Double win for Journalism at Midlands Media Awards

Two Staffordshire University journalism students won awards at this year’s Midlands Media Awards.

MA Broadcast Journalism student, Ben Lowe, 22, won in the Student Journalist of the Year category, and graduate Rachel Butler went home with Newcomer of the Year for her work at the Derby Telegraph.

The judges said Lowe stood out because he ‘demonstrated a remarkable maturity and versatility.’ The day after the ceremony Ben was offered a job at MTV News.

Winner Rachel Butler said: “I wasn’t expecting it in the slightest because there are so many good people in my category.

“I went to another university before Staffordshire and did another journalism course - and it was awful. Then I went to Staffordshire and it set me up. It’s a fantastic course; I can’t speak more highly of it.”
 
Head of MA Broadcast Journalism, Sarah Rowlands, said: “It was a proud night for Staffordshire – to have so many current students and graduates as winners and nominees is proof of the high standard of journalism teaching we deliver.”
 
This year, Staffordshire University current and former students and staff received 9 nominations.

Winners were presented with a cash prize and certificate.
 
The Birmingham Press Club hold the annual awards, which recognise the work of journalists across the Midlands in all areas of media. This year’s 10th ceremony was held on March 10 at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground.