An awards scheme recognising the UK’s best student and trainee journalists is calling for entries.

Run by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the second annual Excellence in Journalism Awards offer prizes in five different categories: news journalism, sports journalism, top scoop/exclusive, feature of the year and images of the year.

Awards are open to students on NCTJ-accredited courses and trainees on the National Certificate Examination pathway – whether they taking it or have recently qualified as seniors.

Entries can be submitted in video, audio or written formats and must have been produced between 1 September, 2008, and 31 July.

The awards are free to enter and there is also an NCTJ Chairman’s Award to recognise an individual’s outstanding contribution to high standards of journalism training.

Deadline for applications is 5pm on 4 September with winners announced during the Society of Editors’ conference on 16 November while the Chairman’s Award will be presented during the Journalism Skills Conference, in December.

For more details and to enter visit the NCTJ Awards website.