Sports Journalism master’s student at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, Laura Howard, has been awarded the Sports Journalists’ Association (SJA) Academy Award for 2024.
The judges at SJA were impressed with Laura’s entry which featured strong storytelling and argued for more role models in disability sport and women’s sport.
The SJA Academy Award in association with talkSPORT provides an opportunity for those with less than one year of experience in sports journalism, or those who have never worked in the industry full-time, to be recognised at the industry awards.
Laura has been offered a placement at talkSPORT, as well as received an invitation to attend the award ceremony at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge on Monday 25th March.
Alongside Laura, fellow St Mary’s student and women’s football writer and reporter Adriana Wehrens received Highly Commended in the same category.
Speaking on this achievement, Sports Journalism Course Lead at St Mary’s Dr Daragh Minogue said, “Everyone on the Sports Journalism master’s programme is proud of Laura. She is already a role model for so many other students on the course.”
Kathryn Anastasi, deputy head of talkSPORT and SJA Committee member, said “We are very excited to welcome Laura, winner of the SJA Academy Award, to talkSPORT for a placement.
“Her entry shone through with a real focus on underrepresented communities in sport and we can’t wait to see her career in sports journalism flourish.”
You can find out more about the Sports Journalism master’s course at St Mary’s University at https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/sports-journalism