A Clare man is among a record number of journalism students at University of Limerick nominated for national media awards.
Paul Saunders, from Kilrush, an MA Journalism and New Media graduate 2017, is in the running for the Journalist of the Year accolade.
The National Student Media Awards 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 The Irish Times and The Irish Independent.
Limerick Voice, the newspaper and website produced by the fourth year BA in Journalism and New Media and MA in Journalism and New Media classes, has received three separate nominations in the National Student Media Awards or Smedias, as they are known.
The publication is shortlisted for the newspaper of the year, website of the year and layout and design of the year. Limerick Voice editor Michelle Hogan has also been nominated in the Editor of the Year category.
Limerick Voice is a core journalism module, which forms part of UL Engage projects, representing community collaboration between UL journalism students and Limerick City and County Council’s Regeneration project.
UL Journalism lecturer Kathryn Hayes who oversaw Limerick Voice 2016 said it was wonderful to see so many journalism students recognised by leading industry figures.
“Investigative journalism was to the fore of this year’s edition of Limerick Voice and these nominations vindicate the quality of work that was undertaken and the level of journalistic skills demonstrated in producing such high class worthy journalism,” she said.
“The expanded digital and online presence of Limerick Voice enhances journalistic skills and increases students’ employability opportunities due to the real world experience gained during this project,” Ms Hayes added.