We are thrilled to announce the return of The National Student Media Awards (SMEDIAS), 2026.
After such a successful 25th year last year, we are delighted to announce that we are returning for a 26th year.
The National Student Media Awards (SMEDIAS) are an important date on the student calendar, rewarding the effort and hard work in student publications, radio, television and film. This recognition is seen as a pinnacle of achievement for Irish media students, and having a judge who has accomplished so much in their career only affirms this.
The SMEDIAS are a nationally recognised media awards that have an opportunity for, Recognition, Networking and Professional Development.
The SMEDIAS reach out to colleges and universities all around Ireland for submissions, showcase your work and enjoy an unforgettable night out with your fellow peers and media professionals.
Applications open 23rd February 2026 and close March 16th 2026.
Submission Guidelines
Your work must have been published in student media since February 2025.
Your work must not have been entered into the SMEDIAS 2025.
If you do not have access to a student newspaper or publication, you can email editor@oxygen.ie and we’ll go from there.
The National Student Media Awards are for students.
If you have worked professionally in the category you’re entering, you can’t enter the category. Summer work and internships are absolutely fine.
Most categories require 3 different examples of your work.
Please double check the category requirements before submitting. We don’t want you missing out because of a technicality.
Entries are archived for reference.
Oxygen and our organising committee can not take responsibility for anything lost or damaged in transit.
If your publication receives professional help in:
- Design
- Maintenance
- Production
The only exception is Website of the Year- professional design help is allowed, but it must be declared on your form.
(Check each category for full details).
Group Entries
- Submit one form only
- The primary application signs on behalf of the group
- Include the names of all members
- Everyone listed must be a student in the stated college.
- No need for multiple forms.
Entry Fee
- €15 for your first entry
- €10 for each additionally entry
E.g. 1 entry = €15, 2 entries = €25, 3 entries = €35
This contest is open to full-time students of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The judges’ decision is final.
No correspondence will be entered regarding results.
The winners will be announced during the ceremony at the Mansion House, in Dublin.
The Student Media Awards are produced and run by Oxygen.
Oxygen reserves the right to change the rules without notice and if necessary.
One Entry Per Category
You can only enter each category once.
However:
You can enter multiple categories.
You can use the same piece of work across different relevant categories.
Any attempt to contact or canvas judges will result in immediate disqualification from this and future Student Media Awards.
Data and Promotion
By entering you agree that:
Your contact details may be shared with sponsors.
Winning work may be shared on Oxygen.ie, smedias.ie and social media.
Proof of Student Status
We may request confirmation that you were a full-time student at the time your work was published
Categories
This year’s categories:
Collaborative Journalism of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the best article written by multiple student journalists. The article can be on news, current affairs, sport, arts, and entertainment.
Submit one article published in student or national media since February 2025 as a link via the online form. Submissions must not have had professional help on the article
Short Story of the Year-Apply here
This award is given to the most original, well-written work of short fiction. Applications can include published or unpublished material. Every applicant is restricted to just one entry.
Submissions for this category must be made through our online application form, stories should not exceed 4,000 words.
Small College or Society Publication of the Year-Apply here
This award will go to the best newspaper, magazine or society publication produced by a Small College or Society. Applications for small college publications are only acceptable from colleges with 4,000 full-time students or less. Society Publication applications are open to any society publication. Applications are also accepted from class groups if the publication is not published for campus-wide circulation.
Newspapers: submit two PDF issues of the newspaper published since February 2025.
Magazines and society publications: submit two copies – except in cases where the publication is a once-off, submit one copy – published since February 2025.
Rules for submission for online publications/ newspapers: Fill in the online application form and include the two links to the two issues you are submitting. If you would like to send us a physical copy, however, please email smedias@generationy.ie for details.
Radio Production of the Year – Arts & Features-Apply here
Awarded to the best radio production covering the arts, culture and entertainment. This can include magazine shows, comedy programmes, drama, non-news documentaries, arts coverage, interviews and all other arts, culture and entertainment shows. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio.
Submit one episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since February 2025.
Magazine of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to one publication produced either as a once-off (e.g. rag mag) or regular publication. Open to any college magazine.
