Irish Independent Triumphant at UCD Smurfit Business Journalist Awards

The Irish Independent achieved remarkable success at the 18th annual UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards, securing three prestigious prizes. This event recognized the contributions of eleven journalists across various categories related to business reporting in Ireland, including news stories, podcasts, and written features. Each category winner received a奖金 of €1,000.

Adrian Weckler, a technology journalist, was honored with the Business Feature of the Year award for his compelling article, AI Video – Can you tell if this is real or not – and what does this mean for us? This piece delved into the implications of artificial intelligence, showcasing Weckler’s ability to engage readers with complex topics.

The Indo Daily podcast team also garnered accolades, with producer Garrett Mulhall and journalists Kevin Doyle, Fionnán Sheahan, and Amy Molloy winning the Business Podcast Story of the Year award. Their two-part special, Behind Closed Doors: The disgraced landlord Christian Carter and the newspaper gagging order, highlighted the investigative prowess of the team and the critical issues in the housing sector.

Additionally, journalist Fearghal O’Connor of the Sunday Independent received the Business Interview of the Year award for his insightful conversation with John McCartin, CEO of Avalon Guitars. The interview, titled McCartin strums a new tune at Avalon, offered a unique perspective on the custom guitar manufacturing industry.

Other awards at the event celebrated a range of journalistic excellence. Mark Paul won the Business News Story of the Year for his coverage of Derek Quinlan, while Conor O’Carroll from The Journal was recognized as Business Analyst of the Year for his investigative piece on the environmental impact of data centers in Ireland.

The Women in Business Journalism Award was presented to Kathleen Gallagher of the Business Post, and Emma Hanrahan, also from the Business Post, was named Upcoming Journalist of the Year. The Outstanding Achievement Award was given to Sam Smyth of The Currency, a founding member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists based in Washington.

Professor Federica Pazzaglia, Director of UCD Smurfit School, emphasized the importance of these awards by stating, “We are proud to honor the outstanding winners of the Business Journalist Awards and to celebrate the vital role business journalism plays in informing public discourse.” She noted that the work of Ireland’s business journalists contributes significantly to understanding the issues shaping the economy and society.

Damien Garvey, Director of Group Corporate Affairs at the awards’ sponsor, Bank of Ireland, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the indispensable nature of high-quality journalism. “Accuracy, fact-checking, and critical analysis form the foundation of trusted reporting,” he stated. Garvey added that independent and objective media is essential for a well-functioning economy and society, and the awards serve to underscore the exceptional standards achieved by Irish business journalists.

The UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also reinforce the critical role of journalism in fostering transparency and accountability within the business sector.