Top media law performers recognised

The best performers in this year’s Media Law exams were honoured at the Student Council on 11 February, winning awards sponsored by Johnston Press and Oxford University Press.
Sarah Cooper, who studied at the University of Sheffield, won the Johnston Press award for her performance in the Media Law: Court Reporting exam. Sarah was the top performing student, with a near perfect score in her exam, and was presented with a cheque for £250 and a certificate from NCTJ chief executive, Joanne Butcher.

 Sarah, who is currently working as a broadcast journalist at Hallam FM in Sheffield, said: “The NCTJ law exams are tough but it is completely worth putting the effort in, because they are so well respected in the industry and ensure you are a safe pair of hands in any newsroom. My thanks go to my teachers and to Johnston Press for their generosity.”

Kate Ferguson, who studied at Lambeth College, was presented with the award for the best performance in the Media Law: General Reporting exam. Kate had an almost perfect exam mark and also received a cheque for £250 and a certificate from Joanne Butcher, NCTJ chief executive.

Kate is now working as a reporter with the Willesden and Brent Times, a job she landed soon after completing her course in February 2010.

She said: “I was chuffed to hear that I had won the NCTJ’s media law award. I really enjoyed the course, and got so stuck into the legal case studies that I fleetingly considered life as a lawyer – but soon came to my senses.

“The course taught me to be a thorough, accurate, and legally sound journalist.”

Roz McKenzie, course leader at Lambeth College paid tribute to Kate saying: “Kate’s is the highest scoring paper I have marked since I started teaching and is a testament to her hard work and determination.”