22nd April 2026
One week to go… and we’re already receiving entries
Hi everyone,
The entry deadline for the 2026 Shine School Media Awards is Friday 1st May. If you haven’t submitted yet, this is the moment.
We know what happens at the beginning of term. Inboxes fill up, exam season is approaching and competition deadlines slip quietly past. So consider this a cheeky nudge: if your school produces a student newspaper, magazine or podcast, your entry is almost certainly ready. It just needs submitting.
As ever, our entries will be judged by a high-profile panel of industry professionals, including the Executive Editor of Metro newspaper Richard Hartley-Parkinson, who is presiding over the Editor of the Year prize. Last week we completed our Spring podcast series with Richard as guest interviewer. If you missed it, here’s the link.
Winning a Shine Award could be a genuine lifetime moment for a young person who may not yet know what they’re capable of.
The judging focuses on creativity, impact and the quality of the journalism, with student voices, student perspectives and student work at its heart. Discovering tomorrow’s talent is what we’re here for.
Entry is open to all UK schools. Winners receive money-can’t-buy experiences including mentoring from industry professionals, newsroom visits and work experience opportunities.
We’re already receiving lots of entries – be sure to submit yours in time.
Best wishes
Richard Chapman
Chair of Shine