NCTJ award-winner crowned Young Journalist of the Year

A former NCTJ Awards for Excellence winner is celebrating after being crowned Young Journalist of the Year at the Regional Press Awards last Friday, 25 May.

Emily Koch, of the Bristol Post, won the award thanks to an exclusive interview with the best friend of murdered landscape architect Jo Yeates and an expose revealing that a former henchman of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe had been working in a Bristol care home. Emily completed her NCTJ preliminary training with News Associates, London and passed her NCE in 2009.

Dominic Howell of the Nottingham Post, was Highly Commended in the Young Journalist Category. He studied at Press Association and went on the pass his NCE in 2010.

Paul Linford from Hold the Front Page, who sponsor the award, said: “We were particularly keen to support this award again this year because it is such a showcase for up-and-coming talent within the industry.

“Emily is no stranger to awards having previously won at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence so she is a very worthy winner of this accolade.”

In 2009 Emily won the NCTJ trainee award for Features of the Year when judges praised her for writing ‘with skill and sensitivity’ and conducting an ‘accomplished interview’.

To enter this year’s Awards for Excellence, please complete the form on the website.

Image: Emily Koch receives her award from HTFP publisher Paul Linford.
Photographer: Nick Carter of Magstar