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By Beth Gormley, UCD College of Business, PR and Communications Manager

Pictured l-r: Donal O'Donovan, Business Editor Irish Independent and President of the Business Journalists Association of Ireland, Professor Gerardine Doyle, Associate Dean of UCD College of Business and Director of UCD Smurfit School, Breege O’Donoghue, Judging Panel Chairperson, Primark Brand Ambassador and Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD College of Business.

For 15 years, the Business Journalist Awards have offered a unique opportunity to shine a light on the important role business journalists play in helping society understand complex issues that have an impact on our daily lives.

This year also sees a new ‘Women in Business Journalism Award’ which celebrates consistent excellence from a female business journalist for work that fosters a greater understanding of business and economics, shows outstanding writing, reporting, analysis or commentary. The award celebrates female role models in journalism.

Business journalists from across online, print and broadcast are invited to submit entries, or nominate a colleague, via www.smurfitschool.ie/bja by Thursday, September 8, 2022.

Entries to the awards, which are run in conjunction with the Business Journalists Association of Ireland, can be submitted by nominees themselves, editors or peers. The winning entry of each category will be honoured at an awards ceremony and receive a €1,000 prize.

There are seven categories open this year:

• Business News Story of the Year
• Audio Story of the Year
• Business Feature of the Year
• Business Analyst of the Year
• Business Interview of the Year
• NEW Women in Business Journalism Award
• Upcoming Journalist of the Year

In addition to these entry-based categories, the judging panel may also award an Outstanding Achievement Award.

Speaking at today’s launch, Oliver Wall, Chief of Staff and Head of Group Corporate Affairs, Bank of Ireland said: “We are proud to support the UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards, which recognise excellence among business journalists in their reporting and analysis. Great journalism provides insight, context and objective analysis on the important issues and developments which impact our lives. Quality business journalism is a critical component of a thriving business community, so it is important that we acknowledge those who excel in their profession.”

Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD College of Business said: “UCD Smurfit School aims to actively inspire and co-create a better future for students, staff, alumni and for business and society in Ireland and the world. The past few years have highlighted how interconnected our world is and how events in one location have ripple effects that impact us all. Business journalists play an integral role in helping us to understand how these events not only impact business, but on how society operates and chooses to move forward. The expertise needed to analyse and report with clarity and integrity has never been as important.”

“On the Business Journalism Award’s 15^th anniversary, we are proud to recognise and celebrate the outstanding standards of excellence in Irish journalism.”

Professor Gerardine Doyle, Director of UCD Smurfit School and  Associate Dean of UCD College of Business added: “Our 15^th anniversary presents an opportunity to look back on what has been achieved in the world of business journalism, and also a call to action on where we would like to go in the next 15 years. We are therefore proud to introduce the new ‘Women in Business Journalism’ category which is designed to promote diversity in the media so that all voices are represented in an equal and fair society, and to inspire the next generation of business journalists.”

MORE ABOUT THE AWARDS

Each entry is examined by an independent panel of judges, comprised of academic, journalistic and business leaders. The 2022 judging panel includes:

• Breege O’Donoghue (Chairperson), Primark Brand Ambassador; Chairperson of Real World Analytics, Non-Executive Director of Shaw & Sons Ltd.
• Professor Gerardine Doyle, Associate Dean of UCD College of Business and Director of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School;
• Conor Keane, Senior Consultant at Heneghan, former Business Editor, Irish Examiner;
• Professor Patrick Gibbons, Jefferson Smurfit Professor of Strategic Management, UCD College of Business;
• Alan Gleeson, Business Strategy Consultant for Colas Ireland, UCD Smurfit School MBA candidate;
• Vivienne Jupp, non-executive director of Premier Lotteries Ireland, former Global Managing Director in Accenture;
• Susan O'Keeffe, Executive Director of the Yeats Society Sligo and journalist;
• Noirin O’Sullivan, former Irish Garda Commissioner, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Europe at the International Association of Chiefs of Police;
• Professor Colm McLaughlin, Professor of Employment Relations, Vice Principal for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, UCD College of Business;
• Professor Federica Pazzaglia, Subject Area Head of Management, UCD College of Business;
• among others.

Winners from 2021 included:

Business News Story of the Year – Joe Brennan, The Irish Times for his submission, “NatWest may wind down Ulster Bank in Republic”.

Business Podcast of the Year – Gavin McLoughlin, Newstalk for his submission, “Taking Stock: The Reformation of Welfare: The New Faith of the Labour Market with Dr Ray Griffin”.

Business Feature of the Year – Tom Lyons, The Currency for his submission, “Davy in disgrace: Part 1 – the Belfast developer, the Davy bond dealer and the ex-Anglo banker”.

Specialist Business Reporter of the Year – Killian Woods, Business Post for his submissions, "State invested in ‘cuckoo fund’ that snapped up hundreds of Maynooth homes” and “Many first-time buyers will be frozen out of purchasing new apartments".

Business Interview of the Year – Killian Woods, Business Post for his interview with Property Developer Johnny Ronan, “The high-rise of the Ronan empire”.

Upcoming Journalist of the Year – Devin Sean Martin, The Currency for his submissions, “Piggybacks, monopolies and 5G: What a Virgin Media sale would mean for Ireland’s telecoms market”, “Rough seas: How hiked shipping prices are challenging Irish exporters” and “Lift-off: How Irish start-ups are rocketing into the space industry.”

In addition to the six categories listed above, in 2021 an Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Dearbhail McDonald.