By Dominic Ponsford
A journalism award has been launched to commemorate former Press
Gazette sub-editor Alan Skehan, who died suddenly a year ago aged 27.
The prize will be given to the best student on a new subbing course
run by Skehan’s father-in-law Richard Parsons, editorial director at
Sportsbeat News Agency.
Third-year students at St Mary’s
University College, Twickenham, are being offered the chance to spend
two months working at Sportsbeat’s Wimbledon offices as part of their
media arts degree.
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The course was devised by Parsons following consultation with Dr Daragh Minogue, director of media arts at St Mary’s.
Seven
students are working on the course, which runs until May. Their
assignments will include match reporting, interviewing and writing a
sports feature.
Parsons said: “The most rewarding element of all this is everyone’s enthusiasm.
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The course will enable us to deliver career advice and introduce the students to initial contacts in the industry.”
Minogue
said: “This is exactly the type of course media students should
consider taking these days as it includes practical work experience
taught by professional journalists in a busy newsroom.”
Sportsbeat will present an achievement award, known as the Alan Skehan Award, to the most impressive student.
Skehan worked as a casual for Sportsbeat and was a St Mary’s graduate.
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