Alex Charlton, a future graduate of St Mary’s University, has been recognised at the prestigious NCTJ Awards for Excellence, winning Podcast of the Year in the student category.
The Podcast Journalism Award celebrates the best student-produced podcast, which looks at work that gets to the heart of an issue and is both engaging and well produced.
This year’s awards were highly competitive, attracting more than 550 entries. The shortlist highlighted emerging talent from across the UK, showcasing individuals with promising journalism careers ahead of them, as well as excellence in media training.
The awards are organised annually by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), which aims to recognise and reward the achievements of the next generation of journalists.
Alex, who completed his MA in Sports Journalism in 2025 and will graduate this summer, received the accolade for his podcast examining the current state of sport in primary schools. Drawing on his previous experience as a teacher, the episode explores key issues around childhood health and access to sport.
Alex said: “To have won a national journalism award is a true honour, and I'm delighted that such an important story resonated with the judges. It was my ultimate goal to win an award when I studied at St Mary's, and I can't thank the teaching staff enough for helping me develop my skills to the point that I could create such a unique podcast."
Dr Daragh Minogue, Associate Professor in Sports Journalism at St Mary’s University, said: “Alex’s podcast on the current state of sport in primary schools is a timely investigation that showcases a range of journalism and his previous experience as a teacher. Anyone interested in childhood health and wellbeing should listen.”
Following his success, Alex is continuing to build his career in the industry. He is currently freelancing for DAZN and has been offered work with Sportsbeat to contribute to coverage of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
His award-winning podcast is available to listen to online.