By Evie Kearney
An Focal has been shortlisted in six categories at this year’s Student Media Awards (Smedias).
University of Limerick publications received eighteen mentions in total, comprising of submissions from An Focal, ULFM, individual students, and Journalism@UL project Limerick Voice.
An Focal Editor Paul Saunders was shortlisted for both Editor of the Year and Journalist of the Year while the design team of Hannah Carr-Murphy, Evie Kearney and Paul Saunders were mentioned in the Newspaper Layout and Design category.
Sports Editor Caoimhín Reilly was doubly shortlisted for Sports Writer of the Year and Colour Writer of the year.
An Focal was also shortlisted for Newspaper of the Year for the awards, which take place on April 6th in the Aviva Stadium.
The final list of nominees is due to be published in the coming week on oxygen.ie.
The full list of UL mentions is as follows:
Editor of the Year
Paul Saunders – An Focal
Michelle Hogan – Limerick Voice
Newspaper of the Year
An Focal
Limerick Voice
Journalist of the Year
Paul Saunders
Journalist of the Year – National Press
Daniel Keating
Features Writer of the Year – News and Current Affairs
Jennifer Purcell
Colour Writer of the Year
Caoimhín Reilly
Sports Writer of the Year
Caoimhín Reilly
John Keogh
Newspaper Layout and Design of the Year
Evie Kearney, Hannah Carr-Murphy, Paul Saunders – An Focal
Michelle Hogan – Limerick Voice
European Commission Award
Michaela Keating
RSA Journalism Relating to Road Safety Award
Ciara Phelan
Short Story of the Year
Jennifer Purcell
Film Script of the Year
Andrew Roberts & Daniel Keating
Website of the Year
Michelle Hogan – Limerick Voice
Radio Production of the Year – News and Current Affairs
Declan Mills & Rob Cross – ULFM
You can view the rest of the shortlist here.
The voting deadline for the People’s Choice Award is 5pm on Friday, March 30th. Vote for An Focal by clicking here.
Molly Cantwell 
Daragh De Klein