Sports Journalists' Association
The Sports Journalists' Association is an association for British sports journalists. It represents the British sports media on the British Olympic Association's press advisory committee and acts as a consultant to organizers of major events who need guidance on media requirements as well as seeking to represent its members' interests in a range of activities. Its President is the veteran broadcaster and columnist Sir Michael Parkinson.[1]
History
The Association was founded in 1948,[2] as the Sports Writers' Association, following a merger with the Professional Sports Photographers' Association in 2002 the organization changed its title to the more inclusive SJA.
Awards
It stages two prestigious awards events, an annual Sports Awards ceremony which recognises outstanding performances by British sportsmen and women during the previous year, and the British Sports Journalism Awards, the industry's "Oscars", sponsored by UK Sport and presented each March.
In March 2008, Martin Samuel, then the chief football correspondent of The Times, was named British Sportswriter of the Year, the first time any journalist had managed to win the award three years in succession. At the same awards, Jeff Stelling, of Sky Sports, was named Sports Broadcaster of the Year for the third time, a prize determined by a ballot of SJA members. Stelling won the vote again the following year, when the Sunday Times's Paul Kimmage won the interviewer of the year prize for a fifth time.
References
- ↑ Amos, Owen (3 March 2009). "SJA sports writer of the year shortlist announced". Press Gazette (Progressive Media International). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ↑ Greenslade, Roy (18 November 2010). "Troops to join sports stars at Sports Journalists' Association awards". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 20 April 2013.