New categories introduced to ECB Domestic Cricket Journalism Awards

Entries for the ECB Domestic Cricket Journalism Awards have opened with three new categories included.

The new categories are Podcast of the Year, Photograph of the Year and Video Content Creator of the Year as the Awards aim to recognise the wider media landscape covering domestic cricket.

The awards are now in their 14th year and are again set to be presented at the ECB’s Domestic Season Launch ahead of the season in April.

Entries will be judged by a panel from the Cricket Writers’ Club and the ECB, with prizes for winning entries ranging from exclusive England player interviews to content capture opportunities at ECB Content Day events.

The closing date for submissions is 5pm Friday, 21 February 2025. Entries for each award must adhere the below requirements and be sent via email in the form of PDF or MP3 files to: matt.somerford@ecb.co.uk

AWARD CATEGORIES

Christopher Martin-Jenkins Young Cricket Journalist of the Year

This category is open to any newspaper, online or broadcast journalist who was under the age of 30 on 1 January 2024. Each entrant is required to submit a maximum of three examples of their coverage of either women’s, men’s or disability domestic cricket, preferably including evidence of exclusive stories or original material, which must have been published or broadcast after 1 January 2024 and before 31 December 2024. Entries should also include a promotional introduction of no more than 200 words.

2023 winner: Katya Witney

Christopher Martin-Jenkins Domestic Cricket Broadcaster of the Year

This category is restricted to live commentary only with each entrant required to submit an example of live commentary from a women’s, men’s or disability domestic fixture staged in 2024. This should be between 15 and 20 minutes in length and uninterrupted but may also feature contributions from a co-summariser. There is no age restriction for this award and entries should also include a promotional introduction of no more than 200 words.

2023 winner: Melissa Story

Regional Newspaper of the Year

This category is open to any daily, evening or weekly regional newspaper in England and Wales. Entrants are required to submit examples of their newspaper’s coverage of domestic cricket – with examples from either, or both, professional and recreational cricket – with a maximum of five articles. All articles must have been published after 1 January 2024 and before 31 December 2024.

Entrants are required to supply a short statement of no more than 200 words explaining how the publication improved its coverage of domestic cricket in 2024. The panel will factor in the resources available to all shortlisted titles before making its final decision.

2023 winner: Liverpool Echo

Outstanding Online Coverage of Domestic Cricket

This category is open to all online coverage of domestic cricket, including online newspaper coverage, following the merging of this award with the Outstanding Newspaper Coverage of Domestic Cricket Award. Entrants can submit specific examples of online domestic coverage (up to three), or a more general submission of coverage for the domestic 2024 season. Entries should also include a summary, of no more than 200 words, to outline your outlet’s wider domestic coverage across men’s, women’s and disability cricket.

2023 winner: The Cricketer (online)

Photograph of the Year

Entrants can submit a maximum of three photos they have taken from a women’s, men’s or disability match – across either the professional and recreational game in England and Wales – during 2024. Entries should also include a summary of the pictures taken, and why you believe they should win this award, of no more than 100 words each.

Podcast of the Year

Entrants are to submit their single best podcast of the year in addition to a (maximum) 500-word submission of why their podcast - over the period 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024 - should win this award. This summary should include highlights of the year, what areas of the game they have covered, and any other metrics they believe can show the popularity and growth of their podcast.

Video Content Creator of the Year

This category is open to anyone across the cricket network from recreational clubs to county clubs or individual content creators and Hundred team content creators who published video content showcasing domestic cricket in England and Wales. Entrants are asked to submit three pieces of video content they produced and published between 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2024. In addition entrants should include a promotional introduction of no more than 200 words and a brief summary of each piece of content for context.