IBP National Journalism Awards 2018 – Guidance Notes for Print Entries

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 Annual National Journalism Awards 2018

The IBP Awards were established 45 years ago to encourage and reward excellence in journalism in the built environment. Over this period, it has also established a benchmark towards which ‘new’ journalists to the industry can aspire. Therefore, the judges should reflect this objective in their decision-making process.

Entries are being judged for the following award categories:

  1. Architecture Writer of the Year
  2. Construction/Infrastructure Journalist of the Year
  3. News Reporter of the Year
  4. Feature Writer of the Year
  5. Business Journalist of the Year
  6. Housing & Residential Property Writer of the Year
  7. ‘New’ Journalist of the Year
  8. Multi-Media Journalist of the Year
  9. Scoop of the Year
  10. Magazine of the Year (Weekly)
  11. Magazine of the Year (Non-weekly)
  12. Digital Service of the Year
  13. IBP Journalist of the Year

Conditions of Entry

The Awards are open to staff journalists and freelance writers.

Closing date for entries: 4.00pm Monday 17 September 2018
Entries to be sent to:  TBA
The Awards ceremony and dinner takes place on Thursday 29 November 2018 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1J 7DR.
Awards Presented by: TBA
Awards Hosted by: Peter Murray, Chairman, NLA

 

  • Journalists may enter online as many categories as they wish, although the same articles cannot be submitted for more than one category. All articles should have been published in the twelve-month period ending 31 August 2018.
  • Only one entry consisting of three articles is allowed per category, from each journalist.
  • Each category pdf entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form and three different articles/news stories (a statement, if applicable) published in the year ending 31 August 2018. The articles included may have been published online or in print or both.
  • PLEASE NOTE THAT EACH ONLINE ENTRY OF THREE ARTICLES MUST HAVE A COMPLETED ENTRY FORM AND A STATEMENT, WHERE APPLICABLE, INCLUDED IN THE ENTRY PDF.
  • If the articles are not by-lined, confirmation of authorship from the editor should be included in the supporting material/statement as part of your total pdf entry.
  • Please note all entries may be accompanied by an explanation, maximum 150 words for each article, maximum 450 words for the entry. Only those categories marked with an asterisk require a statement and are mandatory.
  • All articles in each category must relate to the built environment.
  • Articles published in house journals/newsletters etc are not eligible.

Group entries

  • For any category (except the two Magazine of the Year categories) a portfolio of three articles by more than one journalist from one magazine or online platform may be submitted. Each article must be by-lined by two or more journalists and the names of at least two journalists must be common to not less than two articles, although not necessarily in the same combination.

Scoop of the Year

  • This category is designed to reward an outstanding piece of journalism that broke news with a big impact within the built environment sector. Consideration will be given to the relative significance of the story and the journalist’s skill in obtaining the story and the information to support it. Stories can be broken on any platform – online, in print, or broadcast – and can be straight news stories or investigative features. Entrants will be expected to demonstrate proof of the story’s exclusivity in the form of speed to market compared with rival coverage.

Candidates should accompany their article with a completed entry form and a statement of up to 300 words explaining:

  • The significance of the story to the publication’s readership.
  • How the story was obtained, researched and developed

Candidates should also provide evidence of:

  • The impact the story had on the built environment sector
  • Follow up by rival media
  • Speed to market relatives to those follow ups. This could be in the form of screen shots showing time and/or date of publication; credit for the story given in other dated publications; written explanations highlighting how the text of the story shows it to be an exclusive (for eg, direct, original quotes from an interviewee that were paraphrased in coverage elsewhere).

Construction/Infrastructure Writer of the Year

  • Entries in his category can consist of news and/or features in construction, infrastructure, utilities, civil engineering and transportation sectors.

News Reporter of the Year*

  • Entries for this category should be accompanied by an explanation of no more than 150 words for each article, 450 words in total for each entry, giving the background to the three articles submitted. For example, you may wish to explain that the story was an ‘exclusive’ or that the degree of research or teamwork required to produce the story was of particular merit.

Feature Writer of the Year*

  • Entries for this category should be accompanied by an explanation of no more than 150 words for each article, a total of 450 words for each entry, outlining the three articles relevance to current issues in the construction/property industry. This category also allows for a series of articles (no more than three) on the same subject over two or more issues of a publication.

Business Writer of the Year*

  • This category is applicable to any aspect of the built environment, be that in print or on a digital platform. The award particularly seeks to recognize journalists writing business or financial stories about the built environment. The judges will be seeking meaningful articles which clearly demonstrate overall understanding of the sector, subject, and the needs of their readers, as well as sound commercial results. 

