University of Salford student Sara Pepper has been crowned the Co-operative’s student journalist of the year.

MA Journalism student Sara was picked from eight regional winners to take home the £3,000 prize for her piece about the impact of Asbos on Salford, which was published in The Independent.

Pauline Diamond, from the Scottish Centre for Journalism Studies, was highly commended. Her interview with Kenyan-born Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai was also published in the national daily.

Media students of any age could enter the competition by writing a feature about one of the Co-op’s five social goals – climate change, social inclusion, tackling crime, food ethics and modern co-operation.

Jeanette Timmins, Co-operative group board director, said: “The judges were extremely impressed by the quality of the thought-provoking entries we received for this inaugural Student Journalist of the Year Awards.

“It is extremely encouraging to see such talent demonstrated by the journalists of the future.”

The eight regional finalists were:

Melissa Galea, Nottingham Trent University (Central and Eastern)
Lara Martin, University of Ulster (Northern Ireland)
Katie McQue, University of Cardiff (Wales and Borders)
Pauline Diamond, Scottish Centre for Journalism Studies (Scotland)
Sara Pepper, University of Salford (Northern)
Tom Drew, City University, London (South East)
Felicity Cross, Highbury College, Portsmouth (South West)
Samantha Patterson, University of Sunderland (North East and Cumbria)