Submit three links to three issues (except in cases where the publication is a once-off) published since February 2025. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Rules for submission for online publications: Fill in the online application form and include the three issues you are submitting.
Journalism Relating to Health-Apply here
Awarded to the student producing the best journalism relating to health in any form of student media.
Journalism plays a vital role in informing the public about health concerns and advice.
We are looking for student media that can improve the knowledge of the average reader and gain a wider understanding of the topic.
If you have written anything health-related, whether it’s the importance of de-stigmatising mental health in Ireland or the way we now live due to Covid-19, we want to hear from you! Your article must have been published since February 2025.
We would prefer you to include a link to your article but if you are unable, please upload your article to Google Drive and submit the shareable link. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Film Script of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the most original, well-written, imaginative script showing the most insight into the cinematic form.
Scripts may be filmed or unfilmed at the time of submission and may be for a short or feature-length film. The script should be formatted as a film script.
Please attach a link to the film script via the online form. We would prefer you to include a link to your script but if you are unable, please upload a pdf of your script.
Cruthaitheoir Ábhair Gaeilge na Bliana / Irish Language Content Creator of the Year-Apply here
We are delighted to announce Údarás na Gaeltachta will be sponsoring this category!
Bronntar an duais seo ar chruthaitheoir ábhair a léirigh tiomantas leanúnach don Ghaeilge ar aon ardán digiteach nó meán, ó mhí Feabhra 2025. Díríonn an catagóir seo ar dhaoine aonair a chruthaigh ábhar nuálach, tarraingteach agus ardchaighdeáin as Gaeilge go rialta. Ní mór don iarratasóir a bheith ina mhac léinn in Éirinn.
Awarded to a content creator who has demonstrated a consistent commitment to the Irish language across any digital platform or medium since February 2025. This category celebrates individuals who have consistently produced innovative, engaging, and high-quality content in the Irish language. The applicant must be a student based in Ireland.
Website of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the best maintained, frequently updated, user-friendly, and informative website. Students’ Union sites, clubs and societies homepages, and college news sites are all welcome.
The Joe Drennan RSA Award, Journalism Relating To Road Safety-Apply here
We are delighted to announce RSA will be sponsoring this category!
Awarded to any form of media, be it written, published or broadcast on television, radio, internet or otherwise; highlighting the issue of Road Safety in Ireland.
In the case of written submissions, you need only submit one link to one article published since February 2025. We would prefer you to include a link to your article but if you are unable, please upload a pdf of your article.
We are happy for the entries to be on anything road safety but if it helps we are really trying to focus on the killer behaviours. These include speed, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt and using a phone while driving.
News Photographer of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the photographer who best captures news events and current affairs on camera, produced since February 2025. The work should either have been published in the student press OR be the work of a full-time student, in which case the work can be unpublished but of publishable quality. This should not be confused with Photographer of the Year.
You must submit three unique photographs for consideration. This year, entries for all photography categories must be submitted via our online application form. All photographs must be submitted in JPEG format, and any files that are not submitted in this format will not be considered.
Film Documentary of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the best student documentary film that has reported on real-life events.
The film will be judged based on its ability to inform and educate a wide audience while exhibiting the filmmaker’s imagination and style.
Submit one episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), produced since February 2025.
Submissions must be the work of a full-time student and should be submitted via our online application form.
Layout and Design of the Year – Publication-Apply here
Open to any publication produced in student media, awarded for innovative and intelligent creativity in design and layout.
Submit three links to three issues (except in cases where the publication is a once-off, then one copy will suffice) published since February 2025. Submit your copies online. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Rules for submission for online publications: Fill in the online application form and include the three issues you are submitting.
Journalism Relating to Travel-Apply here
Submissions for the Journalism Relating to Travel Category will be taken in the form of written articles, blog posts or videos. Students are required to submit one piece related to travel, preferably focused on travel in Ireland. The pieces must be produced for student journalism or be the work of a full time student.
Satirical Writer of the Year-Apply here
This is awarded to the finest writer of features with a particularly satirical slant and distinctly humourous tone. Imagination and wit are key.
