UL students receive 16 nominations in National Student Media Awards

UL Journalism students have secured a record number of nominations in the National Student Media Awards. 

Limerick Voice, the award winning multimedia news platform, has received nominations in a number of different categories including, Best Newspaper, Best Layout and Design and Best Interactive Digital Experience. Limerick Voice Sports Reporters Chris Benn and Andrew Moynihan have both been nominated for Sports Writer of the Year. Third year UL journalism student Dearbhla Parry has been nominated for Journalist of the Year. Unraveled, a magazine by second year journalism students, has received a nomination for Magazine of the Year. 

“It’s great to see so many nominations for students across our journalism programme in UL from second year right up to final year. Our students are already being recognised by national media industry figures who are involved in the judging process for the SMEDIAS so this is a wonderful validation, particularly for those entering the world of work in the coming weeks,” said Kathryn Hayes, Associate Professor in Journalism at UL.

The National Student Media Awards or the Smedias as they are known, is the largest competition of its kind in Ireland dedicated to recognising and celebrating the next generation of media talent. Open to students from every college across Ireland the awards are judged by key media industry leaders including Mark Hennessey, Ireland and UK Editor of The Irish Times. The 26th edition of the National Student Media Awards takes place on Wednesday, 29 April, at the Clayton Burlington Hotel. Limerick Voice Editor Conor Curran has been nominated for Editor of the Year. Online Editor Aisling Kavanagh has been nominated for Best Interactive Digital Experience. Limerick Voice reporters Siobhan Rogan, Shauna O’Mahoney, and Jennifer Keating have been nominated for Journalism Relating to Health. Reporters Olivia O’Dwyer and Marina Sánchez Díaz have been nominated for Collaborative Journalism of the Year. 

In The Joe Drennan Award, Journalism Relating to Road Safety; Sponsored by the Road Safety Authority, Abigail Hayden and Imogen Cotter have been nominated. In Journalism Relating to the Environment, James Organ has been nominated. Sadhbh Edwards Murphy, Imogen Cotter, and Jakob Peer have been nominated for Radio Production of the Year – Arts & Pop Culture. Maddox Nunn is nominated for Photographer of the Year.