Winners of The Orwell Society / NUJ Young Journalist’s 2022 Award announced
The winners of this year’s Orwell Society and NUJ Young Journalist’s Awards have been announced, with articles covering the ‘cult of personality’ of controversial tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and singer Sam Fender taking the top prizes.
The Orwell Society Young Journalist’s Award, which this year for the first time was organised in conjunction with the NUJ, of which George Orwell was a member, aims to recognise the writing of promising students of journalism or working journalists aged 30 or below.
Prizes totalling £4,000 were awarded across two categories, with each winner receiving £1,500 and £500 going to each runner-up. Additionally student winners will be given a year’s free membership of the NUJ, and three years’ membership of The Orwell Society.
A distinguished panel of judges including George Orwell’s son, Orwell Society Patron Richard Blair, agreed that two entries were of particular note, and in keeping with the guidelines for the awards that entrants should demonstrate how Orwell’s life and works have been an influence on them.
Applicants could enter one of two categories, submitting either a review, or a column.
The applicant deemed by the judges to have submitted the best column was University of Cambridge postgraduate Quincy Elise de Vries, for her examination of The Cult of Personality of Elon Musk.
Quincy de Vries
Another Cambridge student, Meg Byrom, won the review category for her entry, Sam Fender: the canary in the coal mine?
Meg Byrom
Runners-up in the Column category were Harry Goodwin of the University of Cambridge, and journalism student, Oliver Haynes of City University, London.
Commenting on the awards and the winning entries, Chair of the judging panel, Dr Jaron Murphy of Bournemouth University, said: “The inaugural award in partnership between The Orwell Society and NUJ, with such generous monetary and membership prizes, has encouraged the emergence of a new generation of journalists concerned about political and cultural developments, social injustice, and holding power to account in the UK and internationally.
“We congratulate the winners, runners-up and highly commended as they are launched into what we hope will be long, impactful and rewarding careers in journalism. I extend my thanks to the panel members — including George Orwell’s son, Richard Blair, who is Patron of The Orwell Society — for their insightful contributions and look forward to the next iteration of the award in 2023.”
Orwell Society Education Trustee, Ann Kronbergs, who oversaw the running of the awards, said: “The Orwell Society’s members and Trustees are proud to see how the OS/NUJ Young Journalist’s Award 2022 is both honouring and recognising talented student journalism so evidently inspired by George Orwell’s example.”
Frances Rafferty, NUJ senior editorial and communications officer, said: “The NUJ is pleased to be supporting this award in honour of our former member George Orwell. We are delighted that it is encouraging young journalists to take up the social issues and spirit of George Orwell’s journalism and his lucid and precise prose.”
Full Results:
Review Category:
Winner:
Megan Byrom – Sam Fender: the canary in the coal mine?
Student journalist, University of Cambridge
Highly Commended:
Eva Morris – La Poupee.
Student journalist, University of Cambridge
Samanta Gladkauskaite – Space and Time converge in Art in Red Velvet’s Operatic MV for ‘Feel My Rhythm’
Student journalist, Bournemouth University
Estelle Uba – How ‘Squid Game’ is a microcosm of capitalist society
Student journalist, University of Leeds
Column Category:
Winner:
Quincy Elise de Vries – The Cult of Personality of Elon Musk
Student journalist, University of Cambridge
Runners-up:
Harry Goodwin – New Caledonia: Metal and Mourning
Student journalist, University of Cambridge
Oliver Haynes – Social Housing: A Clarion Call
Student journalist, City University, London
Highly Commended:
Hannah Quinn – Our thought police: social media
Student journalist, Newcastle University
Ellesheva Rosa Kissin – How Charity Becomes Politics
Financial news journalist