Housing & Residential Property Journalist of the Year

  • This category seeks to recognize journalists writing about the process of all forms of housing development including policy, land, design and reconstruction and/or sales, marketing and management issues for all forms of residential property.
  • The category also seeks to explore and capture all aspects of the energy debate in both new and existing housing stock designed, built and refurbished in the UK. You can submit articles on a mix of subjects or three articles on either housing or residential property topics.

‘New’Journalist of the Year

  • Journalists entering this category should have no more that two years experience in the sectors covered by the Awards to the year ending 31 August 2018, (verified by a letter from your editor, included in your online pdf), entries should demonstrate good research, investigative style and bold subjects’ representative of the built environment across all the Award categories.

Magazine of the Year

  • The Magazine Award categories (both weekly and non-weekly) seek to recognize the importance of editorial team effort in producing high quality publications for every sector of the construction, property and architecture industries, during the year ending 31 August 2018. Commercial and membership subscription magazines are eligible for both magazine categories.
  • The weekly and non-weekly categories specifically encourage entries from specialist publications which
  • are published weekly (weekly category only) monthly, quarterly or produced 6 or 10 times (non-weekly category only) during the year ending 31 August 2018.
  • In both categories, the editor should include a statement clearly outlining why he/she believes the magazine has substantially covered the market sector during the year ending 31 August 2018 with investigative reporting, features and news stories.
  • To support the above the editor should select any three issues, (four copies of each issue) covering the period year ending 31 August 2018 which should demonstrate use of research, choice of subject, photography, design and layout.

IBP Journalist of the Year

  • This Award will be judged from the winning entries in the individual Journalist/Writer of the Year categories (1 to 8 inclusive).
  • The judges’ decisions are final
  • There is a single winner in each category
  • Judges should make up to six nominations in each category, if the entry rate allows
  • Nominated journalists from whom the winner will be announced at the Awards dinner should make every effort to attend, as the guest of the category host, or be represented
  • All journalists that enter the awards will be invited to attend the Awards Presentation as IBP’s guest
  • No correspondence will be entered into on the judging process or the judge’s decisions

These details are correct at the time of circulation and are subject to change

July 18 2018

 

 

IBP National Journalism Awards 2018 – Guidance Notes for Digital Entries

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DIGITAL SERVICE/MULTI-MEDIA JOURNALIST AWARDS

The IBP Digital Service Award was launched eleven years ago to complement the Annual National [Print] Journalism Awards, which were established in 1973, to encourage and reward excellence in journalism in the sectors of construction, building, property and architecture.

The Digital Service category [defined as a digital platform that delivers news content] was introduced to recognise and reward high standards of writing and design for the web together with the key drivers, usability and accessibility. This category is the equivalent of the Magazine of the Year Award in the print categories.

The Multi-Media Journalist category, launched in 2010, focuses on individual contributions that show skills in a variety of fields, including writing content for digital platforms, writing for print, filming, podcasting and use of social networks.

 

BASIS FOR JUDGING: DIGITAL SERVICE CATEGORY

Journalism for the Web – Directness, newsworthiness, simplicity, conciseness, appropriate content for audience, quality of video journalism, use of headings and sub-headings and paragraph length.

Design for the Web – Visual appeal, visual clarity, relation between text and images, use of images and video, quality of repurposing.

Technical Construction – Speed of loading, cross-browser compatibility, quality of mobile/tablet applications, ease of log-in, universal accessibility.

Accessibility and innovation – Use of links, relationships to blogs, encouragement to tweet, use of twitter feed (e.g. retweets from magazines appearing on home page), one-off products such as special ipad apps, clarity of which content is free and which has to be paid for, ease of commenting, quality of live forums, innovative use of web.

 

BASIS FOR JUDGING: MULTI-MEDIA JOURNALIST CATEGORY

Originality – individual voice; angle to story appropriate for the market; use of direct quotes. (NB: It is very hard to judge if an entry is a breaking story or has the journalist’s own mark on it. Entrants have been asked to include explanatory notes with their entry, please see a copy of the Condition of Entry attached).

 Immediacy – live reports from an event; following a story as it breaks; regular updates; excitement.

 Appropriateness – writing/broadcasting in a manner appropriate to the medium; multiple presentations in appropriate form; appropriate selection of delivery method. (NB: is the story presented in the right way for its medium?).

 Good Journalism – general good writing/strong first lines/searching questions (on video) /readability or watchability. NB: in whatever medium, this should be well written or presented (in the case of video).

 Cross pollination – Use of one medium to promote a story that has appeared in another to promote the story or take it forward.

 

Conditions of Entry

 

The Awards are open to Digital Service and Multi-Media Journalists serving the built environment sector.

