Entrants from Sheffield College, the South Wales Argus and the Derby Evening Telegraph all figure strongly in the shortlist for the NCTJ’s Excellence in Journalism awards for 2008.

Twenty-five talented journalists beat off tough competition to make it through the shortlisting stage of the competition.

The judges described the quality of entries as extremely high and noted that many of the scoops, in particular, had come about through good use of Freedom of Information legislation.

“This is clearly something for news editors up and down the UK to put high on their agendas,” they said.

The judges were particularly impressed with the sporting entries saying they showed “vibrancy, variety and a good understanding of the subjects candidates chose to tackle.”

“Sports reporting is fiercely competitive and done well, a passionate part of any newspaper or website. These newcomers to the industry clearly show the future is in good hands.”

The shortlisted entrants were as follows:

Student shortlist

News Reporter: Donna Bowater, City of Wolverhampton College, Naomi Loomes, City College Brighton and Hove, Elizabeth Webster, Lambeth College

Sports Reporter: Graham Britton, Sheffield College, Steve Jones, News Associates Manchester

Top Scoop: Graham Britton, Sheffield College, Steven Kelly, Brighton Journalist Works, Delia Monk, Lambeth College

Feature writer: Marie Duffy, University of Ulster, Sara Pepper, University of Salford, Paul Prowse, Nottingham Trent University

Images: Jaroslaw Bogdanowicz, Sheffield College, Micha Theiner, Sheffield College

Trainee shortlist

News Reporter: Ben Barnett, Telegraph and Argus, David Paine, Worcester News, Tessa Youens, Gravesend Messenger

Sports Reporter: Jonathan Jurejko, Doncaster Free Press, Ben Pearce, Islington Gazette

Top Scoop: Ben Frampton, South Wales Argus, Deborah Green, South Wales Argus

Feature writer: Emma Kasprzak, North Shropshire Chronicle, Kelly Shorrock, Derby Evening Telegraph, Tessa Youens, Gravesend Messenger

Images: Katherine Burnett, Derby Telegraph, Samuel Reynolds, Lancashire Telegraph

The shortlisting judges were: Jon Austin, Basildon Echo; Geoff Critchley, PA Sport; Paul Durrant, Eastern Daily Press; Murray Morse, Daily Sport; Barry Peters, Bury Free Press; Nicola Priest, Warrington Guardian; Alice Ryan, Cambridge Evening News; Paul Sanders, The Times; Malcolm Wells, Portsmouth News; and John Wilson, Johnston Press.

Judging will now move forward to its final stage, where six industry heavyweights will meet to decide on the overall winners in each category.

The winners will be announced at the Society of Editors conference in Bristol between November 9 and 11, and will be posted on the awards website www.nctjawards.com on November 12.