Spotlight Studios and The Mancunion: An Award-Winning Website and Collaboration in Digital Media

We’re delighted to be working with The Manchester Media Group and specifically The Mancunion Newspaper team who won a host of awards at The Student Publication Association’s National Awards among over 1,200 entries.

When it comes to recognizing the finest talent in student journalism, the Student Publication Association (SPA) National Awards stand as the ultimate platform. As the UK’s biggest journalism awards, the SPA honours the achievements and hard work of young journalists across the UK and Ireland. This year, one publication shone particularly bright, taking home multiple accolades, including the coveted Best Website Award – The Mancunion.

As part of the Manchester University Media Group, The Mancunion Newspaper has become a vital source of information and insight for students, covering a range of topics from science to sports, politics, arts, and culture. At the helm of web development, we’ve helped The Mancunion’s website to  achieve a seamless blend of form and function, making it a deserving winner of this prestigious award.

As an industry-leading web development company, we have made a name for ourselves by crafting bespoke digital experiences that not only impress visually but also deliver outstanding performance. The Mancunion’s website is no exception. With its eye-catching design, intuitive navigation, and seamless user experience, the site is a testament to our developers’ commitment to excellence. Read more about our Mancunion Website Development Project.

The SPA Awards ceremony, held on April 1 in Glasgow, celebrated the top student newspapers, magazines, and journalists for their innovative and impactful work throughout the past year. This year, The Mancunion dominated several categories, winning Best Newspaper Design, Best Overall Digital Media, Best Science Publication or Section, and Best Website. The awards highlight the publication’s dedication to producing high-quality content, and its ability to adapt and thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Luke Hewitt, from The Mancunion, was also recognised as a Rising Star, winning the Best Newcomer Individual Award. His accomplishments further demonstrate the newspaper’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of talented journalists.

The SPA Awards received over 1,200 entries this year, with nominations being judged by a diverse panel of top editors and journalists from renowned publications like The Guardian, The Sun, GB News, The New Statesman, and Sky News, among others. The judges praised the high standards of work submitted, asserting that many pieces would fit perfectly into national publications.

Aubrey Allegretti, a Trustee for the SPA, expressed immense pride in the work produced by student journalists. She emphasised their essential role in holding power to account at their universities and campaigning on crucial issues. Allegretti also voiced her confidence that the winners of the 2023 SPA National Awards would follow in the footsteps of previous winners, becoming the industry leaders of tomorrow.

The success of The Mancunion at this year’s SPA Awards is a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and innovation of its talented team, as well as the invaluable contribution by our designers, developers and server technicians whom we are incredible proud of. By developing an award-winning website, we have not only helped elevate The Mancunion’s online presence but also set a new standard for student publications across the UK and Ireland.

The winning collaboration between The Mancunion and our team here at Spotlight Studios demonstrates the power of combining outstanding journalism with cutting-edge web development. As The Mancunion, alongside The Manchester Media Group including Fuse TV (which has also had a website overhaul) and Fuse FM (which we have are sights on next) continues to grow and evolve, there is no doubt that this partnership will help pave the way for future successes in the ever-changing world of digital media. A huge congratulations to The Mancunion and a pat on the back to ourselves on their well-deserved accolades at the 2023 SPA Awards!

Source: https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/student-publication-association-awards-winners-revealed-21809