Media stars of the future

Choosing the finalists of the fourth Independent/NUS student journalism awards was a tough task. There was an impressive array of talent in every category, says Goolistan Cooper

There were two new categories in this year's student journalism awards – fashion and travel – and the judges were faced with an incredibly difficult task again, given the high quality of media talent on university campuses. This is the fourth year of the awards run by The Independent and National Union of Students (NUS), and more than 400 students submitted their work. "The standard has made the task of the judges an almighty one," says Mandy Telford, the NUS president. "Having been a judge myself I extend my full congratulations to those who have made the shortlist. The high calibre of entries confirms the time and dedication students still commit to student media.''

Fashion is a booming industry. The fact that Topshop/Topman decided to sponsor this award is a testament to the importance of fashion journalism. And with so many students taking gap years to go globe-trotting after A-levels or university courses, the new travel category, sponsored by STA Travel, was always going to receive interest from around the country.

According to Steve Bloomfield, who won the best student reporter award last year and is one of this year's judges, the importance of good student journalism cannot be underestimated. More students read their student newspapers than a national daily. "Good student journalists ensure students know everything they need to know on campus," he says. "The best ensure students know everything the university doesn't want them to know.''

The winners and runners-up will be announced at an awards ceremony on 16 November in London. Winners will pick up a cash prize of £500 and the runners-up £250.

This year's nominees

Best Student Newspaper

Palatinate (Durham); Leeds Student (Leeds); Cherwell (Oxford); YorkVision (York)

Best Student Sports Journalist

Stuart Pollitt, Exepose (Exeter); Carl Laferton, Cherwell (Oxford); Nicholas Randall, Cherwell (Oxford)

Best Small-Budget Student Publication

Smiths (Goldsmiths College); Huddersfield Students (Huddersfield); Brig (Stirling); Velvet (Surrey Institute of Art and Design)

Best Student Media Website

www.udsu-online.co.uk (Derby); www.su.ntu.ac.uk/PL (Nottingham Trent); Wessexscene.co.uk (Southampton); www.durham21.co.uk (Durham)

Best Student Reporter

Katie Hind, Concrete (East Anglia); Jon Colman, SCAN (Lancaster); Dan Box, Leeds Student (Leeds); Rob Harris, York Vision (York)

Best Student Campaign

www.payuptony.com (Manchester Metropolitan); Steel Press (Sheffield); Barefacts (Surrey); www.yorkvision.co.uk (York)

Diversity Award (sponsored by the Commission for Racial Equality)

Cambridge Students (Cambridge); Leeds Student (Leeds)

Best Student Feature Writer

Heather Brown, Leeds Student (Leeds); Sian Knight, Impact (Nottingham); James Kettle, Cherwell (Oxford); Matt Withers, Steel Press (Sheffield)

Best Student Arts Journalist

Murray Laird Garrand, Epigram (Bristol); Charlotte Ronalds, Concrete (East Anglia); Mark Powell, Leeds Student (Leeds); Henry Day, Cherwell (Oxford); Helen Zaltzman, Cherwell (Oxford)

Best Student Publication Design

Massive (City); Impact (Nottingham); Smoke (Westminster)

Best Student Travel Writer (sponsored by STA Travel)

Elisabeth Jones, Redbrick (Birmingham); Josephine Hartley, Cambridge Student (Cambridge); James Brown, Huddersfield Student (Huddersfield); Malin Rising, Velvet (Surrey Institute of Art and Design)

Best Student Fashion Writer (sponsored by Topshop/Topman)

Clemency Burton-Hill, Varsity (Cambridge); Katherine Hibbert, Varsity (Cambridge); Pete Schiazza, Impact (Nottingham); Nicola Shiel, Platform (Nottingham Trent)

Best Student Photographer

Conor Cleary, Streaker (Luton); Lee Jonathan Garland, Impact (Nottingham); Oliver Scarff, Warwick Boar (Warwick)

Best Student Magazine

Smiths (Goldsmiths College); Streaker (Luton); Impact (Nottingham); Westworld (West of England)