The search is on once again for the brightest young talent in the industry with the launch of the Excellence in Journalism awards this week.

The awards celebrate the achievements of students on National Council for the Training of Journalists courses and trainee journalists working toward the NCE withless than two years’ experience in their field.

Five prizes are up for grabs covering news, sports, scoops, features and images.

Last year Brighton Journalist Works student Juliet Conway won the Top Scoop Award with a story in The Argus, Brighton, whic ultimately resulted in a change in the law.

Juliet, who is currently completing an English degree at the University of Sussex, said: “The NCTJ award for excellence is at the top of my CV, when I start looking for a job in journalism I am sure it will be a huge help.

“Receiving the award was important to me because it proved to me that journalism was something I could be good at, it really gave me a great boost in my own personal abilities.”

She won her award for a story written which exposed how a young medical student died from taking a drug called GBL, which had been legally purchased on the internet.

It was the first of a series of similar stories which eventually led to GBL being banned by the Government.

The awards are free to enter and information on categories, what the judges will be looking for and entry details are available by visiting the awards website www.nctjawards.com.

The deadline for all entry forms to reach the NCTJ is 5pm on Friday 17 September. Work must have been produced between 1 September, 2009 and 31 July, 2010.