 

Closing date for entries: 4.00pm Monday 17 September 2018
The Awards ceremony and dinner takes place on Thursday 29 November 2018 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1J 7DR.
Awards Presented by: TBA
Hosted by: Peter Murray, Chairman, NLA

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NEXT – Digital Service Category

 

The editor of the Digital Service should prepare a statement, of no more than 400 words, in which he/she should clearly outline the following:

  • When the digital service was launched in its current format.
  • Mission statement.
  • How it relates to and/or interacts with a hard copy magazine/newspaper (if applicable, the digital content platform does NOT have to support a business-to-business title) which parts of the digital service are eligible for the award (i.e. which contain journalism).
  • How has the digital service substantially covered the market sector during the twelve-month period, year ending 31 August 2018.
  • Each website entry should consist of three examples of work, a completed online entry form and an editorial statement, and choice of payment method (see entry form for details).
  • All business-to-business digital services entered must relate to the architectural, construction, building and/or property industries.
  • If the entry is a subscription service please include an access code for the judges to view your site, specifically between 19 September and 11 October.
  • If you are highlighting links to specific stories, please give these in short forms (such as bit.ly).

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NEXT – Multi-Media Journalist Category

Journalists working across a range of media platform should prepare a statement, of no more than 400 words in which he/she should clearly outline the following:

  • At least two areas where they are active such as: print writing; web writing; blogging; twitter; video; broadcast and other social media.
  • Identify three pieces of work in the year ending 31 August 2018 on which you will be judged.
  • Show exceptionally imaginative/appropriate use of a range of media to communicate/promote a story covering the period ending 31 August 2018.
  • A single story which appears in more than one medium counts as a single piece of work.
  • Include example(s) of print work – if relevant.
  • Give detailed URLs of where to find online work. Please present these in short form (such as bit.ly). Please ensure that none of the stories you are entering into the award category have been archived.
  • Show the relevance to its audience and appropriateness to the media platform used.
  • If the entry involves access to a subscription website please include an access code for the judges to view examples of your work/entry, specifically between 19 September and 11 October.
  • Note: If the judges have unreasonable problems accessing/finding your entries you may be disqualified.

 

The content is correct at the time of circulation and could be subject to change

July 18 2018

IBP National Journalism Awards 2024

CALL FOR ONLINE ENTRIES

Closing date: Friday 6 September 2024

The IBP Journalism Awards 2024 are now open for entry. These awards recognise the very best journalism in property and the built environment and have become a benchmark for excellence. They are judged by a panel of influential journalists and industry professionals drawn from the built environment.

Winners of the journalist categories will be awarded £500 and the overall winner will be named IBP Journalist of the Year.

You can view the categories and submit your entry through our new awards website.

The deadline to enter is Friday 6 September 2024 and we encourage entries from any journalist or media brand writing about the built environment. To qualify for entry, all articles should have been published in the 12-month period ending 31 August 2024.

The award ceremony will take place on 21 November 2024 at The Building Centre in London.

If you have any questions about the awards, please contact Cristie Hammond: ibpjournalismawards@gmail.com

IBP National Journalism Awards 2016 – Call for Online Entries

Enter the IBP Journalism Awards online

To enter you simply format your three articles, you can use stories from a mix of platforms – online, print, or broadcast or from a single source, and submit them with your completed entry form and support material in the templates provided online.

This year, in addition to the individual ‘New’ Journalist Award category winner, the sponsor: The Built Environment Trust, has also created a £500 bursary for each of the finalists in this category, and will commission each nominee to write an article on an appropriate subject relevant to the built environment. See conditions of entry for full details.

With further improvements this year filing your entry online should make the whole process easier and quicker. We have also extended the entry period by a week, therefore you should be able to plan your entry well in advance of the closing date.

Key dates:

Awards open: 31 August

Awards close: 16 September

Awards online longlist judging commences: 19 September

Awards ‘live’ shortlist judging: 17 October

Awards nominations announced shortly after final judging

Awards Presentation Dinner: 01 December

These highly valued journalism awards are supported by some of the built environment’s leading companies and judged by panels of senior journalists, including former winners, and industry professionals.

The range of awards offer a fantastic opportunity for both new and established journalists in our sector. I urge you to pitch your best work against that of your colleagues and rivals, and to secure the recognition that your work deserves.

Click here to begin your online Awards Entry

Click here for full details, terms and conditions

Click here for Magazine of the Year Entry Form (hard copy entries only)

Click here for details and methods of payment

Click here for the presentation dinner event flyer

 

The Annual Wren Talk – The Great Fire of London

DELIVERED BY WRITER AND HISTORIAN ADRIAN TINNISWOOD

DATE: 14th June | 7pm-8:15pm

St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, London See full event details

Writer and historian Adrian Tinniswood pieces together the human story of the Fire
and its aftermath, providing a reconstruction of what happened to schoolchildren,
and servants, courtiers and clergymen.