Submit three articles published in student media since February 2025. We would prefer you to include a link to your article but if you are unable, please upload the article to Google Drive and share the link with us. If you have any problems with submitting your work, get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Short Film of the Year-Apply here
The Short Film of the Year will be awarded to the film that shows the greatest imagination and production value despite budgetary and other limitations.
Please submit your work as a link via the online form. If your video has a password please include it in the relevant space on the entry form.
TV Production of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the best student TV production of the year. This includes news, arts, and entertainment shows. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student or campus television.
Submit one episode, or montage of episodes (maximum one hour), broadcast since February 2025 as a link via the online form. If your video has a password, please include it in the relevant space on the entry form.
Features Writer of the Year – Arts & Pop Culture-Apply here
Awarded to the best student features writer of the year writing about the arts or pop culture. Judges will be looking for entertaining, stylish, authoritative criticism, that offers a fresh, illuminating view of performance, film, album or popular cultural topic.
Submit three articles published in student media since February 2025. Please submit by sharing a link to a Google Doc with your article. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie
Radio Presenter of the Year-Apply here
NB: Can also apply as a duo or group of presenters.
Awarded to the student(s) who present the best music show broadcast on student radio. The show may also include chat and/or interviews, but some element of music is essential. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio.
Submit one episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since February 2025.
Iriseoireacht trí Ghaeilge – Raidió-Apply here
Bronntar an duais ar an léiriúchán raidió is fearr trí Ghaeilge. D’fhéadfadh craoltaí nuachta, díospóireachtaí painéil, agallaimh, seó ceoil, agus seónna nuachta agus cúrsaí reatha eile a bheith san áireamh anseo.
Is féidir é a tháirgeadh le craoladh ar raidió mac léinn, áitiúil nó náisiúnta ach níor chóir go mbeadh sé le haghaidh obair íoctha nó le cúnamh gairmiúil.
Cuir isteach eipeasóid amháin, nó montáiste eipeasóid (1 uair an chloig ar a mhéad), a craoladh ó mhí Feabhra 2025.
Awarded to the best radio production through Irish; this can include news broadcasts, panel discussions, interviews, music shows, and other news and current affairs-related shows.
Can be produced for broadcast on student, local or national radio but must not be for paid work or professionally assisted.
Submit one episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since February 2025 as a link via the application form.
Radio Documentary of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the best radio documentary production. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio. Submit one episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since February 2025.
- Story – A clear sense of story will help keep your listener engaged. Your story needs a beginning, middle and end. Ideally with a few surprises along the way. For this reason, a ‘topic-based’ documentary may be more difficult to structure. A documentary can explore a topic via a story and will often be stronger for it. If you choose a ‘topic’ based documentary, it is helpful to choose one that has tension.
- Characters – Identify your characters. You want your listener to care one way or another for your characters. Tell us what you can about them and help the listener get to know the characters in your documentary. Help the listener care about your character by bringing them into their world.
- Actuality – Try to create a window into a world. If you are making a documentary that is based in a tattoo shop, help the listener feel like they are in the tattoo shop. So, record the tattoo artist as he is working, the customer in the chair – how do they feel? Nervous? Excited? Record the sound of the needle, the sound of the shop. Take the listener in through the front door. When you go to record someone, turn your recorder on before you even meet them and don’t turn it off until after you have said goodbye. There will be gems in those recordings that will help to bring your documentary alive.
- Editing – A series of interviews placed beside each other does not a documentary make. Edit your contributors to tell a story and create a dramatic arc. Cut them together in an interesting way. Think about how elements like music/ archive/ found sound can add texture to your documentary.
- And lastly, listen to radio documentaries! Listen to them critically and note what ones you enjoy. Why do you enjoy them? When do you find your mind drifting away from a documentary? Think of the documentaries you have enjoyed – and identify the story that is being told, the characters that tell it and how it is being told. Remember: a radio documentary is a much longer listen than most other forms of radio so you need to find ways of engaging your listener.
