Outstanding 18 News Associates grads in NCTJ Awards for Excellence shortlist
News Associates make up an incredible 24 of the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2025 nominations.
Eighteen News Associates graduates are nominated across eight categories – news journalism, sports journalism, top scoop, features of the year, data journalism, videojournalism, equality, diversity and inclusion (individual) and student of the year – with five graduates shortlisted twice!
News Associates’ very own ‘How to be a Journalist’ podcast, hosted by Plamedi Mbungu, is shortlisted for innovation of the year.
There were more than 550 applications and industry expert judges have shortlisted 82 submissions – meaning News Associates make up 29% of the shortlist.
The awards recognise the achievements of journalism students, trainees and apprentices, as well as training providers and employers promoting positive change in the industry.
George Nash, Jasmine Trapnell, Jodie Yettram, Sharon Browne-Peter and Yennah Smart are all shortlisted for two awards.
Jasmine and Sharon make up two thirds of the equality, diversity and inclusion award (individual) shortlist.
Jasmine (freelance journalist), who studied on our sports journalism course, said: “I was so excited to see I had been shortlisted for two awards, it feels so rewarding to be recognised for all the work you put in.
“I find it so easy to forget how far I’ve come in such a short space of time so this is a real reminder to appreciate every opportunity that I have had!
“It’s also so lovely to be shortlisted alongside so many others from News Associates as we all progress into the professional world.”
Sharon (freelance journalist), who is studying on our remote journalism course, said: “I had no idea that my interest in social media, video editing, writing, and raising awareness for causes would be the perfect foundation for my journey into journalism, which began in 2022.
“Since then, I’ve won the Hugh Cudlipp Student Journalism Award and have now been shortlisted for two NCTJ Awards for Excellence in videojournalism and equality, diversity and inclusion.
“This recognition is incredibly affirming. I’m grateful that these nominations are helping to shape the direction of my career as I complete my training at News Associates, especially as I have a strong passion for both areas.”
View this post on Instagram
Fast-track journalism course graduate Shaheena Uddin (The Independent) won the equality, diversity and inclusion award (individual) 2024 for singlehandedly founding and running Muslim Journalists Connect, which encourages underrepresented voices to enter the industry.
The award champions journalists going above and beyond to promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
Leah Renz (Financial Times), who trained on our fast-track course, is named on the student of the year shortlist, which celebrates the students who achieved the highest marks in their NCTJ in Diploma in Journalism exams in the 2024/25 academic year.
News Associates graduates make up the entirety of the student features of the year category – which was also won by a News Associates grad last year.
Emma Butterworth studied on our NCTJ-accredited Multimedia Journalism degree The School of Journalism, Owen Thomas on a fast-track course and Yennah Smart on our fully remote part-time course.
Emma (Lancs Live) said: “I’m so grateful to be shortlisted for this award, it feels reassuring to be reminded that hard work does pay off!
“This also goes to show just how important the constant guidance and support offered to me at News Associates and The School of Journalism was. Top notch training from the best in the business!”
Yennah (The Times) said: “I’m really excited to have been nominated for both the data journalism and features of the year awards!
“All of the tutors at News Associates are fantastic and I am really grateful for all the time and support they gave to me and the rest of my cohort.”
Two News Associates graduates are also named in the trainee features of the year category – Thomas Bryden and George Nash.
Thomas (The Sun), who studied on a fast-track journalism course, said: “It’s such an honour to be recognised for this award. I’m really grateful to everyone who helped make this happen – most of all to News Associates and the wonderful tutors.”
George trained on a part-time course at News Associates and was highly commended in the student features writing category last year, with the winner also being a News Associates grad.
He said: “I’m really chuffed – and a little surprised – to have been shortlisted in two NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2025 categories.
“It’s a real honour to be included among such talented journalists, and I want thank all my editors and interviewees, as well as extend my continued gratitude to the News Associates team for helping me hone skills I still use on a daily basis.”
