A department lecturer enjoyed a real-life taste of magazine glamour last week by playing a vital part in a glittering awards ceremony.

Cathy Darby, course leader for UCLanís pioneering Masters in Magazine Journalism, was the only academic invited to judge entries for the Press Gazetteís Magazine Journalism Awards, newly launched ìin search of brilliance in the UK magazine industryî.

Prestonís postgraduate magazine course, the first north of Cardiff to be accredited by the Periodicals Training Council, was the first such MA in the country when it was set up two years ago.

In a team which included You magazine editor Sue Peart, publisher of Delicious food magazine Jo Sandilands and Robin Morgan, editor of the Sunday Times magazine, Cathy judged entries from Glamour and Grazia to Radio Times and Janeís Police Review for the sub-editing and reviewing categories.

Former student

And last Thursday as Cathy attended the awardsí glamorous champagne reception in the Thames Room of the Riverbank Park Plaza, overlooking the Houses of Parliament, she was hailed by one her former MA students from Blackburn.

Danusia Osiowy, of Pleasington, graduated from the course in June and is already Assistant Editor of Pharmacy Today magazine, one of the entries for the MJAís sister competition the Magazine Design Awards.

ìIt was such an unexpected delight to bump into Danusia who is doing so well in her career,î said Cathy. ìShe loves her job and, in a freelance capacity, has already secured an exclusive interview with Suzi Quatro for Heyday magazine.î

Oscar-style

Later Cathy sat with her fellow judges as the packed 300-guest ballroom waited for the Oscar-style announcement of the winners. Even Cathy didnít know who the winners of her categories were as the votes had been cast in confidence.

Sadly, Pharmacy Today didnít win Business Front Cover of the Year award for Danusiaís team but, to Cathyís delight, her choices were the winners in their categories – menís magazine GQ for its polished and witty sub-editing and the New Statesmanís Andrew Billen for his intelligent reviewing ñ as was her choice of Grazia for Magazine Icon of the Year.

And holding his MJA award, a delighted Andrew agreed to visit Prestonís journalism students at a later date to give a master class on reviewing.

More info
MA Magazine Journalism
Magazine Journalism Awards

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