Social-first strategy and impactful storytelling bring home prestigious SPA win
Limerick Voice has been awarded Best Overall Digital Media at the 2025 Student Publication Association Awards, solidifying its position as one of the leading student-run newsrooms in Ireland and the UK.
The SPA, the UK and Ireland’s largest student media association, hosts one of the most competitive and respected awards circuits for student journalism. Judged by senior editors and professionals from across the media industry, the accolade recognises excellence in innovation, storytelling, and digital engagement across all platforms.
“This year wasn’t just about boosting numbers,” said Social Media Editor Jordan Ngui. “Our goal was to use social media to actually say something. We covered everything from the student accommodation crisis to the general elections, and made it a priority to be on the ground with real stories, real people. Every reel, every caption, was made with purpose. I think that’s what makes this award so special, because it’s not just about aesthetics, it’s that we created content that mattered to the people in Limerick. I’m really proud of how far we’ve come, how we made Limerick Voice feel alive, urgent, and relevant, and how it took everyone on the Limerick Voice team coming together to make it happen.”
Industry professionals impressed
The judging panel included senior journalists from BBC News and Politics JOE, who singled out Limerick Voice’s digital offering as “consistently high quality.”
Ava Santina, Political Correspondent at Politics JOE, commented: “It’s easy to see why engagement is so high. Highlighting local, campus-based issues like the student housing crisis is a fantastic editorial choice. You are really on the path to a stellar digital-first strategy.”
BBC Senior Journalist Alastair Reid stated: “Limerick Voice impressed through a consistently high standard of video production combined with a commitment to live and breaking news across platforms.”
Commitment, creativity and collaboration
The award is a testament to the digital-first strategy that Limerick Voice has embraced over the past year, driven by a team of students who produced weekly news roundups, live-streamed events, and a consistent stream of relevant, high-quality content.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Content Creator Manager Ailbhe McHale. “We’ve put so much effort into our digital content this year, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that work recognised. Collaborating with Jordan throughout the year has been an absolute pleasure and this achievement truly reflects the dedication, creativity, and hard work of the entire Limerick Voice team, who are always willing to help.”
Module leader Kathryn Hayes praised the students’ achievements:
“Winning the Award for Best Overall Digital Media offering is a fantastic achievement for the Limerick Voice team and great validation of the work that has been done this year. In particular, it is testament to the sterling work of this year’s online editor, Magdalena Tanneberger, who has implemented some very dynamic changes on the website. The social media content under the stewardship of Jordan Ngui and Ailbhe McHale has also contributed to the significant development of our digital content.”
A tradition of excellence
“I am very proud of all of our students who have worked hard on this year’s Limerick Voice digital news project, which is an integral part of journalism education in UL. Working on a project like this provides real-world newsroom experience that challenges final-year journalism students to think critically, report responsibly, and engage their audience with impactful storytelling,” stated Kathryn Hayes
This is not the first SPA win for Limerick Voice. Last year’s editorial team picked up three awards at the 2024 Irish regional ceremony in Trinity College Dublin, including Best Digital and Best Article, and was recognised last year with the coveted Best Publication award.
As this year´s team wraps up this academic year, the next team will take over in September, continuing to shape and build on what’s been achieved.