Sports journalism diploma at News Associates Manchester named best performing NCTJ-accredited course in 2018 awards

The best performing NCTJ-accredited centres have been presented with awards at the 2018 NCTJ Awards for Excellence gala dinner and ceremony.

The accredited course performance awards are based on students’ achievements in the Diploma in Journalism exams. In 2017-18 242 students on accredited courses achieved the gold standard of A-C grades in all their diploma exams including shorthand at 100 words per minute.

The sports journalism course at News Associates Manchester was named the best performing course overall, achieving an outstanding 100 per cent gold standard rate. The centre also won the award for the top performing independent provider fast-track course.

For the eighth year in a row, City of Wolverhampton College celebrated winning the award for the best performing further education academic year course. The award for the best performing further education fast-track course was won by Highbury College.

Finally, in the higher education categories, the University of Portsmouth was awarded for their undergraduate course and the award for the best performing postgraduate course went to Nottingham Trent University

Speaking at the ceremony, Sarah Hewson, Sky News presenter, praised everyone who teaches on accredited courses for meeting the high standards set by the NCTJ on behalf of the industry.

The innovation of the year award, launched last year, was won by the University of Brighton for its Premier League Apprenticeship, which invited final year students to audition for six paid matchday media journalist roles at Brighton and Hove Albion FC for their inaugural Premier League debut.

A full list of awards is as follows:                                                          

Best performing Higher Education Undergraduate course
University of Portsmouth

Best performing Higher Education Postgraduate course
Nottingham Trent University

Best performing Independent Provider Fast-Track course
News Associates Manchester

Best performing Further Education Fast-Track course
Highbury College

Best performing Further Education Academic year course
City of Wolverhampton College

Best performing course overall
News Associates Manchester, sports journalism course

Innovation of the year award
University of Brighton