Iriseoireacht trí Ghaeilge – Scríofa-Apply here
Bronnadh ar an iriseoir mac léinn is fearr sa bhliain tuairisciú ar nuacht agus cúrsaí reatha na hÉireann. D’fhéadfadh campas na hÉireann, nuacht náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta a bheith san áireamh anseo. Beidh breithiúna ag lorg cumas chun faisnéis bhunaidh a thochailt agus samhlaíocht agus stíl a chur i láthair.
Cuir isteach alt amháin a foilsíodh i meáin na mac léinn ó mhí Feabhra 2025. Is féidir ailt a chur isteach trínár bpróiseas iarratais ar líne.
Awarded to the best student journalist of the year reporting on Irish news and current affairs. This can include Irish campus and national and international news. Judges will be looking for the ability to dig out original information and present it with imagination and style.
Submit one article published in student media since February 2025. We would prefer you to include a link to your article. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Journalist of the Year – National Media-Apply here
This award is open to students who have managed to get their work published in the national media during the academic year.
Submit one to three articles published in national media since February 2025. We would prefer you to include a link to your article but if you are unable, please upload the article to Google Drive and share the link with us. If you have any problems with submitting your work, get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Radio Production of the Year – News & Current Affairs-Apply here
Awarded to the best radio production covering news and current affairs. This can include news broadcasts, panel discussions, interviews and other news and current affairs related shows. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio.
Submit one episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since February 2025.
Features Writer of the Year– News & Current Affairs-Apply here
We are delighted to announce Griffith College will be sponsoring this category!
Judges will be looking for authoritative criticism that offers a fresh, illuminating view of a news or current affairs story.
This prize is awarded to the best student features writer of the year covering news and current affairs. This can include campus, national, and international news. Judges will be looking for analytical skills and a fluent and compelling writing style.
Submit three articles published in student media since February 2025. We would prefer you to include a link to your article but if you are unable, please upload a pdf of your article. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Gearrfhíseán Cruthaitheach na Bliana 2026-Apply here
Tá BLOC TG4 ag iarraidh ar mhic léinn an gearrfhíseán is cruthaithí, is nuálaí, is siamsúla agus is úrnua a chur ar aghaidh don chatagóir ‘Gearrfhíseán Cruthaitheach na Bliana’.
Ní mór do na físeáin meán sóisialta seo a bheith idir 30 soicind agus 5 nóiméad ar fad le hiad a chur ar aghaidh don chomórtas agus ní mór iad a bheith feiliúnach do na príomhardáin meán sóisialta, IGTV, Youtube nó Tik Tok.
AN DUAIS
Ní hamháin go mbronnfar duais airgid €500.00 ort ach taispeánfar an físeán den chéad uair ar Youtube BLOC TG4 nó ar ardán eile atá feiliúnach.
The National Student Media Awards 2026 are fast approaching and TG4 BLOC has returned to sponsor the ‘Creative Gearrfhíséan na Bliana 2026’ to help promote and commission Irish language content creators all around Ireland.
BLOC TG4 is looking for the most creative, innovative, entertaining and original use of short-form video by a student for their Short-Form Smedia category. The social videos submitted must be between 30 seconds & 5.00 minutes in duration to qualify for entry.
The BLOC entries must be Irish language content.
THE PRIZE
The winning entry will not only be given a cash prize of €500.00 but their video will be premiered on YouTube Bloc or suitable platform.
Podcast of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the student(s) who presented the best student podcast. The show can be on a topic of your choosing i.e. Sport, current affairs, culture, business, technology etc. but the podcast must adhere to the guidelines below.
Submit one episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since February 2025.
Podcasts will be judged on the level of presentation, production, education and entertainment.
- Presentation
- Does the podcast host present the program clearly?
- Do they keep tabs on timekeeping, ensuring segments aren’t too long or too short?
- If it’s a chat show does the host present themselves or their contributors from talking over each other too much?
- Does the host keep the show going if something goes wrong during the program?
- Production
- The show doesn’t have to have been recorded in Abbey Road studio; as long as the show isn’t recorded on a phone or in a nosey environment it’s fine. However, you will get bonus points for clear sound and maintaining good volume levels throughout the podcast.
- Education
- Does the podcast teach us something or better our understanding of something we already know?
- Does the podcast tell us why it’s important that we should know this?