The Great Fire wasn’t simply a tragedy of economics and architecture, some
436 acres of closely packed streets burned, 13,200 houses destroyed, millions of
pounds lost; it also killed and maimed, and it drove Londoners mad in their quest
for vengeance.

Tinniswood, a seasoned lecturer and broadcaster, explores the history of a cataclysm
and its consequences from the fi rst small blaze to the rebirth of the City.
Paul Finch, editorial director of Architects’ Journal, will introduce The Wren Talk
which takes place as part of the London Festival of Architecture.

TICKETS
£18 door
£12 advance from
www.stbrides.com

CONTACT
gloria@stbrides.com

Click here to download a pdf flyer for the event

IBP Journalism Awards 2020: Full Results, Nominations and Entries

IBP Journalist of the Year 2020

Nick Ferrari, Jack Simpson, Inside Housing, Harriett Hindmarsh, sponsor: AECOM

The overall winner of the title of IBP Journalist of the Year 2020 is Jack Simpson, writing for Inside Housing. His winning articles are available to view under News Reporter of the Year and Scoop of the Year categories.

CLICK HERE to download the full report in the IBP Awards 2020 Bulletin

Click on any of the arrows next to a Winner or nominated journalist’s name to access and view their entries.


NF, Robert Wilson, Architects’ Journal, Martin Davies, sponsor: Grimshaw Global

ARCHITECTURE WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Grimshaw Global


Robert Wilson, Architects’ Journal - WINNER

Nominations

Ike Ijeh, London Architecture Works
Formerly with Building/Building Design
Elizabeth Hopkirk, Building Design


Click to view Judges' Comments

ARCHITECTURE WRITER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Robert Wilson, Architects’ Journal

 The judges felt that this was a terrific series of articles. Every feature was jam-packed with details and insights, giving the reader a window into something that they might never have come across. Robert Wilson has a distinctive style, playful, yet never indulgent, combined with a deep understanding of the subject matter. The judges enjoyed the modern cultural references, the humour and the writing that seemed effortless and always accessible.

 Nominations:

Ike Ijeh, London Architecture Works formerly Building/Building Design

Ike is not afraid to ruffle feathers and upbraid readers, which makes his submissions provocative and refreshing. He takes us outside the comfortable bubble architects usually inhabit and challenges home truths.

Elizabeth Hopkirk, Building Design

 Elizabeth knows how to bring a subject to life, weaving in interviews with technical details, teamwork and all the challenges that bringing a building project to fruition poses.


NF, Ian Weinfass, Construction News, Andrew Gaskell, sponsor: Willmott Dixon

CONSTRUCTION / INFRASTRUCTURE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Willmott Dixon


Ian Weinfass, Construction News- WINNER

Nominations
Rob Horgan, New Civil EngineerHighly Commended
Fran Williams, Architects’ Journal
Jordon Marshall, Building


Click to view Judges' Comments

CONSTRUCTION / INFRASTRUCTURE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: Ian Weinfass, Construction News

Three well structured articles packed with detail and enthusiastically presented.

The ‘hard hitting’ piece on ‘Cladding Battles’ benefited from in-depth research and a close attention to detail, while the article on ‘Leicester City RC’s training ground’ drew high praise from the judges – a well structured piece underpinned by a keen technical appreciation. The judges were impressed overall by the imaginative and determined approach to research and information gathering.

 Nominations:

 Rob Horgan, New Civil EngineerHighly Commended

Three consistently good, well researched articles delivered with pace.

The piece on ‘Net Zero Rules’ was insightful, guiding the reader thoughtfully through the findings of this impactful and potentially far reaching investigation.

The piece on Hammersmith Bridge was in the judges view compelling, capturing the ambition and ingenuity of this unique project.

Jordon Marshall, Building

 Three well researched and well crafted pieces. The Caroline Pidgin interview was informative and revealing. The piece on ‘Cleaning a disaster area during a Pandemic’ added an international flavour, with detail gathered ‘on the ground’ adding impact and emotion to this well structured and skillfully collated piece.

 Fran Williams, Architects’ Journal

 Three comprehensive and worthy articles demonstrating a keen appreciation of construction challenges. The judges found the piece on ‘virtuous Circles’ a skillful presentation of the potential for ‘reclamation’ in construction. In the judges view the ‘Brutal Refurbishment piece captured the technical details in an easy to read style – drawing the reader in.


