The Sports Journalists' Association (SJA) is an association for
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
sports journalists. It represents the British sports media on the
British Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association (BOA; ) is the National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom. It represents the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), but also incorporate represen ...
's press advisory committee and acts as a consultant to organizers of major events who need guidance on media requirements as well as seeking to represent its members' interests in a range of activities. Its president is Darren Lewis who succeeded the distinguished sports columnist Patrick Collins ''
The Mail on Sunday
''The Mail on Sunday'' is a British conservative newspaper, published in a tabloid format. Founded in 1982 by Lord Rothermere, it is the biggest-selling Sunday newspaper in the UK. Its sister paper, the ''Daily Mail'', was first published i ...
'', in 2023. Previously the position had been held by veteran broadcaster and columnist Sir
Michael Parkinson
Sir Michael Parkinson (28 March 1935 – 16 August 2023) was an English television presenter, broadcaster, journalist and author. He presented his television talk show '' Parkinson'' from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007, as well as other ta ...
and broadcasting executive John Bromley. SJA Membership is open to journalists, photographers, broadcasters, reporters, editors, and cartoonists.
However, in order to obtain a full membership you have to be a sports journalist based in the United Kingdom.
History
The association was founded in 1948, as the Sports Writers' Association. Following a merger with the Professional Sports Photographers' Association in 2002, the organisation subsequently changed its title to the more inclusive Sports Journalists' Association. Furthermore, the SJA worked alongside the
Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Being the driving force behind its development, the recognition that the Commonwealth Games brought to the Sports Journalists Association helped SJA to become known in the sport of rugby. Since then, the SJA has been very successful. In 2012, the Sports Journalists' Association was fortunate to be included within the 10,000 other colleagues involved at the Olympics in London.
Awards
The SJA stages two annual award events.
British Sports Awards
The British Sports Awards is the oldest ceremony of its kind. It was in 1949 that it first recognised the outstanding sporting performances of the year. James Dear (rackets), Reg Harris (cycling), Johnny Leach (table tennis), Freddie Mills (boxing), Tommy Price (speedway) were all honoured in the first year.
In 1959 the first award for sportswoman of the year was presented to Mary Rand (athletics) and in 1963 the Bill McGowran award was inaugurated to recognise athletes with a disability..
In subsequent years, the awards were expanded.
* SJA Sportswoman of the Year
* SJA Sportsman of the Year
* SJA Team of the Year
* The National Lottery Spirit of Sport Award
* SJA President's Award
* BT Sport JL Manning Award for services off the field of play
* SJA Committee Award
* SJA Bill McGowran Trophy for achievement in Paralympic sport
* SJA Peter Wilson Trophy for international newcomer
* SJA Chairman's Award
* SJA Pat Besford Award for outstanding performance of the year
British Sports Journalism Awards
.These are considered to be the industry's "Oscars" and typically take place each March.
In March 2008,
Martin Samuel
Martin Samuel (born 25 July 1964) is an English sports columnist for News UK and has previously worked for the ''Daily Mail, The Times, News of the World, GQ, The Tortoise, Jewish Chronicle, Daily Express, The Sun (United Kingdom), The Sun'' an ...
, then chief football correspondent of ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'', was named British Sportswriter of the Year, the first time any journalist had managed to win the award three years in succession. At the same awards,
Jeff Stelling
Robert Jeffrey Stelling (born 18 March 1955) is an English television presenter. He presented '' Gillette Soccer Saturday'' for Sky Sports from 1994 until 2023 and hosted coverage of the Champions League between 2011 and 2015.
He also present ...
, of
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is a group of British broadcasting of sports events, subscription sports channels operated by the satellite television, satellite pay television company Sky Group (a division of Comcast), and is the dominant subscription television ...
, was named Sports Broadcaster of the Year for the third time, a prize determined by a ballot of SJA members. Stelling won the vote again the following year, when the ''
Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
''s
Paul Kimmage won the interviewer of the year prize for a fifth time.
The awards for broadcasters have subsequently widened in scope and are now chosen by a panel of judges. They are regarded as highly prestigious within the industry.
The awards have included
*The John Bromley Sportswriter of the Year award
* The Ed Lacey Trophy for the Sports Photographer of the Year
* The Sports Newspaper of the Year
* The Doug Gardner Award
* Sports Newspaper of the Year
* Broadcast Sports Presenter
* Broadcast Journalist
* Television Sport Live Broadcast
* Radios Sport Live Broadcast
* Television Sport Documentary
* Radio Sport Documentary
* Best Special Package
* Laureus Sports Website
* Specialist Sports Website
* Sports Scoop
* Ladbrokes Specialist Correspondent
* Investigative Sports Reporter
* Sports Columnist
* Sports Feature Writer
* Sports News Reporter
* Cricket Writer
* Football Writer
* Rugby Writer
* Regional Writer
* Young Sports Writer
* David Welch Student Sports Writer
* Sports Picture
* Sports Portfolio
* Specialist Sports Portfolio
* Sports News Picture
Events
The Sports Journalists' Association holds events that cover various causes. Whether they are social or informative events, the SJA plays an important role in sports media. Members are welcomed to participate and enjoy activities involving horse racing, golf, and cricket.
For those not interested in social events like so, they're open to join in on a Masterclass. By attending one of these masterclasses, information will be shared by leading sports journalists that may possibly enhance the skills of a sports journalist.
Sports Media LGBT+
The SJA is connected to the Sports Media LGBT+ network, which aims to provide a space for LGBT+ people and allies working in sports journalism, TV production, public relations and all other sports media related roles, to connect in person and online, in order to share experiences, advice, content ideas, and other professional support and assistance.
References
External links
* {{Official website, http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/
British journalism awards
Journalism-related professional associations
Sports journalism organizations in Europe
Sports organizations established in 1948
United Kingdom journalism organisations