Now in their 34th year, the awards recognise the highest standard of student journalism from universities across the UK and highlight the very best of breakthrough talent across print, online, broadcast and digital media.
Alan Rusbridger, chair of the awards and Guardian News and Media's editor-in-chief, said: "It has never been a more exciting time to embark on a career in journalism. Technology is evolving at the speed of light and presenting new opportunities and challenges to the ways we work nearly every day.
"The Guardian has been rewarding talented student journalists for over 30 years. This year's winners are testament to the evolving face of journalism and the ways it is being reimagined and redefined."
Mike Williams, editor of NME which partnered the Guardian on the Digital Journalist of the Year award, praised the ten winners and said: "The winning students each possessed the most important traits necessary to be successful in modern media: a unique voice, a fresh perspective and a clear passion not only for their subjects, but also for their craft. The standard of work across the awards this year has been incredibly high, making the jobs of the judges very difficult, and it's great to know that a new generation of talented media enthusiasts is ready to enter the industry and shake things up."
The full list of winners of the Guardian Student Media Awards 2012:
Student Publication of the Year:
The Courier, Newcastle University
Student Website of the Year:
www.sheffieldunchained.co.uk, University of Sheffield
Student Reporter of the Year:
Elizabeth Porter, University of Oxford
Student Feature Writer of the Year:
Tom Banham, University of Sheffield
Student Columnist of the Year:
Alexander Chafey, University of Sheffield
Student Critic of the Year – sponsored by NME:
Dominic Kelly, University of Cambridge
Student Photographer of the Year:
Diana Jimenez Quintana, University of West London
Student Digital Journalist of the Year:
Elena Cresci, Cardiff University
Student Broadcast Journalist of the Year:
Joe Lord-Jones University of Sussex and Spike Morris, University of Leeds (joint winners).
The winners were picked by a panel of industry leaders including Alan Rusbridger, ITV News at Ten presenter Mark Austin and editor of NME Mike Williams, and join an impressive list of past alumni. Previous recipients of the awards include Archie Bland, deputy editor, The Independent; Polly Curtis, deputy national editor, the Guardian; Andrew Rawnsley, chief political commentator, The Observer; Rankin, photographer; and Andrew Gowers, former editor of the Financial Times.
