Wintec graduate takes out top student award at the Canons

For the second year running a Wintec student has been awarded the country’s top prize for student journalism at the Canon Media Awards in Auckland.

Waikato Times reporter Jenna Lynch, who graduated with a BMA and National Diploma in Journalism this year, won the Best Student Journalist of the Year award for a portfolio of work completed while enrolled at Wintec.

It is the third time a Wintec student has won the award. In 2012 Fairfax Scholar Jonathan Carson, also at the Waikato Times, took out the event, while Yvette Wakelin, then at the Bay of Plenty Times, was the recipient in 2004. Wakelin now works in Queensland.

Wintec editor-in-residence Steve Braunias, who mentored Lynch in 2012, says he’s thrilled that she won the award.

“Most student journalists just look like students, but Jenna already looked like a journalist when she was a student at Wintec.

“There was a quickness and a cleverness about her that made her stand out.

“It’s an honour to be nominated for student journalist of the year, and even better to win the prize. Jenna’s win this year, and Jonathan Carson’s win in 2012 suggests Wintec must be doing something right.

“But good teaching only goes so far. Jenna has a natural talent, as well as determination, wit, and a competitive streak. She’s going to have a stellar career.”

Another Wintec graduate, Ben Stanley of the Sunday Star Times, this year took out Newspaper Feature Writer Sport award, for the second year running.

Organisers said a record 1,389 entries were received across all categories, containing more than 7000 pieces of work.

Twenty eight judges across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and the US assessed the work and selected the finalists and winners.