The Shine School Media Awards is a national, free-to-enter competition rewarding UK secondary schools who produce an outstanding newspaper, magazine, podcast or multimedia project such as a podcast or digital publication.

The culmination of the competition is a spectacular gala awards ceremony held in the City of London each summer.

Shine is proving to be a hugely beneficial project for the future potential of all students involved, boosting CVs and university application forms. Shine has significant benefits for teachers too, meeting the requirements of the school curriculum.

The Shine Awards is an endeavour of The Stationers’ Foundation, the charitable arm of The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, one of the UK’s ancient livery companies. With its 600-year heritage, Stationers’ Hall is today the home and hub of the Content and Communications Industries and there is no finer place to celebrate the achievements of our creative students across our schools.

If students at your school already create a media project…a magazine, newspaper, podcast or website, chances are it is already eligible.

If students at your school don’t work on such a project…why not consider starting? There is tons of guidance available no matter what stage of the process you are at. Shine accepts projects large and small from across the UK and the competition is free to enter.

The Categories

Your project can be entered across many categories, but the minimum criteria for entry is just one.

Best Magazine Cover

Best Newspaper Front Page

Best Illustration and Artwork

Best Design

Best Cartoon

Best Photograph

Best Audio

Writer of the Year

Scoop of the Year

Editor of the Year

Best Overall Content

Best Multimedia

Best Business and Marketing Strategy

Best Sustainability Initiative

Best Piece on a Designated Topic

Most Inspirational Teacher

The Terry Mansfield CBE Award for Tomorrow’s Talent

Best Newspaper

Best Magazine

Best Online

Rising Stars

The Harrison Cup

In addition to these categories, the judging panel will nominate an overall winner to receive the Harrison Cup to hold for one year. The Harrison Cup is awarded to a school that the judges consider ‘that special something’, bringing a fantastic level of inspiration, innovation or professionalism to Shine.

You can find out more about the criteria for each category here.

Feedback from Schools

If you want further reassurance that it’s worth putting the time behind an entry, just read some of the incredible feedback from schools who have taken part. 

“Being part of Shine was a wonderful experience for our students. It gave them a tremendous sense of recognition; the support from the organisation was excellent; and the final event in London surpassed anything I have ever attended of this type. I can certainly recommend the process to anybody interested in promoting media work in their school or college.”

Chris Green, The Perse School

“I just wanted to pass on our thanks to you and the entire Shine team for a wonderful day yesterday. It is the second year we have entered the competition. Both days leave an incredibly strong mark on the memory and motivate us going forward. Meeting students and teachers from other schools who create podcasts, digital media, newspapers and magazines is incredibly inspiring. It makes us feel like we are part of something bigger.

“It is a privilege to meet experts and benefit from their advice. It’s a world we don’t normally have access to. The work experiences students have been offered are incredible and will make a real difference in their lives.

Emma Gallagher, King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls

And much much more at https://www.shine-schoolawards.org/about/feedback-from-schools/

Feeling heard

Sometimes the best way of finding common ground with others is by telling them how we feel. A school magazine, podcast or newspaper can be a forum in the Roman sense: a print or digital ‘town square’ where students are truly heard. It’s a unique opportunity to bring their stories to life.

A recent winning entry by student writer Hilary Hanslin whose piece, “Don’t touch my hair” caused a sensation with the Shine School Media Award judges, winning best writer for a non-fiction piece.=

Here’s a short excerpt of Hilary’s article which was particularly powerful; this is what Shine is all about.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/dSj36hdA

Important dates

Shine 2024 registration is now underway and the entry form will be available in January 2024. The closing deadline is May 2024 and The Shine School Media Awards 2024 will be held on Monday 1st July 2024.

Watch this Spotlight on Shine to give you a feel for what it’s all about.

What are you waiting for?  Enter and sign your team up today

https://www.shine-schoolawards.org/entering/

@Shine School Media Awards