A GLITTERING awards ceremony marked the end of the 2006 NUS Student Journalism Awards that were supported by Press Association Training for the first time.

More than 150 students attended the event at the five-star Marriott Hotel in Docklands, London.

Press Association Training was the media partner for the awards and some of the winners will be undertaking work experience at PA.

Stephen Brown, NUS National Secretary, said: “Once again we have had a high number of entries and the excellent standard of work has made the task of the judges a tough one.

“I would like to thank Press Association Training for their sponsorship of this event, as well as to our category sponsors for supporting student journalists across the country.”

Other sponsors included the Daily Mirror and Closer magazine.

Matt Sandy, The Warwick Boar, the winner of the reporter of the year category, which was judged by PA Editor Jonathan Grun, won a place on PA’s foundation course in journalism in Newcastle.

He said: “Many thanks for sponsoring a fantastic evening and, of course, giving me an incredible prize.”

The judging was organised by Paul Jones, who is head of foundation course training in Newcastle.

He said: “We were delighted to have the chance to be media partner for the awards. We recruit a lot of students onto the course and this was a great opportunity to get our brand noticed by students even more.”

BBC journalist Rajesh Mirchandani presented the awards on the night.

He said: “I was thrilled to present this awards ceremony and honour the efforts of such talented young journalists.”

Other winners were:

Best Newspaper:
Winner: Sheffield Steel Press, Sheffield University

Best Magazine:
Winner: The Orbital, Royal Holloway, University of London

Best Design:
Winner: Durham 21, Durham University

Best Small Budget Publication
Winner: York Vision, University of York

Best Further Education Publication:
Winner: Student Eye, Liverpool Community College

Best Student Reporter:
Winner: Matt Sandy, The Warwick Boar

Best Student Feature Writer:
Winner: Alistair Plumb, The Warwick Boar

Best Student Sports Journalist:
Winner: David O’Kelly, The Warwick Boar

Best Student Critic:
Winner: Laura Swinton, Durham 21

Best Publication Design:
Winner: Smith’s Magazine, Goldsmith’s College, London

Diversity Award:
Winner: Chris White, Gair Rhydd (Cardiff University)

Best Student Travel Journalist:
Winner: Lucy Beaumont, Pi Magazine (UCL)

Best Student Photographer:
Winner: Ching Sum Yuen, Warwick Boar