The Bylines Network Will Hutton Student Journalism Prize
Bylines Network prize for student journalism, in association with Will Hutton. Entries open now, winner to be announced in August 2025. The post The Bylines Network Will Hutton Student Journalism Prize appeared first on Bylines Network.
Black News 
The Bylines Network student prize recognises outstanding journalism produced by students and published in Bylines titles. We are delighted to offer this award in collaboration with renowned journalist and author Will Hutton.
Our network of 10 online newspapers covers nearly every region and devolved nation in the UK. Our journalism is driven by a passion for championing unheard voices and for enabling citizens to tell the stories that matter to them. By speaking truth to power and supporting people from all walks of life to write quality articles, we aim to connect communities and invigorate democracy.
As well as championing citizen voices, we aim to play a role in developing new writing talent and increasing diversity in media and journalism. Our work with students is central to this mission.
Our students – the next generation of diverse journalistic talent
Every year, around 30 students are placed with our publications by universities. Representing institutions in Brighton, Essex, Leeds Trinity, Liverpool, Salford, Sunderland, Sheffield, West England and Scotland, our student writers are a mix of undergraduates and postgraduates. Most are studying journalism. They research and write at least three articles during their placements, among them some fantastic examples of the progressive, fact-based, high-quality work that Bylines Network is renowned for and which has helped us reach nearly 500,000 readers a month.
Many of our students go on to make careers in print, radio and television. You can find them working for regional newspapers, national broadsheets, international news broadcasters, and as politicians, policy makers, academics and researchers. We’re told that having Bylines on their CV helps many secure that all-important first job. We’re also told that the connection we offer to the grassroots of UK society helps students decide what kind of journalists they want to be.
Perhaps that is why our students increasingly choose to write about the kind of progressive, social and political topics that matter to the lives of UK citizens.
The Bylines Networks Will Hutton Prize – an award for excellence
In recognition of the excellent work done by many of our students, we have created the Bylines Network Will Hutton Student Journalism Prize – an annual award given to an outstanding piece of writing from a student.
Will’s long distinguished career in journalism, broadcast media, economics and the social sciences exemplifies the quality of research, analysis and writing many of our students aspire to. This new prize will give one student each year a badge of pride and recognition to carry with them on the next steps of their writing journey.
How it works
Entering your writing for the prize is simple. All you need to do is complete the form below. Here is what you need to know:
- The competition is open to any student who has written for a Bylines Network title in 2024 or 2025, even if you haven’t been officially placed with us by your university during these years, but you were a student and wrote for us during this time, then you are eligible.
- Students can submit up to three articles for consideration, as long as they have been published in a Bylines Network title, then they are eligible for submission. Tutors can submit their students’ work too.
- To submit, simply complete the form below with details and links to the published articles – the links are vital, we will only consider articles already published on one of our Bylines websites.
- Make sure to submit before the deadline – midnight on 30 June 2025.
- A panel of editors from our publications will shortlist five articles from all submissions and send these to Will, who will choose the ultimate winner.
- We will announce the ultimate winner by the end of August 2025.
The post The Bylines Network Will Hutton Student Journalism Prize appeared first on Bylines Network.
