Media Awards Shine as entries double since first year

The project, set up by the Stationers’ Livery Company last year in association with PPA and The Newspaper Society, is designed to develop publishing skills and inspire media and graphic design careers amongst high school students in years seven to 13.

The call has gone out to head teachers and English, art & design and IT teachers to encourage their pupils to enter the competition before its closing date on 28 March, and already more than 200 entries have been received.

To enter, groups of students must create a school magazine, newspaper, newsletter, digital edition or website, which will be judged on content and enthusiasm.

Judgement categories include best overall design and layout, best original artwork or photography, best online, best newspaper and best magazine.

New for this year is a £150 prize for the class that produces the best video showcasing what it can do with paper, and five individual £50 prizes for similar entries in association with Two Sides’ "No Wonder You Love Paper" campaign.

All entrants will receive a free six-month five-user trial of QuarkXpress 9 to help with production of their newspaper or magazine and category winners will be awarded a full school-site licence worth £1,750 among other prizes.

A prestigious ceremony to award the winners will take place at The Stationers’ Hall in London on Monday 24 June following final judgement on 21 May.

Antalis McNaughton is a Gold Sponsor of the competition, and Robert Horne Group is a Silver supporter, while BBC Worldwide, Hearst Magazines and The Telegraph are media sponsors.

At last year’s awards, Daily Mail journalist Simon Heffer co-hosted the awards ceremony and deemed some of the entries as being worthy of professional status. Students were able to take part in a number of communications workshops including a hugely popular bookbinding seminar hosted by Shepherd’s Bookbinders.