An award-winning journalism student has received a new accolade given in memory of a former regional journalist.

Sajidur Rahman has been named as one of the three recipients of this year’s Bob Norris Award for Achievement in Journalism, given in memory of a former Hampshire Chronicle journalist and National Council for the Training of Journalists chairman to students who overcome “unique challenges” during their studies.

The award is presented by the Solent branch of the National Union of Journalists to one student studying at the City of Portsmouth College, the University of Portsmouth and Southampton Solent University.

Sajidur, who studies at the Southampton institution, is no stranger to awards, having won the Football Writers’ Association’s Unheard Voice prize in 2022.

The 21-year-old, pictured, said: “There are so many people that have put their faith in me over the years, and trying to make them proud and justify that trust is another major driving factor.  Not least every single one of my lecturers at Solent University.

“Quite ironically as a journalist, I do not have the words to describe how great they have been with me.”

Sajidur shares this year’s honour with City of Portsmouth College student Noni Needs, 56, and 22-year-old University of Portsmouth student Joe Brennan.

Noni said: “I am thrilled, amazed and honoured to win the Bob Norris Award.

“I won a Journalism Diversity Fund bursary to enable me to do the course, so I am delighted to be recognised for working hard. I loved it. Diversity is important in journalism as it reflects our communities.”

Joe added: “Winning the Bob Norris Award is a really wonderful surprise and I’m grateful to be recognised in this way.

“My ongoing struggle with ME has meant that my time at uni hasn’t been the easiest four years, and it continues to have a significant limiting impact on my daily life. But I’m incredibly proud of the hard work I’ve put in and the results I’ve been able to achieve.”