The shortlist has been announced for an annual awards scheme which aims to recognise the best student and trainee journalists.

The Awards for Excellence are held each year by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, which had a record number of entries this year in both the student and trainee categories – with 161 applications, compared to 119 last year.

They aim to highlight the achievements of individuals with promising journalism careers ahead of them and are open to students on NCTJ-accredited courses and trainees working towards the National Certificate Examination.

The winners of the awards will be announced at the NCTJ’s Journalism Skills Conference, which takes place in Nottingham on 28 and 29 November.

Judges who drew up the shortlist included Jonathan Barry, picture editor at Worcester Evening News; Brien Beharrell, editorial director of Newbury Weekly News; Nicole Garnon, deputy editor at South Wales Argus; Steve Phillips, group picture editor at South Wales Evening Post and Joy Yates, editor at Hartlepool Mail.

The full shortlist is:

News Journalism

Student
Joe Cooper, Leeds Trinity University College
Laura Maltby, City of Wolverhampton College
Dean Wilkins, News Associates Manchester

Trainee
Rachael Burnett, Dorset Echo
David Churchill, Croydon Advertiser
Alexandra Rucki, Wansworth Guardian
Luke Tugby, Southern Daily Echo

Sports Journalism

Student
Jack Gaughan, University of Central Lancashire
David Lyons, Glasgow Caledonian University

Top Scoop

Student
Charlene Davies, City of Wolverhampton College
Adam Knight, News Associates London
Joanna Morris, Darlington College

Trainee
Georgina Cotton, Essex Chronicle
Bethan Evans, Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury
Dominic Shaw, Hartlepool Mail

Features

Student
Rebecca Longshaw, Nottingham Trent University
James Maddison, University of Central Lancashire
Jennifer Morris, News Associates London
Ashleigh Withall-Prince, Nottingham Trent University

Trainee
Andrew Fitchett, Bury Free Press
Charlotte Lowe, Cornish Guardian
Hardeep Matharu, Epsom Guardian
Dan Robinson, Henley Standard

Images

Student
Joel Goodman, The Sheffield College
Harry Atkinson, The Sheffield College

Trainee
Alex Cantrall-Jones, Derby Telegraph
Isabel Infantes, Hackney Gazette

Best Student Publication

Royal Visit, De Montfort University
Kingston Courier, Kingston University
North Leeds News and More, Leeds Trinity University College
Overtime Online, University of Brighton