Excellence in Irish business journalism was marked today at the 17th UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards.
Awards were made in a total of eight categories to business journalists from across the national media for their work.
“In a tumultuous time around the world, journalists play an ever-important role in highlighting business trends that have an impact in Ireland and beyond,” said Professor Federica Pazzaglia, Director of UCD Smurfit School and Associate Dean of UCD College of Business, which organise the awards along with the Business Journalists Association.
Business News Story of the Year was awarded to Charlie Weston from the Irish Independent, for his story, ‘Thousands whose mortgages were sold to vultures cannot call on ombudsman for help’.
Conall Ó Móráin from The Media Group won the Audio Story of the Year category for his podcast, ‘Never give up – Interview with Ashley McDonnell, Global Marketing Director of PUIG’.
The Business Feature of the Year category was won by Jon Ihle of The Sunday Times, while the Irish Times’ Eoin Burke-Kennedy scoped the Business Analyst of the Year accolade.
The Business Interview of the Year title was awarded to Thomas Hubert of The Currency, while Catherine Sanz of the Business Post won the Women in Business Journalism Award.
The Upcoming Journalist of the Year category was awarded to Emer Walsh of the Irish Examiner.
While Brian Carey of The Sunday Times Ireland was recognised with the Outstanding Achievement Award.
“The importance of journalism, including fact-checking and critical thinking, has never been clearer,” said Damien Garvey, Head of Group External Communications and Public Affairs, Bank of Ireland, which sponsors the awards.
“An independent and impartial media is of immense value to our economy and society, and these awards recognise business journalists who uphold the highest standards.”