NF, Jack Simpson, Inside Housing, judge Peter Roper on behalf of IBP

NEWS REPORTER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by IBP


Jack Simpson, Inside Housing - WINNER

Nominations
Pete Apps, Inside Housing
Lucie Heath, Inside Housing


Click to view Judges' Comments

NEWS REPORTER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Jack Simpson, Inside Housing

Jack has a very clear strong style. He is probing, challenging and investigative, not holding back in pursuing the story.

Nominations:

 Pete Apps, Inside Housing

 A strong submission from a leading voice from the sector. A really important and timely on eviction bans and the reality behind them.

 Lucie Heath, Inside Housing

A journalist that isn’t afraid to explore the issues affecting some of the most vulnerable people in society, getting real stories of their experience that are relevant to her specialist readers.


NF, Zak Garner-Purkis, Construction News, Harriett Hindmarsh, sponsor: AECOM

FEATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by AECOM Headline Sponsor


Zak Garner-Purkis, Construction News - WINNER

Nominations

Pete Apps, Inside Housing – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Nathaniel Barker, Inside Housing
Martina Lees, writing for The Sunday Times and Times
Richard Waite, The Architects’ Journal


Click to view Judges' Comments

FEATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Zak Garner-Purkis, Construction News

 Three ‘hard hitting’, well-constructed articles, from this category winner, presented in a fluid style, being both informative and engaging.

The judges found the collaborative piece on Istanbul’s new airport comprehensive and insightful reflecting the skillful application of in-depth research. The pieces drawing attention to ‘Slave labour in London’ and ‘Slavery in the supply chain’ were each powerful and revealing.

The comprehensive and fearless approach gave insight to issues affecting the lives of many: “A fine example of investigative journalism” highly praised by the judges.

 Nominations:

 Pete Apps, Inside HousingHighly Commended

 Three well structured and skillfully collated pieces. The revealing interview with Toby Lloyd was in the judges view, compelling. The comprehensive and ‘hard hitting’ pieces on ‘Dangerous Cladding’ and the ‘Failure of the Grenfell Tower Refurbishment’ demonstrated the writer’s ability to present complexity with admirable clarity. Three powerful pieces were praised by the judges for their analytical presentation.

 Nathaniel Barker, Inside Housing

 Three well researched pieces of a consistently high standard. The comprehensive piece on ‘Permitted Development Wrongs’ was particularly engaging. A hard hitting piece on the link between Covid-19 deaths and the housing crisis gave clear expression to the far reaching impact of the pandemic.

 Martina Lees, writing for The Sunday Times and Times

 The judges were impressed by three well researched features covering a wide range of topics. The piece on the ‘Rise of the Gladiators’ was powerfully insightful, gripping the reader’s attention throughout. A fast moving piece on ‘Self employed workers’ admirably highlighted the plight of those caught up in the vagaries of the Governments’ coronavirus financial support strategy.

 Richard Waite, Architects’ Journal

 Three well crafted pieces of a diverse and topical nature. The piece on the ‘Grenfell Tower Enquiry’ stood out. The judges commented that this well presented piece was both powerful and revealing.


NF, David Price, Construction News, Hon Vice President IBP, Peter Bill

BUSINESS / FINANCIAL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by IBP


David Price, Construction News - WINNER

Nominations
Luke Cross, Social Housing
Mike Phillips, Bisnow


Click to view Judges' Comments

BUSINESS / FINANCIAL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: David Price, Construction News

 David tackled big and important subjects – the continuing aftermath of Grenfell and the new and changing crisis of coronavirus. He has an ability to get good quotes from his subjects but he is not scared to attack. This was hard edged journalism, well-written. The three pieces were penetrating and urgent.

Nominations:

Luke Cross, Social Housing

Luke knows the housing market inside out and he knows what will interest his readers – and they know that they can trust his judgement. By writing about how social housing will adjust to ESG – environmental, social and governance – after the pandemic he embraced two items high on his readers’ agendas.

Mike Phillips, Bisnow

 Mike writes long-form journalism with a pacy style that would make even non-property readers interested in esoteric subjects. This confident style shows that he knows his subject but he writes with an informality not usually seen in specialist publications or on digital platforms. His submitted articles on Brexit, care-homes and the death of the lease were topical and controversial but well-informed.


NF, Pete Apps, Inside Housing, Derek Harris, sponsor: Barratt Developments

HOUSING / RESIDENTIAL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Barratt Developments


Pete Apps, Inside Housing - WINNER

Nominations
Nathaniel Barker, Inside Housing
Lucie Heath, Inside Housing


Click to view Judges' Comments

HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: Pete Apps, Inside Housing

 Pete offered consistently strong articles that are well written with good analysis and quotes. He provides real insight on issues affecting the sector. This has never been so important as people are at risk of becoming disconnected from issues due to Covid-19.

