Chris scoops double at student journalism awards

Jun 12 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON teenager Chris Duncan has won two major awards for university news writing in a nationwide competition.

Chris (19), of Silvertonhill is a student at the University of the West of Scotland campus in Hamilton. He won the top prize for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) News Writing and the Society of Editors’ Scoop of the Year at the annual ‘Write Stuff’ Scottish Student Journalism Awards 2008.

Now in its 11th year, the ‘Write Stuff’ awards, organised by Cardonald College, were open to students from journalism courses at HND, under-graduate and post-graduate levels.

This year’s competition was fiercer than ever, with entries from Cardonald College, Edinburgh’s Telford College, Adam Smith College, Metropolitan College, Napier University, Strathclyde University, Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of the West of Scotland and the Scottish Centre for Journalism Studies.

Chris, a former Hamilton College student, wrote a news piece about organ donation for his successful entry.

He was delighted with the win and said: “I can’t believe that I won two awards – I’m over the moon and really delighted with this recognition.

“I’m thrilled to have been selected for these awards in the first place.

“Having the story published was a real achievement, but this has topped it off. I aim to land a job with a Scottish publication so hopefully this will give me a boost.”

Entries were shortlisted by industry experts, and the winners were judged by editors and representatives of each sponsor category, who then presented each award on the night.

The award presentation ceremony was held at the City Chambers in Glasgow on May 28.