Sportswriter of the Year is chosen by a vote of national and regional sports editors. 

This category does not require a submission, however to be eligible for this award journalists must be shortlisted in one of the other writing categories. All other writing awards require entered submissions which are then put before our panels of judges.

This award is for the newspaper that best covered sport in 2024. An independent judging panel will be looking for entries which show style, good writing, exclusives and consistency throughout the year. Entries must consist of three full editions accompanied by an up to 500-word citation.

Note: In this category hard copy entries are accepted as well as digital entries. 
 

If you wish to submit hard copy entries please send 7 copies of each edition and citation to: SJA Awards c/o S2F Events, Unit 94, Capital Business Centre, 22 Carlton Road, South Croydon, CR2 0BS

This award is for the organisation that best covered sport in 2024. Judges will be looking for how organisations serve their audience, using original journalism, style and innovation.

This category is open to organisations across all platforms, this can be a single publication/outlet or a portfolio. The sports coverage your organisation presents in whichever format will be judged on an individual basis. It is about how you serve your audience and showcase sport in different ways.

Entries should focus on how you believe your organisation has shaped the sporting agenda, this can be in the form of breaking news, big-hitting interviews, exclusive content or captivating storytelling.

Entries should consist of an up to 500-word citation focusing on how your organisation demonstrates journalistic excellence with links to content that illustrates this.

A panel of judges will select a shortlist, organisations will then be invited to a Q & A either in person or online.

This award is for significant breaking news. The sort of news which requires organisations to rip up their diaries and focus all resources into covering that topic; for example a shock sacking, an unexpected death or crowd issues at a major sporting event. 

Entries should consist of an up to 500-word citation focusing on how your organisation demonstrated quick action and journalistic excellence. 

Entries in this category can be from written media, broadcast media, or a combination of both. Entries can consist of up to three published reports and/or features and a showreel of clips lasting no more than 10 minutes in total.

Strong opinions and commentary on sport. Three separate published articles per entry. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

This award is to recognise organisations who have produced sports content for clients across any format; broadcast, photography, digital, video, written, audio and social.

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This award recognises the original news gathering and journalist excellence of agencies who provide first class content to support outlets. 

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Entries should consist of an up to 500-word citation detailing the type of your organisation’s output, the reach of your content, how you have you shown innovation in the last 12 months and how you believe you have delivered journalistic excellence across 2024. Entries must include examples via links and supporting documents.  

Open to journalists specialising in cricket. Entries must consist of three published reports and/or features. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents. 

Note: Entrants in this category cannot also enter the Specialist Correspondent category.

This award recognises the best portfolio of work utilising sports data.

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With audiences more informed than ever, sports data and the creative storytelling around it has brought to the forefront new ways of connecting with audiences.

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Judges will be looking for data journalism that gives the audience fresh insight and displays complex information in ways that are interesting are easy to visualise. 

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Entries in this category can be from written media, broadcast media, or a combination of both. Entries can consist of up to three published reports and/or features and a show showreel of clips lasting no more than 10 minutes in total.

This award recognises all aspects of an organisation’s digital performance including website, app (if applicable) and use of social media. Each entry must include a summary (in no more than 500 words) of the organisation’s coverage and 
digital developments in 2024. Entries must include six URLs that demonstrate journalistic excellence and entrants can upload supporting documents. Entries will be judged on original journalism, design, ease of use, use of technology and innovation. 

This award is for high standards of writing, strength of thought and freshness of ideas. 

Each entry must include three separate published articles and should include at least one, but no more than two, interviews. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Open to journalists specialising in football. Entries must consist of three published reports and/or features. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents. 

Note: Entrants in this category cannot also enter Football News Reporter.

Open to journalists specialising in football. Entries must consist of three published articles which demonstrate the author’s ability to break football news stories and report/comment at speed on breaking football news issues. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Note: Entrants in this category cannot also enter Football Journalist.

The headline that encapsulates a story in an entertaining and engaging way. This category is FREE to enter.

The best portfolio of breaking sports news stories by an individual. This category is for sports news stories which have made the greatest impact. Each entry must include three separate articles. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

The journalist who encapsulates issues in a way that ordinary / lay fans of sport understand, appreciate and identify with.
Each entry must include three separate articles. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

High-quality reporting, feature writing or investigative journalism, from regional or local media. Three published articles per entry. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Open to journalists specialising in rugby, union or league. Entries must consist of three published reports and/or features. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

The single sports news story judged to have made the greatest impact. This category is FREE to enter. Entrants should enter the scoop along with any relevant details they wish to share about how they got it. Scoops can come from written or broadcast media.  

This category will be judged by a specialist panel who will deliberate on all entered entries as well as being able to include non-entered scoops if necessary.

This award is for publishers whose journalism focuses on a specific sport, subject or theme. This award recognises all aspects of an organisation’s digital performance including website and use of social media. Each entry must include a summary (in no more than 500 words) of the organisations coverage and digital developments in 2024. Entries must include six URLs that demonstrate journalistic excellence and entrants can upload supporting documents. Entries will be judged on original journalism, design, ease of use, use of technology and innovation.

This award recognises the best portfolio of work focusing on social and environmental issues. Judges will be looking for journalism that shines a light on inequality, diversity & inclusion, and environmental challenges.

Entries in this category can be from written media, broadcast media, or a combination of both. Entries can consist of up to three published reports and/or features and a show showreel of clips lasting no more than 10 minutes in total.

This award is to recognise the journalist who has an ability to disseminate breaking news - often complex - in a way that allows the audience to understand and engage immediately. 

Entries in this category can be from written media, broadcast media, or a combination of both. Entries can consist of up to three published reports and/or features and a show showreel of clips lasting no more than 10 minutes in total.

Note: Entrants in this category cannot also enter News Reporter or Broadcast Journalist.

Open  to  journalists  specialising  in  a  specific  sport  or  subject  such  as  sports betting or sports business but excluding specialists in cricket, football and rugby. Entries must consist of three published reports and/or features. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents.

Open to journalists specialising in women’s sport. Entries in this category can be from written media, broadcast media, or a combination of both. Entries can consist of up to three published reports and/or features and a show showreel of clips lasting no more than 10 minutes in total.

The Ian Wooldridge Trophy is open to writers aged 30 or under on 31 December 2024, or to those with less than two years industry experience. Previous gold winners are not eligible to enter. Entries must show versatility and a high standard of writing. Entries must consist of three published reports. This category is open to journalists whose work is published online or in magazines, as well as newspaper correspondents. 

Note: The cost of entering this category is at the reduced rate of £20 regardless of SJA membership.

Note: The winners of the Ones to Watch categories will be announced prior to the awards ceremony via the SJA website. The winners will receive a complimentary ticket to attend the event on Monday 24 March 2025.