Journalism students at University of Limerick have secured 12 nominations at the National Student Media Awards.
Limerick Voice, the award-winning multimedia news platform, has been shortlisted in several different categories including, Best Newspaper, Best Layout and Design and Website of the Year. The Magazine ‘Eclectic’, produced by second year journalism students, has also been nominated for Magazine of the Year.
Limerick Voice newspaper and online editor Jack McKay and Magdalena Tanneberger have both been nominated for Editor of the Year. Sports reporter John O'Donnell has been nominated for Sportswriter of the year along with Jack McKay and fourth year journalism student Leah Hogarty and Alison Reeves have been shortlisted for Podcast of the Year. Features Editor, Annemarie Roberts and multimedia reporters Emma McCarthy and Alan White were nominated in the category ‘Journalism Relating to Health.’
Limerick Voice multimedia reporter Anna Powell has been shortlisted in three separate categories including, Journalist of the Year National Media, Radio Production of the Year in News and Current Affairs and for the Joe Drennan RSA Award, Journalism Relating to Road Safety – an award named after UL journalism student Joe Drennan who died tragically in October 2023.
The National Student Media Awards or the SMEDIAs as they are known, is the largest competition of its kind in Ireland, dedicated to recognising and celebrating the next generation of media talent. Open to students from every college across Ireland the awards are judged by key media industry leaders including Mark Hennessey, Ireland and Britain Editor of The Irish Times.
Limerick Voice newspaper which has been named Newspaper of the Year on two separate occasions has again been shortlisted at this year’s SMEDIAS along with Limerick Voice website, which has been nominated for Website of the Year.
Dr Kathryn Hayes, course director of UL’s BA Journalism and Digital Communication, who oversees the multimedia project each year, said she was extremely proud to see so many nominations for students across the undergraduate programme.
“From second year right up to final year, our journalism students are already being recognised for the work they are producing, which is a wonderful validation for all of our students, particularly those who are preparing to enter the world of work in the coming weeks.
“A newspaper publication and digital news project like Limerick Voice is more than just an assignment—it’s a real-world newsroom experience that challenges final-year journalism students to think critically, report responsibly, and engage their audience with impactful storytelling and particularly the importance of campaign journalism,” she added.
Limerick Voice Web Editor and Deputy Features Editor Maggie Tannegberger, who has been nominated for Editor of the Year said: “I am incredibly happy and honoured that both the Limerick Voice and my own work are being recognised. This past year has been a journey of growth for all of us, and I’m grateful to have been part of such an amazing team. Of course, I’d love for us to win, but more than anything, I’m looking forward to attending the awards with the incredible people I’ve worked alongside, no matter the result.”
Deputy Editor of this year’s Limerick Voice, Gary O’Hanlon said the Limerick Voice team was honoured to have received so many nominations for this year’s SMEDIAS.
“The outstanding number of nominations reflects the unwavering hard work and passion put into this project by every member of the team. We are grateful to our facilitator Kathryn Hayes and to each Limerick Voice team that came before us.
“We have had the privilege of standing on the shoulders of giants with this project,” he added.
The 25th edition of the National Student Media Awards takes place on Wednesday, 9 at Dublin’s Mansion House.
UL journalism students are represented in 12 separate categories in the SMEDIAs 2025 including:
SMEDIAS Nominations 2025
- Newspaper of the Year – Limerick Voice
- Website of the year – Limerick Voice
- Layout and Design – Limerick Voice
- Editor of the Year – Jack McKay and Magdalena
- Journalism relating to Health - Alan White, Annemarie Roberts and Emma McCarthy
- Journalist of the Year National Media – Anna Powell
- Magazine of the Year – Eclectic (Second Year Journalism class)
- Small Publication of the Year - Limerick Voice
- Radio Production of the Year, News and Current Affairs – Anna Powell
- The Joe Drennan RSA award, Journalism Relating to Road Safety – Anna Powell
- Sportswriter of the Year – Jack McKay, John O’Donnell
- Podcast of the Year – Leah Hogarty and Alison Reeves