Two journalists who trained at City College Brighton and Hove have been shortlisted by judges for the Regional Press Awards.
Claire Smyth, who has reported for Brighton and Hove News, and Bill Gardner, who works for The Argus, both trained at City College.
Miss Smith, 29, who now works for the Western Gazette in Yeovil, Somerset, has been shortlisted in the Weekly Reporter of the Year category.
She said: “It was such a shock to be shortlisted but such an honour too.”
She studied for her National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) exams at City College after completing a degree in journalism at Kingston University.
She added: “This time two years ago I was studying for the NCTJ qualifications at City College and without these I would never have landed my dream job at the Western Gazette or gone on to achieve senior reporter status.
“While in Brighton I was always writing news stories and I also created the Brighton Lite website which, I’m really pleased to see, continues to be used by students at the college today.”
Mr Gardner, 26, has been shortlisted in the Young Journalist of the Year category.
He said: “I’m overjoyed to have made the Regional Press Awards shortlist but much of the credit has to go to my colleagues at The Argus for their advice and support.
“I also would never have made it on to the list without help from City College.
“Their NCTJ course taught me the basics of journalism and set me up perfectly for a career in the industry. And apart from learning the dreaded shorthand, it was a lot of fun too.”
Course leader Jan Goodey said: “Bill was a born news reporter and realised the importance of factual accuracy and flair from the off.”
Mr Goodey added: “Claire showed amazing verve, set up our Brighton Lite student website, was assiduous and extremely hard working and still is by the look of it.”
The awards have been organised by the Society of Editors. The winners will be announced at the Savoy Hotel in London on Friday 17 May.
