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UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards - Winner Announced

  • Date: Mon, Nov 30, 2015

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Dublin, Monday, November, 30, 2015: Nine of Ireland’s leading business journalists from The Irish Times, Irish Independent, The Sunday Times, and The Sunday Business Post were honoured today at the UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards 2015. The awards, held at a ceremony in FIRE Restaurant, celebrate the contribution of business journalists from right across the media spectrum; the professionals who act as an independent voice, ask the hard questions & push for answers, who challenge the business status-quo and bring personal stories to life. This is the ninth year of the prestigious awards, which are sponsored by eir for the third time.

Pictured below l-r: Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dean UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Matt Cooper, Outstanding Achievement Award recipient, Richard Moat, CEO, eir,

Pictured below: Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh (centre) with the 2015 winners

The winners were:

  • Business News Story – Colin Coyle and Justine McCarthy, The Sunday Times for their piece entitled, ‘State memo slams IBRC Siteserv deal’
  • Economic Commentator – Richard Curran, Independent News & Media for contributions on farmers’ borrowing, the gambling industry and the culture of tax avoidance
  • Business Analyst – Brian Carey, The Sunday Times for analysis of Aer Lingus, CRH and the sale of Waterford Wedgwood
  • Specialist Business Reporter – Emma Kennedy, Sunday Business Post for her article entitled, ‘The business of distressed mortgages’
  • Business Interview – Emmet Ryan, Sunday Business Post for an interview with Michael Flynn, aka ‘Mattress Mick’
  • Upcoming Journalist of the Year – Jack Horgan Jones, Sunday Business Post for three submitted articles: ‘Kevin Cardiff’s evidence to the banking inquiry’; ‘Late rush to exploit Double Irish loophole’; and ‘Exiting the bailout - one year on’
  • Technology Reporter – Mark Hilliard, The Irish Times for his piece entitled “As the drone era has taken off let’s ensure our safety and privacy”.

In addition to the seven categories above, an Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Matt Cooper for his contribution to business journalism for over 25 years as a business reporter, business editor, broadcaster and author. In a stellar career which has, to date, included achievements such as becoming a business editor of Irish Independent at 26, being the youngest ever editor of a national newspaper at 30 (Sunday Tribune), a distinguished broadcaster and best-selling author, Matt was the sixth recipient of this discretionary award. Previous winners were: Frank Fitzgibbon, Damien Kiberd, Brendan Keenan, Cliff Taylor and Richard Curran.

A further award was also presented for Business Book of the Year which is nominated and voted for by UCD Business faculty members and rewards outstanding achievement in writing a business book on a topic that offers enhanced understanding and insight. The 2015 recipient for the award is John Kay for his book entitled, Other People's Money: Masters of the Universe or Servants of the People?

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dean, UCD Business, said: “Now in its ninth year this programme truly represents the very best of business journalism in Ireland. The individual journalistic work and the collective body of their reportage enriches our understanding of important issues of the day and, through its influence, helps shape the corporate landscape. On behalf of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, it is an annual privilege to pay tribute to such a wide range of talented individuals, all of whom have unique and compelling stories to tell, and to join in the celebration of their abilities. In 2015, the depth and breadth of talent in Irish media was once again evident in the high quality of entries received, and in the standard of the winning submissions.”

Richard Moat, CEO, eir, sponsors of the awards, said: “eir is delighted to partner with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in sponsoring this awards programme. In our three years’ sponsoring the awards we have seen the highest standards of business journalism recognised and this year is no different. Recognising this excellence is important as it plays a crucial societal role in educating the public, challenging the status quo and, where necessary, holding business to account in the public interest.”

This year’s independent judging panel comprised of business, journalism, economic and academic leaders: - Emer Gilvarry; Partner, Mason Hayes & Curran (Chair); Professor Ciarán Ó’hÓgartaigh, Dean UCD Business; Carolan Lennon, Managing Director, Open eir; Miriam Hughes, CEO DDFH&B Communications Group; Jon Ihle, Head of Communications at Goodbody; Professor Donncha Kavanagh, UCD Smurfit School; Simon McKeever, CEO of Irish Exporters Association; Joan Mulvihill, CEO at Irish Internet Association; Emmet Oliver, Director of Global Corporate Communications, IDA; and Rodney Rice, former RTE broadcaster.

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