Graduates excel at 02 Media Awards

LJMU Journalism graduates have excelled at the North West O2 Media Awards, collecting awards and commendations for their work. 

Rhiannon Hilton, who graduated from LJMU in 2010, won the title of ‘Young Reporter of the Year’ and Chris Chambers, who graduated in 2004, won the award for ‘Radio Journalist of the Year.’ 

In the ‘Scoop of the Year’ category 2010 LJMU graduate and now radio journalist Adam Phillips was highly commended and Josh Parry, who graduated in 2013, was highly commended in the ‘Young Reporter of the Year’ category.

The event was hosted by BBC Breakfast’s Louise Minchin, and more than 25 working editors and executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and on-line publications were involved in the judging process.  

Commenting about her win, Rhiannon said: “Being named Young Reporter of the Year at the O2 North West Media Awards is my biggest achievement since I began my journalism career in 2010. I started at the paper by working for free and since being offered a job have progressed to become the Nantwich patch reporter, as well as crime reporter. I also stand in as news editor when my boss is away. I am extremely proud to have won the award, especially as I was up against some tough competition. My time at LJMU taught me many things but, above all, that determination gets you far - and that there's always more to the story!”

Speaking about his success, Chris said: "Without doubt you don't become a local radio journalist because you aim to be rich, you do it because you love the job and the people you communicate with on a daily basis, so to be acknowledged by fellow journalists as someone who is getting it right means a lot. Since graduating I have learnt a lot as a journalist and continue to learn on a daily basis - but the most important lesson has been to respect and understand who it is you are talking to and to deliver an honest, credible service."

LJMU Journalism Programme Leader, Jackie Newton, said the whole team were extremely proud of the award winners, adding: “We feel privileged to have had a part in launching these fine journalists’ careers and it has been immensely rewarding watching them develop in the industry. It is fantastic to know that they are out there upholding the best values of quality regional journalism.”