A regional daily has been shortlisted for a national award given by journalism trainers for its commitment to equality and diversity.

Sheffield daily The Star has been nominated for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion award at this year’s National Council for the Training of Journalists Awards for Excellence.

It is the first time a regional newspaper has been shortlisted for the prize – which recognises the outstanding work of individuals, educators and employers who promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the media and training sector – since it was introduced by the NCTJ in 2018.

The Academy for Disabled Journalists and Glasgow Caledonian University are also nominated.

A record-breaking 417 entries were received across 15 categories, in addition to the students and trainees eligible for the student and trainee of the year awards.

There were 44 entries for the Community News Project award, now in its second year, which recognises the exceptional work done by reporters under the Facebook-funded Community News Project banner.

The winners will be announced in a virtual ceremony in March, while the NCTJ says he Student of the Year shortlist will be announced in the new year because a number of accredited courses have extended their course end dates this year due to the pandemic.

The shortlist is as follows:

News Journalism (Student)
Julia Atherley, News Associates London
Ethan Ennals, PA Training
Benjamin Turner, PA Training

News Journalism (Trainee/Apprentice)
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu, FE Week
Abigail Maclure, Yorkshire Evening Post
Jamie Phillips, SurreyLive
Daisy Smith, Watford Observer

Sports Journalism (Student)
Josh Graham, News Associates London
George Ramsay, News Associates London
Rachel Steinberg, News Associates London

Sports Journalism (Trainee/Apprentice)
Matthew Addison, Liverpool Echo
Niamh Campbell, BBC Sport NI
Tom Ward, Racing Post
Mark Wyatt, KentLive

Top Scoop (Student)
Julia Atherley, News Associates London
Kafui Okpattah, University of Essex
Camomile Shumba, News Associates London

Top Scoop (Trainee/Apprentice)
Bradley Deas, Telegraph & Argus
Jack Grey, BBC Wales
Abbianca Makoni, Evening Standard

Features (Student)
Alex Diggins, News Associates London
Megan Hinton, Bournemouth University
Sally Nolan, PA Training
Mimi Swaby, News Associates London

Features (Trainee/Apprentice)
Oliver Kemp, KentOnline
Thomas Kingsley, MyLondon
Lydia Stephens, WalesOnline

Podcast Journalism (Student)
Lewis Adams, University of Essex
Ryan Hesketh, Glasgow Caledonian University
Matthew Shaw, University of Lincoln

Podcast Journalism (Trainee/Apprentice)
Steve Jones, The Star, Sheffield
Oliver Kemp, KentOnline
Anna Staufenberg, Crowd Network

Best Student Project
The Original High Speed Railway, University of Kent
Our Time Election, Bournemouth University
Trailblaze magazine, Sunderland University

Apprentice of the Year
David Chipakupaku, Sky News/PA Training
Anna Maria Colivicchi, Lancashire Post/Sheffield College
Hedi Mehrez, Swindon Advertiser/Darlington College
James Robinson, Hexham Courant/Darlington College
Cree-Summer Haughton, ITV/Bauer Academy
Poppie Webster, Basildon Echo/Darlington College

Trainee of the Year
Conor Matchett, Edinburgh Evening News
Danielle Poole, Dudley News
Jacob Thorburn, The Comet

Innovation of the Year
Leeds Trinity University
News Associates
University of Brighton

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion award, sponsored by the Financial Times
Academy for Disabled Journalists
Glasgow Caledonian University
The Star, Sheffield

Community News Project
Alison Bagley, Northamptonshire Telegraph
Rakeem Hyatt, BirminghamLive
Oliver Kemp, KentOnline
Emily White, LincolnshireLive
James Vukmirovic, Express & Star

The Student of the Year shortlist will be announced in the new year, while the chairman’s award will be presented at the ceremony in March.