Three new senior reporters are celebrating after being named as the country’s top-performing trainee journalists.

James Robinson, of the Hexham Courant, the Harrogate Advertiser’s Brogan Maguire and Jim Scott, of the Northern Echo, have each won cash prizes of £750 for their National Qualification in Journalism examination performances in 2020-21.

James won the Reviewed and Cleared Media law and ethics in practice award and Brogan the Esso Practical journalism skills award, while Jim triumphed in the Newsquest E-logbook award.

James, who completed his diploma as an apprentice with Darlington College in 2020, was congratulated by the moderator for his “near-perfect” answers in the media law and ethics in practice exam.

From left: Jim Scott, Brogan Maguire and James Robinson

James, who now works for Newcastle daily The Chronicle, said: “I am delighted to receive this award. It was totally unexpected but a very welcome surprise.

“I would like to thank the team at Darlington College for their support during my NCTJ and all the team at the Hexham Courant for their advice and guidance during my time there as a trainee reporter – I really did learn from the best.”

Brogan, who now works for Sheffield daily The Star, was called a “well-deserving winner” by the moderator for her performance in the big news story exam.

The moderator added: “She clearly understands the requirements of a modern newsroom, using social media to effect to support her coverage, engaging with her audience.”

Brogan, a University of Sheffield graduate, said: “I am so shocked to hear this news but absolutely over the moon.

“I am so grateful to all my colleagues who helped me through my training and exams and I am beyond thrilled that all my hard work has paid off.”

Jim was praised by the moderator for his “very impressive logbook which consistently scored high marks across all key tasks.”

Jim, who completed the diploma alongside his MA at the University of Salford in 2018, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have received this award.

“The NQJ is something that I’ve wanted to achieve since joining the industry, so to have been recognised and awarded best logbook in the country is a huge career highlight.

“It’s great to be flying the flag for the North-East and showing off just how much our part of the world has to bring to local journalism.”