Nominations:

Nathaniel Barker, Inside Housing

 A good mix of article types with really strong investigations of issues relating to Eight to Buy fraud as well as a data-rich exploration of new council house building.

Lucie Heath, Inside Housing

 A very good writing style, that tackles gritty issues and isn’t afraid to get out of London. An article on Glasgow’s homelessness showed the benefits of real hard work to get underneath the skin of the story. Coverage of Covid was very early in forecasting issues that would arise in the sector, highlighting real problems.



NF, David Lowe, Building, Vanessa Norwood, sponsor: The Built Environment Trust

'NEW' JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The Built Environment Trust


Thomas Lowe, Building - WINNER

Nominations
Megan Kelly, Construction News - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Lucie Heath, Inside Housing - COMMENDED


Click to view Judges' Comments

NEW JOURNALIST JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: Thomas Lowe, Building

Thomas is a journalist with great potential . The submission revealed a confident and engaging style smoothly blending fact, chat and stories. The information was always revealing and the opinion measured and the writer did not hesitate to challenge the industry.

The submission included an excellent and revealing interview and a feature where different voices were woven together to paint a picture of how leaving the EU has impacted construction workers.

Nominations:

Megan Kelly, Construction News - Highly Commended

Megan is a journalist with bags of initiative and the ability to get exclusives. The writing is lean and vivid, drawing the reader into the heart of the stories, which are engaging and packed with meticulous research. The writer shows a sharp nose for news.

Lucie Heath, Inside Housing - Commended

 Lucie has a thorough, questioning style and tackles important and tricky subjects with thorough research and deep passion. The content, some of which is drawn from Freedom of Information requests, is excellent and challenges Government policy on homelessness.

 


NF, Ben Hobson, Dezeen, Marcus Naef, sponsor: Live Group

EVENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Live Group


Dezeen: Virtual Design Festival - WINNER

Nominations
Architects’ Journal / Architectural Review / EMAP: W Awards
Building / Assemble Media Group: The Building Awards 2019


Click to view Judges' Comments

EVENT OF THE YEAR

Winner: Dezeen: Virtual Design Festival

The judges were very impressed by the Dezeen entry which demonstrated ambition, imagination and creative flair with varied and engaging content and well branded segments of different offers from interviews to collaborations. They particularly like its ‘phoenix out of the ashes’ response to a looming disaster.

With a reduced team and on a modest budget, the organiser put in place a wide range of virtual events which spoke straight to the interests and concerns of its community. They quickly and clearly identified where the need might be for sharing information, for instance schools of architecture and speedily pulled in a array of impressive, high-profile collaborators. In the circumstances, to bring in ‘over £500,000’ was an extraordinary achievement.

Nominations:

Architects’ Journal / Architectural Review / EMAP: W Awards

The W Awards stood out for the judges as “undoubtedly the purest and most commendable of objectives.” The Awards succeeded in fore fronting the work of women in architectural practice and provided a great opportunity to hear from women working on high profile projects and provided vital mentoring support.

Building/Assemble Media Group: The Building Awards 2019

The judges noted that the Building Awards are clearly a successful and joyous event, however, reading about them seemed like memories of the past, The world has changed irrevocably since the event which made it hard to compare to the other finalists. Going forward the judges hope that the Awards event will find new formats to engage with their audience.


NF, Marcus Fairs, Dezeen Vice President IBP, Ruth Slavid

DIGITAL LEADERSHIP OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by IBP


Marcus Fairs, Dezeen - WINNER

Nomination
Jamie Harris, Freelance, formally Building magazine


Click to view Judges' Comments

DIGITAL LEADERSHIP OF THE YEAR

Winner: Marcus Fairs, Dezeen

Marcus Fairs’ infectious smile shone through all 50 – yes, fifty – interviews he conducted with architects and designers as part of the innovative and highly profitable Virtual Design Festival, and he has even more reason to smile as winner of this award.

Little wonder that Dezeen continues to show impressive growth, turning even the Covid-19 pandemic into an opportunity.

Nomination:

Jamie Harris, Freelance, formally Building magazine

Jamie follows up last year’s win for digital leadership with this worthy nomination which again shows his ability in a wide range of areas – from helping to design the website to hosting interesting podcasts. The judges wish him the best of luck in whatever he decides to do next.


