News

Put your work forward for SJA Journalism Awards

By Barry Newcombe, SJA Chairman
Entry details for the SJA’s 2007 British Sports Journalism Awards are now available, with two new awards launched this year, all leading to the most prestigious prizes in sports writing, broadcasting and photography to be presented at a special gala dinner in London on March 17 – one of the key events in the Sports Journalists’ Association’s 60th anniversary year.

As in the past, the awards are open to all sports journalists to enter, provided they are British, based in the UK or work for a media outlet based here.

For the first time we will have an award for the Internet Sports Writer of the Year. We hope the award will reflect the growing importance of sports reporting on the web. Please pass the details on to the editors of the websites attached to your company.

I would also like to emphasise another new award – the Ian Wooldridge Trophy for the Young Sports Writer of the Year, in memory of our distinguished colleague, SJA member and past winner of the Sports Writer of the Year, who died earlier this year.

I would like to point out one change in entry conditions. Last year it was noted that some sports news stories were entered into the Sports News Reporter of the Year category, but not in the Sports Story of the Year category. So we have changed the rules to allow the same story to be entered into both categories.

This year we have the most informed judging panel ever assembled for these awards, under the chairmanship of Peter Wilson. That, combined with the extra categories, should make these awards the best ever produced by the Sports Journalists’ Association.

These prestige awards, reflecting the endeavours of sports journalists during 2007, will be presented at a gala dinner on Monday March 17 2008 at The Brewery in Chiswell Street, London.

Click here for the entry form for the awards, which you will need to print off to complete. Photographers will also need to download and print the information sheet.

Make a note of the closing date for entries – Friday January 11. Please ensure your entry arrives in plenty of time to be processed. The shortlist of nominations will be announced the week commencing February 25.

The support of our members and their colleagues remains vital to these awards and we much respect the tributes we have received since upgrading them to a gala dinner. On that note we can assure you that the fees you pay to enter the awards go into supporting the running of the event, which also benefits from the support of our generous sponsors, UK Sport and BT Vision.

I hope you enter the competition and would wish you the best of luck.

Extra entry forms can also be obtained by calling 020 8916 2237. Tickets for the event can also be obtained from that same phone number, or by emailing sandra@s2fevents.co.uk.

Click here to read about the 2006 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, and for past winners

This item was first posted on Dec 5


Join the SJA today – click here for details and membership application form