NCTJ Commendation For Wrexham Glyndwr University Journalism Student

In-depth reporting on the rising sport of female boxing helped a journalism student to secure a media industry accolade. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rachel Wheatley received a commendation in the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) 2016 Awards for Excellence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards scheme is run by the news industry training and standards body to recognise high achievements by rising stars of journalism. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rachel is studying for an NCTJ Certificate of Higher Education in Journalism at Wrexham Glyndwr University while working as a reporter for Wrexham.com and Deeside.com. She can also be heard reading news bulletins on Chester’s Dee 106.3 radio station. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She received the commendation after being nominated alongside two others in the shortlist for the ceremony’s Sports News Journalist of the Year award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rachel said: I was the only female nominated in my particular group and the guys I was up against work on the sports desks at The Daily Mail and The Telegraph, so to come third in the Sports Journalist of the Year category is a huge honour for me. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“To also beat over 235 entrants, which is the highest number of entrees the NCTJ have ever received, was also a great achievement,” added Rachel, who lists motorsport, boxing and tennis as her favourite sports. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It feels amazing to be commended, as it makes all the hard work worth it. A lot of time and effort went into the three boxing articles I was nominated for, which brought about a new found respect and enthusiasm in me for the sport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Perhaps the fact I was a female sports journalist covering a story about a female boxer in what is a violent and predominantly male sport, made the judges sit up and take note. If it’s never been done before, then I can see why the judges singled me out.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rachel holds a BA (Hons) degree in French, Spanish and Drama from the University of the West of England, Bristol, and has worked in the media for more than 10 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as innovative human interest features in the North Wales Newspapers series of titles – including The Leader – her professional interests focus on social issues, with current projects including research into domestic violence, which has gained support and contribution from MPs in the region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She hopes to present her findings to the Welsh Government next year, in a bid to shine a light on the issue and, hopefully, affect policy decisions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The NCTJ Awards for Excellence were presented by BBC News deputy political editor John Pienaar (pictured with Rachel) in a ceremony at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University’s Certificate of Higher Education in Journalism is available to study part time over one or two years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​