Our graduates also dominated the student data journalism category, with three part-time graduates up for the award.
Freelance journalists Tacita Quinn and Adam Termote studied on a 40-week hybrid part-time journalism course while Yennah trained on our 18-month fully remote part-time course.
Tacita said: “I am beyond thrilled to be shortlisted for the NCTJ data journalism award. I would really like to thank the News Associates tutors and staff members who pushed me to produce work that challenges our society and institutions through evidence-led reporting.
“I already knew I wanted to be a journalist before embarking on the NCTJ, but it was the team at News Associates who taught me how to be one, because they encouraged me to produce stories I’m genuinely proud of.”
Adam said: “I’m usually getting the quotes rather than giving them! It’s nice to be in the story for a moment and acknowledge everyone’s achievements – well done to everyone shortlisted.”
This means a News Associates graduate will take home the gong two years in a row as Charlotte Bend (The Times) won the 2024 award.
Jodie Yettram (All Island Media), who also studied for her NCTJ on our remote journalism course, is representing in the trainee data journalism category.
Four of the six sports journalism nominations trained at News Associates.
Freelance journalists Alexander Lancaster-Lennox and Jasmine Trapnell both trained on the same sports journalism cohort at News Associates and are against each other in the student category.
While Flo Clifford (The Independent) and George Nash are named in the trainee category.
Sports journalism course graduate Ben Fleming (Metro) took the crown in the trainee sports journalism category last year.
Alex said: “Put simply, I’m chuffed to be shortlisted in the sports journalism category and think it’s a real testament to News Associates to be nominated in the same category alongside one of my course mates.
“News Associates provided an incredible springboard for my career, and I can’t quite believe how far I’ve come since the course ended.
“I look forward to celebrating with the rest of News Associates!”
Fast-track course graduate Olivia Kemp (Daily Mail) is representing in the student news journalism category.
She said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for an NCTJ Award for Excellence 2025. I’m hugely grateful to News Associates for the support, guidance and high standards they instilled throughout my training. To have my work recognised like this is a real honour.”
News Associates graduates make up two thirds of the top scoop category.
In the student top scoop shortlist – which was last won by sports journalism graduate Lucy Wilde – we have fast-track course graduates Blaise Coran (The Telegraph) and Luke Alsford (Metro).
Blaise said: “I am so delighted to be nominated and recognised for the Top Scoop award. I could never have kickstarted my journalism career without the help of News Associates and all the tutors there.”
While Nia Price (BBC News) and Jodie Yettram are shortlisted for the trainee top scoop award.
Nia said: “I’m over the moon to be nominated for Top Scoop and Apprentice of the Year at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2025!
“Being nominated alongside such a brilliant group of journalists is such an honour, and I’m super excited for us to celebrate our achievements at the awards ceremony in March.
“Completing a fast-track course at News Associates was hard work and challenging but so worthwhile, as it gave me core skills and the confidence to kick-start my career in journalism!”
Showcasing their multimedia skills in the student videojournalism shortlist are The School of Journalism graduate Mia Williams (It’s Gone Viral) and Sharon Browne-Peter.
Mia said: “It’s a true honour to be nominated for an NCTJ award in the videojournalism category.
“My documentary, Silent Struggles: Exploring The Gender Health Gap, would be nothing without the formidable women who allowed me in to share their story.
“I also have to thank my tutors at News Associates and The School of Journalism who encouraged me every step of the way.
“This nomination means a great deal and highlights the importance of journalism that continues to shine a light on inequality.”
View this post on Instagram
News Associates managing editor James Toney said: “These awards are the most prestigious in the UK for early-career journalists and we’ve seen how former winners have used them as a springboard to success.
“For News Associates to have more than a quarter of the shortlist for the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2025 is a credit to our brilliant trainees and staff – and underlines our practical-first approach to our training.”
The NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2025 ceremony, sponsored by Reuters, will take place at the Brighton Dome on Tuesday March 24, 2026.