as well as digital entries. If you wish to submit hard copy entries please send 7 copies of the Special Edition to: SJA Awards c/o S2F Events, Unit 92, Capital Business Centre, 22 Carlton Road, South Croydon, CR2 0BS

Specialist Correspondent

Open to journalists specialising in a specific sport, or in sports betting, but excluding specialists in football, cricket, rugby; union or league. Entries must consist of three published reports and/or features. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Sports Columnist

Strong opinions and commentary on sport. Three separate published articles per entry. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Sports Feature Writer

This award is for high standards of writing, strength of thought and freshness of ideas. Each entry must include three separate published articles and should include at least one, but no more than two, interviews. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Sports News Reporter

The best portfolio of breaking sports news stories by an individual and/ or team. This category is for sports news stories which have made the greatest impact. Each entry must include three separate articles. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Sports Scoop

The single sports news story judged to have made the greatest impact on the judges. The same story may be included within the portfolio entered in the Sports News Reporter category. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Sports Website

This award recognises all aspects of a website’s performance. Each entry must include a summary (in no more than 400 words) of the site’s coverage and digital
developments in 2019 as well as three URLs that demonstrate the sites journalistic excellence (this may include the use of design, layout, images and digital techniques).

Young Sports Writer

The Ian Wooldridge Trophy is open to writers aged 25 or under on 31 December 2019. Previous winners are not eligible to enter. Entries must show versatility and a high standard of writing. Entries must consist of three published reports (covering at least two different sports). At least one piece should have been written under the pressure of an immediate deadline. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as
newspaper correspondents.

Note: The cost of entering this category is at the reduced rate of £20 regardless of SJA membership. The winner of the Young Sports Writer of the Year category will be announced prior to the event via the SJA website. The winner will receive a complimentary ticket for themselves and a guest to attend the event on Monday 24 February.