NF, Jack Simpson, Inside Housing, Giles Barrie, sponsor: FTI Consulting

SCOOP OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by FTI Consulting


Jack Simpson, Inside Housing - WINNER

Nomination
Louise Clarence-Smith, The Times
Joey Gardiner, Building


Click to view Judges' Comments

SCOOP OF THE YEAR

Winner: Jack Simpson, Inside Housing

Jack was miles ahead of the competition with a scoop on the cladding scandal which has left thousands trapped in flats they are unable to sell. The national media took months to catch up with what a big story this is and how it’s blighting the lives of so many.

Nominations:

Louise Clarence-Smith, The Times

A slick telling of a fantastic scoop which was followed up by the rest of the media.

Joey Gardiner, Building

A good old-fashioned scoop which had considerable impacted on publication, within the sector and beyond.


NF, Emily Booth, Architects’ Journal, Sarah Harding, sponsor: Marley

EDITORIAL BRAND OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Marley


The Architects’ Journal - WINNER

Nominations
Inside Housing –
Highly Commended
Building

Construction News

Dezeen  


Click to view Judges' Comments

EDITORIAL BRAND OF THE YEAR

Winner: Architects’ Journal

While most 125-year-olds would sit back and consider a life well lived, The Architects’ Journal continues to reinvent itself -and to terrific effect has a clear goal and a well defined strategy. By making climate change its focus, it has positioned the brand for the future, while supporting and educating its readers.

When race and diversity became defining issues of 2020, the AJ was able to build on work it had begun two years before, giving its coverage added momentum and gravitas . In its reaction to the pandemic, AJ struck a superb balance between practical ‘how to’ guides, informative data and a communal sense of creativity in lockdown.

Vision, focus and great execution – the AJ is a deserving winner from a strong field of entries.

Nominations:

Inside HousingHighly Commended

The campaigning was excellent, and the publication has really made its name in its laser-like focus on flammable cladding. It has not given up on this long-running story and is still pressing for further change. Coverage of COVID was good. The judges were pleased by the appointment of a BAME advisory panel to increase diversity. The judges also commend the Digital Housing Week and the excellent use of social media.

Building

The good journalism and appealing stories deserved to find a wider audience.

Construction News

The judges loved the campaigning zeal and the use of real investigative journalism. This is a brand that tries to give its audience a voice. It has energy and a story to tell.

Dezeen

This is a brand that is bursting with ambition, energy and new ideas. Its Virtual Design Festival in particular is to be commended as a rapid response to the pandemic that generated a lot of traffic and attention.


Nick Ferrari, Jack Simpson, Inside Housing, Harriett Hindmarsh, sponsor: AECOM

IBP JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by AECOM Headline Sponsor


Jack Simpson, Inside Housing - WINNER


Click to view Judges' Comments

IBP JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: Jack Simpson, Inside Housing

Some aspiring journalists choosing between jobs might consider writing about social housing dull. How wrong they would be. This sector has yielded important stories for many IBP winners in recent years, not least after Grenfell Tower.

But a fire at a block in Barking last year also provided stories. Luckily no-one died, but the wooden cladding, the plastic mesh - nevermind the propane tank on the roof – were described chillingly in a report for the fire brigade that was leaked to Jack Simpson and splashed across Inside Housing, rightly winning him the News Reporter of the Year award.

That was not Jack’s only scoop, however. He revealed how government guidance following Grenfell has made mortgage lenders wary of financing flats with cladding, blocking sales and leaving owners unable to sell.

The judges agreed: “Jack was miles ahead of the competition. The national media took months to catch up with what a big story this is and how it’s blighting the lives of so many.”

These, and the other pieces that Jack submitted, show not only the strength of his contacts but an ability to highlight the relevant facts and present them in a way easily understood by general, as well as specialist, readers.

They are journalism at its best, and the follow-ups by the national press demonstrate the importance and impact of Jack’s stories.



Clive Branson: An appreciation by friends and former colleagues

Gerald Bowey, former CEO, IBP, writes:
The passing of Clive Branson draws to a close one of the most varied careers in financial and property journalism across a range of media platforms. However, Clive’s heart and mind remained in Fleet Street and with the national media that he loved so much.

I first met Clive in the early 1980’s when he was editor of CSW, based in Red Lion Court and I was a director of Creasy Public Relations, in Crane Court, both just situated off Fleet Street. I was heading up the Campaign for Traditional Housing at the time, but CPR had just won the BMW Motorbike PR account and, as I knew Clive was a motorbike and speed fanatic, I invited him to give the latest model a test drive and critique the experience. It took some time to get the bike back from him!

We became firm friends and when I became chairman of IBP in 1992, I asked him to be the Vice Chairman. Typical Clive, at first, he asked why? I explained that I wanted to broaden the appeal of IBP to the national press and that I would find his background and knowledge invaluable in achieving this ambition. Clive never faltered and was a steadfast supporter of IBP. He was particularly effective as the chairman of the journalism awards judging panel for the Young Journalist category, he was passionate about encouraging young newcomers to journalism and went out of his way to guide them in the right direction. It was also Clive’s idea to establish the IBP Northwest Regional Journalism Awards in 2008. He clearly identified that the regional property sector was not only creating some outstanding developments but talented young journalists too.

