Our judging process
After the closing date for entries, the Shine committee and our judges review every single entry sent in.
A first-stage judging panel then narrow the entries down, nominating up to eight entries in each category.
Then, two weeks later, a much wider second-stage judging panel of professionals from across the UK’s media spectrum decides the winners and runners-up in each category.
We have clear judging criteria and every entry is judged fairly, irrespective of its budget. The entry form of every project sits alongside the finished project and is considered as the entrants’ ‘voice in the room’.
The shortlisted publications are then announced on the Shine website and all nominated schools are invited to the reception and awards ceremony at Stationers’ Hall.
At this fantastic awards ceremony, inspirational speakers address our nominees and busy workshops with many of our judges are held. At the culmination of the awards day, the year’s winners and runners-up are announced and the prizes given out.
The Shine School Media Awards are judged by a high profile group of industry professionals
Our 2025 judging panel comprised;
- Stephanie Alexander-Jinks – Co-founder, The Artworks Illustration Agency
- Inderdeep Bains – Deputy Chief Reporter, Daily Mail
- Bill Bowkett – The London Standard
- Martin Bright – Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Essex University
- Tom Calverley – Assistant Business Editor, The Guardian
- Luke Chapman – Marketer and writer specialising in culture and arts
- Richard Chapman – Shine chair and creative director, Richard Chapman Studio
- Eliza Clark – Shine alumni
- Paul Clements – Deputy Comment Editor, The Independent
- Charles Garside – Former Deputy Editor of the Sunday Express, former Assistant Editor of the Times, the Daily Mirror and the London Standard and a former Managing Editor of the Daily Mail.
- Andy Gregory – Night Editor, Daily Mail
- Liam Halligan – Columnist, The Telegraph
- Michael Harrison – Past Master, The Worshipful Company of Marketors
- Ash Hussain – Visuals Editor, The Telegraph
- Linsey Irvine – Former Design Director, The Observer
- Ed Latham – freelance journalist
- Deborah Maclaren – Managing Director, LoveReading
- Stephen Marchant – Learning Officer & Comic Art Curator, The Cartoon Museum
- Dr Sharon Maxwell Magnus – Head of Media Group, University of Hertfordshire
- Bettine Pellant, CEO, Picon
- Liz Ross-Martyn – Director of Marketing & Engagement, The Printing Charity
- Trish McCaffrey – Hello!
- Morgan Shipley – Havas
- Laura Silverman – Deputy Editor, Country Living
- Alison Strachan – Managing Director, Shepherds Bookbinders
- George Thornicroft – Shine alumni
- Katherine Whitbourn – Readers’ Editor, The Observer
- Doug Wills – Emeritus Editor, The London Standard
- Sarah Whitehead – Director of Newsgathering and Operations, Sky News
So you’re off and running with your project…
How do you ensure it’s most likely to win one of the many prizes on offer?
Why not take some advice from our judges, who recommend you showcase;
- Editorial content that reflects effort, enthusiasm and creative skills
- Articles that show literacy and accuracy as well as flair, particularly about hot-button topics that really matter to your peers
- Covers and front pages which really stand out
- Design which combines imagination with readability, helped by clever use of pictures, type and graphics, particularly if they are inspired by leading-edge publications
- Best use of all resources and departments within the school including Business, IT and Art departments
- Evidence of commercial strategy in making the publication viable. For instance: Was there a business plan? Did pupils negotiate sponsorship or advertising deals? How was the selling price calculated?
- Impressive original photography or artwork, created by a pupil, which enhances an article or the general appeal of the publication
- An online or easily-circulated PDF version of a print project
- Inspirational teachers who have nurtured a desire in pupils to produce a finished publication and who have helped them experience the exhilaration and satisfaction of working as a team to achieve their objectives
- Outstanding pupils who contribute something special to the project. It will be someone who has shown innovation, enterprise, good communication skills and is an inspirational team leader