Highs, lows and words of wisdom

Name: Jenna Sloan, Diversity Award winner 2004

Former university and paper: The University of Sheffield, Steel Press

Current job: Just finished a year as an English language assistant in the University of Bordeaux. I've been doing a bit of freelance stuff in my spare time, including some toursim pieces for Spirit Bordeaux (a cultural newspaper). Going to seek my fortune in Montreal come September 2005.

Best memories about writing for a student paper: Working with lots of very funny people, annoying the University, brilliant nights out....

And the worst: All nighters in the cramped, smelly office, the whole computer network always crashing 10 minutes before the print deadline, the occasional Union interference.

Words of wisdom for student journalists: Take advantage of your student paper! It's the only time you get to print exactly what you like, have free reign over the design and have lots of fun doing it. Make loads of contacts, keep your cuttings and try to get as much as you can printed in the local press, websites, magazines - wherever.

Name: Guy Adams, Best Student Reporter 1999

Former university and paper: The University of Sheffield, Steel Press

Current job and position: Diary editor, The Independent

Best memory: buying a fake Sheffield Uni degree over the internet. This won a "scoop" of the year award, I think, and following a short trial (at which I gave evidence) landed a fraudster with a 12 month suspended sentence and large fine.

Worst memory: the front page headline "sex tragedy of hung Ranmoor student" to denote a story about an undergraduate who'd been strangled when some sort of sex game went wrong. Not only was this headline terrible English (should have read "hanged") it was also, obviously, in extremely poor taste. An object lesson in how not to handle a sensitive story and I still cringe when I think of it.

Words of wisdom: be brave, because you'll never get away with cock-ups quite so easily again.

Name: Tom Smithard, Best Student Small Budget Publication, 2001

Former University and paper: York Vision, University of York

Current job and position: Deputy chief reporter, Eastern Daily Press

Best memories about writing for a student paper: Almost giving half of the petty, pompous SU officers break-downs by continually exposing their incompetence in print, tonnes of free CDs and gig tickets, taking the brickbats throughout the year then shutting all their faces by walking off with the top awards, building up a great team (all of whom worshipped the ground I walked on. Perhaps.)

And the worst: 36 hours without leaving the newsroom (apart from continual trips to the greasy canteen), constant fights with advertisers about paying us the damn money we were owed, temperamental computers that loved to lose carefully-crafted Quark pages just as I were about to send them off.

Words of wisdom for student journalists: Start as soon as you can, always make yourself useful within the office, always make yourself difficult outside of it. Most important of all though, strive to be as professional as you can. Don't think of your student newspaper as a bit of a laugh - always try to produce a product people would pay to read - if you're not proud of it, no one else will be.

Name: Andrew Dickson, Best Student Sports Journalist 2001

Current job and position: Sports Reporter, Press and Journal, Aberdeen

Best memories about writing for a student paper: Having a platform to write about whatever you want, getting to cover Premiership football matches, the people I met and the buzz I got from landing a big story. That is something most people feel for the first time at a student paper and it never goes away.

And the worst: As a section editor, chasing up people who failed on a weekly basis to meet deadlines because their jobs were voluntary and they were not commited enough. That and standing at the side of a football park on a wet Wednesday afternoon with a soaking notepad and a pen that won't write.

Words of wisdom for student journalists: Student publications are the easiest places to get work experience so exploit that fact and put as much effort into writing at that level as possible because it will set the tone for the rest of your career. If you manage to get work experience on a newspaper or magazine (setting it up with a phone call is best - a lot of people don't read emails or letters) show as much enthusiasm as possible, even if the people around you don't. There is nothing worse than someone who looks like they don't want to be doing a placement. Always take a pencil with you to outdoor events - it will write on wet paper.

Name: Amity Stevenson, Best Further Education Publication winner 2004

Current University and paper: Editor, Student Eye, Liverpool Community College

Best memories about writing for a student paper: Having a press invite to special events!

And the worst: Worrying about deadlines and getting enough articles to fill the magazine.

Words of wisdom for student journalists: Dont be put off by people restricting what you write about, do it anyway and bring some light on what may be hidden away!

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