Awarded Best Student Media Feature for 2023!
It's always wonderful attending Lancaster University Students' Union student media awards evening. This year, it was combined with the society awards for the first time in over a decade.
I was shortlisted from the initial nominations for two individual awards and then five as part of SCAN Newspaper and Pole Fitness Society.
Absolutely thrilled to announce I won Best Student Media Feature for my underwater coverage of the Roses varsity match between underwater hockey teams Lancaster and York. We also took away Best Collaboration for our work alongside Bailrigg FM and LA1 TV at the varsity event, Roses, and the Equality and Diversity Award for Pole Fitness's unending support of all its community.
Roses Standout Performance
Pole Fitness – with special mention to Beth Train-Brown
For the first time in many years, LUPF won against York in pole fitness, while away from home and with a competitor group comprised mostly of beginners! No small feat, and with such incredible performances. Special mention goes to Beth Train-Brown for her performance, which won the Judge’s Choice Award. Beth (she/they) has competed at all of Pole Fitness’s events this year – and performed at several showcases, including the Winter Showcase. However, at Roses 2023, she competed solo for the first time in the Intermediate category. This was Beth's first solo win and judges’ commentary included avid praise for their unflinching portrayal of pride and identity.
Best Student Media Feature
Beth Train-Brown, 'Red Wash for Underwater Hockey: The Coolest Sport You’ve Never Heard Of'
Not only was this the first coverage of Underwater Hockey to truly engage with the sport in both description, terminology, and accurate point scoring BUT it was also the first to be reported live underwater. While organising the logistics of various reporting gigs over the Roses weekend, Beth decided there was no point reporting on the sidelines of the UWH match. Instead, she borrowed a snorkel from Lancaster and a mask from York then dived in next to the players and followed the match from underwater, popping up between rounds to pass notes onto her co-reporter, Lucy Whalen. Both Beth and Lucy took turns diving underwater to provide the university's first match report collected underwater during a live match. Then, Beth wrote up the report, researching history and play specifics of the sport, with UWH President Peter Lamont correcting them as she went. The final feature Beth produced is a Roses first for underwater hockey match reporting and for any sport feature in the publication.
SCAN Freshers Issue
This print issue debuted at Freshers fair and was a hugely successful edition, with every single copy being taken within a matter of weeks! 100% of the content was aimed at freshers, helping them acclimatise to university life, and Lancaster. It featured games, exclusive discounts, and as much advice as they could squeeze in. The team wanted to ensure no fresher felt excluded or confused about university culture.
Best Collaboration
Bailrigg FM, LA1TV and SCAN at Roses
A small and mighty group, the combined student media team at Roses worked diligently to ensure that students at Lancaster had constant coverage of the events taking place. The team communicated and planned the event coverage months in advance and supported one another to create quality content – SCAN provided live updates of the events as they took place, whilst Bailrigg FM and LA1TV broadcast many of the events live.
Media Group of the Year
SCAN
SCAN have worked so incredibly hard this year, from before term even started, planning their most successful issue yet – the freshers issue. Between extremely well received print issues, their online content has been consistent and high quality, with heaps of inclusive and original content, focussing on what will be the most important, and relevant to students - from original interviews with woodcarvers to live Roses coverage. Their image has been revamped with new and striking social media content, as well as promotional material such as banners, fliers, mugs, and even personalised role hoodies. SCAN also won a national award at the student publication awards this year for Highly Commended best sport section, their first SPA award to date. Always keen to break a big story, and never shying away from any blockades in our way, SCAN work hard all year to produce content across 8 sections, so there is something for everyone.
Society of the Year
Pole Fitness Society
Pole fitness has continuously fostered a welcoming environment for old and new members, making sure everyone feels included and comfortable in a sport that takes many out of their comfort zone. It's an environment in which everyone supported each other through thick and thin, culminating in Roses which pole made red this year for the first time in 6 years. For a society that was on the brink of collapse just two years ago when they couldn’t recruit enough exec, Pole Fitness society has never been better. They had nearly 80 paid members this year, ran six classes a week (including beginner, beginner+, improver, intermediate, and dance classes), had enough money to purchase a new stage pole, and smashed their two biggest competitions. LUPF always strives to make everyone comfortable, and to welcome anyone from any level of fitness to a place where they can better themselves and have fun with people that will inevitably form lifelong friendships.
Equality and Diversity Award
Pole Fitness Society
One of the most inclusive societies on campus, members are among so many fellow queer, women+, non-binary, POC, and disabled students who all have a shared passion for this sport. Exec and instructors of the society go above and beyond to ensure that all body types, all abilities and backgrounds are able to get involved. All public events such as their Fresher’s Fest activities are made to be as inclusive as possible so that all students from all backgrounds and dress feel welcome! They recommend pole leggings, sports hijabs, and everything in between. Lastly, they're so wildly welcoming to all genders and sexualities that members feel comfortable to be their true selves.
