The winners of the NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2008 were announced today at the Society of Editors annual conference by NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher and editor-in-chief of the Guardian, Alan Rusbridger.

"Excellence has always been at the heart of the NCTJ, and the students and trainees receiving awards today have shown they have what it takes to shine in this competitive industry, where the need for excellence is greater than ever. They are names to be watched," Joanne Butcher said, in a release from the NCTJ.

"I’m delighted to see the NCTJ launch these awards to celebrate the outstanding achievements of talented young journalists. They've all done extremely well to be here today, and I look forward to watching their careers progress," said Alan Rusbridger, in the release.

The winners:

News Reporter of the Year
Student: Naomi Loomes, City College Brighton & Hove
Trainee: Tessa Youens, Gravesend Messenger

Sports Reporter of the Year
Student: Steve Jones, News Associates/Sportsbeat Manchester
Trainee: Jonathan Jurejko, Doncaster Free Press (unable to attend today)

Scoop of the Year
Student: Steven Kelly, Brighton Journalist Works and Delia Monk, Lambeth College
Trainee: Ben Frampton, South Wales Argus

Feature Writer of the Year
Student: Paul Prowse, Nottingham Trent University
Trainee: Kelly Shorrock, Derby Evening Telegraph

Images of the Year
Student: Micha Theiner, Sheffield College
Trainee: Katherine Burnett, Derby Evening Telegraph

Performance award winners
(awarded to the highest achieving students and trainees in NCTJ examinations)

NCTJ Student Journalist of the Year
Jennifer Smith, University of Sheffield

NCTJ Photographer of the Year
Adam Gerrard, South West News Service, formerly of the Derby Evening Telegraph

NCTJ Reporter of the Year
Tarik Al Rasheed, Malvern Gazette

The initial shortlist was announced in late September, after entries were judged by eight representatives from the regional press, Geoff Critchley from PA Sport and Murray Morse from the Daily Sport.

The final judging panel included Steve Nelson, production editor at The Press, York and NCTJ chief examiner for newspaper journalism; Chris Elliott, managing editor of the Guardian; Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors; Steve Phillips, NCT chief examiner for photography and picture editor of the South Wales Evening Post; and Steve Panter, head of journalism at Salford University and NCTJ board member.
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