A double accolade for Journalism graduates at NCTJ Awards

Kelham Hilton scooped The Archant video journalism award, while Calum Johnson took home the The Society of Editors shorthand award (100wpm).

Each award winner will receive a certificate and £250 from the award sponsor to recognise their outstanding results.

The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) delivers industry standard qualifications for pre-entry and trainee journalists.

Kelham Hilton, who studied a MA in Sports Journalism, said: “I was incredibly proud to win this award and it obviously came as a huge surprise to me. In what has been an incredibly challenging year I’m pleased to have achieved my MA, as well as landing my dream job at the club I support.

“Of course none of that would have been possible without the support of everyone at the University of Salford and I’m extremely glad I chose to do my Masters there – I would recommend it to anyone looking to break into the industry.”

Kelham currently works as a Media and Administration Assistant at Rotherham United Football Club.

Calum Johnson, who also graduated with a MA in Sports Journalism, said: “I'm delighted to have won the NCTJ's 100wpm shorthand award.  It's a reflection of the support that the University's Journalism department put in place to ensure that teaching continued, and exams went ahead despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Shorthand is an almost unique skill, and certainly requires time and patience to learn, but winning the award makes the time spent learning rules and outlines for individual words seem worthwhile. I've really enjoyed putting shorthand to use in my studies and in professional environments and hope it will continue to be helpful in the future, too.”

Calum is currently doing MA in Translation and Interpreting Studies at the University of Manchester, with a view to combining journalism and translation at some point in the future.

Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “The talent on this year’s list of award winners deserve extra special recognition for their exceptional performance, achieved during their studies in a global pandemic.

“Passing with gold standard is challenging enough during the best of times; getting high percentage A grades and top shorthand speeds is a remarkable achievement in such difficult circumstances.

“We are fortunate to have the support of a fantastic range of award sponsors who allow us to recognise and reward the achievements of those who have done so well in their exams. Many thanks to them and congratulations to all the award winners.”