Journalism students have been honoured after starting a new digital strategy at their student newspaper.

University of Manchester student newspaper The Mancunion has won the Best Publication prize at this year’s Student Publication Association Awards.

Judges chose The Mancunion for “flourishing in post-lockdown life” and starting a new digital strategy that included a newsletter.

Newcomer Publication of the Year went to Kindred Magazine, a new print publication and website launched by Kingston University students that was praised by judges as a “stunning start”.

The Rising Star Award went to Gemma Murphy, of the University of Strathclyde’s Strathclyde Telegraph, and Best Reporter to Poppy Askham, from Durham University’s Palatinate.

The winners received their awards in a ceremony held at Sheffield Students’ Union on 9 April.

SPA chair Ruby Punt said: “It was incredible to see everyone come together after three long years of online events. The awards ceremony highlighted our members’ continued hard work and demonstrated their resilience in the face of significant challenges.

“Watching this group of students come together was really inspiring, I couldn’t help but think ahead to where these people will be in a few years, or months, time.”

“Being the SPA’s Interim Chair has been an honour and I can’t wait to watch the charity continue to develop.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

Best Photographer Award
Abigail Mason, The Saint

Best Arts and Culture Piece Award
Isabelle Brown, The Boar

Best Science or Tech Piece Award
Cameron McAllister, Palatinate

Best Political Piece Award
Anasuya Virmani, The Gaudie

Best Human Rights Story Award
Carolina Piras, Sane Magazine

Best Entertainment Piece Award
Alex Foster, The Oxford Student

Best Lifestyle Piece Award
Gracie Linthwaite, Palatinate

Best Sports Reporter Award
Ruth Kelner, York Vision

Best Comment Piece Award
Ela Heeley, The Beaver

Best Feature Award
Charles Gorrivan, The Saint

Best Interview Award
Marino Unger-Verna, Roar News

Best News Story Award
Max Kendix, Sarah Matthews and Daniel Hodgson – Palatinate

Rising Star Award
Gemma Murphy, Strathclyde Telegraph

Best Reporter Award
Poppy Askham, Palatinate

Best Sports Section Award
Palatinate

Best Science or Tech Section Award
Concrete

Best Overall Digital Media Award
The Glasgow Guardian

Best Design Award – Magazine
Glasgow University Magazine (GUM)

Best Design Award – Newspaper
Palatinate

Best Website Award
Palatinate

Best Specialist Publication Award
ScienceMind

Best Newcomer Publication Award
Kindred Magazine

Billy Dowling-Reid Award for Outstanding Commitment
Niamh Robinson, Impact

Best Publication
The Mancunion