Katie Catherall had the pleasure of attending her first award ceremony and shares her account of the experience with us.

On Thursday I had the utmost privilege of attending the NCTJ Awards for Excellence at the beautiful Hallé St Peters in Manchester.

When I received an email towards the end of 2021 to say I had been shortlisted for the Sports Journalism Award, I was honestly lost for words and I couldn’t believe I had been chosen alongside so many inspirational journalists.

Heading down to the venue, I felt excited yet apprehensive. I had no idea what to expect and I didn’t know who would be at the event.

The nerves quickly settled as I entered the building and was welcomed by so many kind faces.

The hall was gorgeous. Tables set up with an elegant aesthetic accompanied by colourful flowers, signifying a touching tribute to those who are suffering the horrors of war in Ukraine.

Given the opportunity to network, I was honoured to meet so many incredible people. Listening to their stories of what they have achieved in the field was an unforgettable experience and one that I will carry with me throughout my career.

Chatting with passionate lecturers, excited students and knowledgeable professors is something that I would encourage any young journalist to take advantage of.

We were seated in the centre of the hall and served a delicious meal before the ceremony began.

Cristina Nicolotti Squires, director of content at Sky News, delivered an inspiring speech on the work of journalism. She paid a tribute to the work of Sky News journalists who are out in Ukraine, sharing the necessary stories of the tragedy at hand.

Everyone who took to the stage to speak at the event had exclusive knowledge to share and once again proved how invaluable the job of a journalist is.

The awards were presented by Nick Powell from Sky Sports. He spoke of some interesting anecdotes before sharing the intriguing work of all the shortlisted nominees eagerly sat around the room.

Hearing the work that everyone had completed over the last 12 months, I was astonished at some of the stories and campaigns that people had ran. Work that had changed people’s lives and shone a light on the positive products of this field.

To have reached the shortlisted nominees for this award has truly amazed me. I am so fortunate to be in a career like this – a career which highlights and awards the dedication that so many apply to their passion of storytelling.

For me, someone who didn’t follow the usual university route, this was an unmissable experience. It opened my eyes to the variety of jobs available in this sector and allowed me to meet people who had wisdom to share.

The people I was fortunate enough to meet will be people that I take with me through my career, supporting one another and ultimately ensuring that the world of journalism is an amazing world to be a part of.

NCTJ did a fantastic job in the organising and carrying out of this event. For my first award ceremony, I had an unbelievable experience and I hope to be invited to even more events during my career.

When I first stepped into the newsroom in October 2020, I would never have imagined the journey that I would be taken on and I am so glad that I took that first step.

Journalism never feels like a job, it is something I love, and I cannot wait to see where my future takes me.

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