- Entertainment
- Is the podcast delivered in a way that’s entertaining, easy to digest, and keeps the listener engaged?
Sports Writer of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the journalist producing the most consistent, high-quality sports writing over the course of the year.
Submit three articles published in student media since February 2025. We would prefer you to include a link to your article. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Sports Photographer of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the photographer who best captures Sports shot on camera, produced since February 2025. The work should either have been published in the student press OR be the work of a full-time student, in which case the work can be unpublished, but of publishable quality. This should not be confused with Photographer of the Year.
You must submit three unique photographs for consideration. This year, entries for all photography categories must be submitted via our online application form. Entrants must fill in the relevant details in the form. All photographs must be submitted in JPEG format, and any files that are not submitted in this format will not be considered.
Award for Journalism Relating to the Environment-Apply here
Submissions for this category will be judged based on work that has brought students’ attention to environmental issues. Applications for this award can be a written piece, radio output, or a TV segment.
European Commission Award for Journalism Relating to European Issues-Apply here
The award will be presented to the best article on the topic of EU affairs published in a student publication during the year preceding the 2026 SMEDIAs entry deadline, which is 16 March 2026.
As Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July 2026, student journalists are invited to enter the European Commission category for Journalism relating to European Issues.
The European Commission Category for Journalism Relating to European Issues award recognises the best article on EU affairs published in a student publication. The winning journalist also receives a cash prize of €1,000.
Reporting Themes
Below is the list of areas that your article could incorporate. You must include at least one.
- Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026
- Security and defence
- Democracy and Citizen Engagement
- EU Enlargement
- The EU’s Role in the World
- Environment and Climate
- Europe and the Digital Age
- Rural Development, Agriculture, and the CAP
Rules
Entries for the EU SMEDIA Award can include the following forms of media: in print, online or audio journalism in the form of radio or podcasts.
Entries must include both a scan of the publication and a word file containing the article if written or both the link to published audio file and the original recording.
Entries must be in English.
The competition is open to all third-level students in Ireland.
Only one entry per student is allowed and the work must be the student’s own.
Journalist of the Year-Apply here
This award is open to students who have achieved excellence in student media.
Submit one to three articles (any topic) published since February 2025. We would prefer you to include a link to your article but if you are unable, please upload the article to Google Drive and share the link with us. If you have any problems with submitting your work, get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Photographer of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to one individual for an outstanding sample of photography produced since February 2025. The judges will be looking for excellence in composition, subject matter and startling images.
This category should not be confused with News Photographer of the Year.
The work should either have been published in the student press, or be the work of a full-time student, in which case the work can be unpublished but of publishable quality.
You must submit three unique photographs for consideration.
This year, entries for all photography categories must be submitted via our online application form. Entrants must fill in the relevant details and email their work to photos@oxygen.ie in a compressed folder. All photographs must be submitted in JPEG format. Any files that are not submitted in this format will not be considered.
You must clearly state in the subject line of the email which photography category you are entering. All photographs must be labeled clearly with the category name plus the photograph number and the entrant’s name.
Editor of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the editor of any publication to show commitment, enthusiasm, and editorial insight as reflected by the publication.
Submit three links to three issues published since February 2025. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Rules for submission for online publications newspapers: Fill in the online application form and include the three issues you are submitting.
All entries for editors must come with a one-page profile showing their resources and staff. It should state how many full-time staff they have, how many of their staff are paid, and if the paper is funded.
Ultimately, however, it will be up to the judges on how much influence this will have. It does mean, however, that we are working on making the process fairer.
Newspaper of the Year-Apply here
Awarded to the newspaper that sustains the highest quality of journalism, editorial standards, production values, and overall professionalism despite budgetary and other limitations.
Submit three links to three issues of the newspaper published since February 2025. If you have any problems with submitting your work get in touch with us at smedias@generationy.ie.
Rules for submission for online publications/ newspapers: Fill in the online application form and include the three issues you are submitting.
All entries for newspapers must come with a one-page profile showing their resources and staff. It should state how many full-time staff they have, how many of their staff are paid, and if the paper is funded.
Ultimately, however, it will be up to the judges on how much influence this will have. It does mean, however, that we are working on making the process fairer.