In a bid to shine a light on Scotland's budding journalists, The Herald Student Press Awards in association with Weber Shandwick, has unveiled its highly anticipated shortlist for 2024. The judges were overwhelmed with not only the quantity of submissions but more importantly the quality submitted to the panel over eight categories.

The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 15, as we shine the spotlight on our finalists, highlighting the skill and innovation of emerging writers, reporters, and content creators.

Among the contenders for the title of News Writer of the Year are Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco from The Gaudie at the University of Aberdeen, Athina Bohner representing The Glasgow Guardian at the University of Glasgow, and Nicholas Malizia from The Student at the University of Edinburgh.

Rhiannon McGovern of The Strathclyde Telegraph at the University of Strathclyde, Niamh Flanagan from The Glasgow Guardian at The University of Glasgow, Kirstie Clark from Sober at Robert Gordon University, Jamie Smith contributing to Surge & ENRG Culture at Edinburgh Napier University, along with Fiona Brown of Glasgow Standard at Glasgow Caledonian University, and Omar Malik from Blether Magazine at the University of Strathclyde are all in contention for Features Writer of the Year.

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Columnist of the Year sees Bohdan Tymoshchuk representing Edinburgh Napier University, Callum Devereux from The Student at the University of Edinburgh, Jess Urquhart of Brig Newspaper at the University of Stirling, and Katie McKay of Glasgow Guardian at the University of Glasgow as our 2024 finalists.

Competing for the Sports Writer of the Year are Ciaran Foreman from Scot Shot at Edinburgh Napier University, Nathan Hassett of Brig Newspaper, and Oliver Kennedy from The Gaudie.

Noteworthy entries for Scoop of the Year include Ali Rees's scoop in the Brig Newspaper, Athina Bohner's exposé in The Glasgow Guardian, and Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco's report in The Gaudie.

The Brig Newspaper at the University of Stirling, The Gaudie at the University of Aberdeen, and The Glasgow Guardian at the University of Glasgow are shortlisted for Student Newsbrand of the Year.

Kirstie Clark's exemplary work in Sober at Robert Gordon University and Freya Deyell's contributions to Brig Newspaper at the University of Stirling are shortlisted in the Design category.

Innovation takes centre stage for Best Use of Multi-Media with Alex Paterson's BrigCast, Bethany Lee, Anna Flynn, Veronica Buccino, and Lauren Cameron's Head First Podcast, and Jamie Smith & Stuart Moyes's Globe Unpacked from Radio ENRG Podcasts leading the charge.

“It is an honour to sponsor The Herald Student Press Awards. In this age of radical complexity, misinformation and a 24-hour news cycle, journalism has never been so important. At Weber Shandwick we work with the media every day and look forward to partnering the great talent recognised today in the coming years,”  said Natalie Buxton, managing director, UK Network.

The evening will also announce the overall Student Journalist of the Year who will receive a four-week internship at The Herald, with other winners across the categories receiving a week’s work experience in their relevant fields.