Following national service in the RAF and a short flirtatious period in politics Clive eventually started work at the Financial Times followed by a stint as city editor of the Daily Sketch. There followed a period as a freelance focusing on economic analysis and financial magazines and several years at the start of AP-Dow Jones, moving back into national journalism at the Daily Mail. Branson went on to complete another bout of freelance work at the Investors Review which he later bought and subsequently sold to Charlie Forte. Throughout this time, he also did shifts on national newspapers including the Observer together with city offices of regional papers such as the Yorkshire Post.

After the Investors Review, he completed a period on the Sunday Times and later the Sunday Standard. He then moved to the Builder Group as editorial; director of RICS Journals overseeing the redesign and launch of CSW magazine (now Property Week), launching his final title Euro Property. His last national newspaper appointment was property editor on the European newspaper. He was still editing Commercial Property Register, a series of regional property titles, at the time of his death.

Clive and I met regularly for lunch with the conversation always covering a whole range of subjects, many grabbing the news headlines. We had over the years tried to launch a magazine together and were working on a book together, covering his experiences in the city and some of the stories he couldn’t break. I will miss him, and we will all miss those insights that have now alas gone with him.

Charles Garside, former Editor in Chief of the European:
In the rough old world of journalism Clive was a gentleman.
A fine journalist, a good raconteur, and an excellent lunch companion.
He loved business and the business of journalism. Another good man gone too soon.

Dominic Morgan, former News Editor, Property Week:
Clive is the reason I am where I am. In the summer of 1986, he offered me work experience two days a week at what was then Chartered Surveyor Weekly. That was my break in journalism and the start of an extensive career in the built environment. He was a mentor and an inspiration, imbuing his team with old-school Fleet Street news sense and a healthy mistrust of the pomposity that was rife in the sector in those days. And he always had your back. He’d support his journalists to the last, even when they might, on occasion, blur the lines between a juicy rumour and a confirmed fact.

Clive had great stories of his own and was a straight-talking raconteur, whether reminiscing about his national service, his brief foray into politics or his days on the street of shame. He was smart, charming, and good looking, with a south east London edge that could command a room when he wanted to.

Property journalism owes a lot to Clive. He played a big part in pushing that sector of publishing beyond the confines of the traditional trade press to becoming a lively, newsy, compelling, and sometimes controversial weekly read. Our world has lost a great friend.

James Whitmore, former City Editor, Property Week:
Without Clive I probably would not have become a journalist. I had long dreamed of being a writer but after spending an idle three years at university and screwing up my degree, I was fearful for my prospects. Through a mutual friend, Clive offered me a job “interview” at Chartered Surveyor Weekly. Fortunately, he didn’t give a fig about my degree. All he cared about was: “Do you really want to be a journalist”? He offered me a month’s unpaid work under the guidance of features editors, Janice McKenzie. I ended up writing a few (fairly ropey) regional features and he offered me a job as a junior reporter.

Clive was an old school editor. He loved telling us stories about his former life on Fleet Street as a financial hack. That was when he was in our Pemberton Row office, which wasn’t often. Sometimes he would be there early in the morning, sometimes he would be there later in the afternoon, but never in between. When he did come back in the afternoon, his daughter, Sophie, would invariably arrive to take him home.

One afternoon he came back to hear me on the phone being harangued by Michael Cole, Harrods’ PR man, after I had written an erroneous story about Harrods opening in Canary Wharf. He grabbed the phone and for the next five minutes gave Cole a piece of his mind. It didn’t matter that I had got the story wrong, I was Clive’s reporter and he always looked after his team.

Clive didn’t write a lot for the magazine, but the one feature he wrote religiously was about the seaside town of Worthing. It has to be said that Worthing did not really merit an annual feature, as it didn’t possess a commercial property market as such. However, it was where Clive had a second home and every year he would pop down for a few days, interview the local property agents and write up 1,500 words in praise of Worthing.

I loved those times in the late ‘80s working for Clive. I know my colleagues did too. He was a very kind person and such good company.

Charlie Potter, Founder/Publisher, Commercial Property Register:
Clive joined Commercial Property Register 24 years ago, a sprightly 62-year-old. The magazines were a niche publication but despite only cornering a small part of the market Clive’s enthusiasm and ideas to improve the product were boundless.

Of course, Clive was a good journalist but for me he came into his own when he hosted our regular editorial lunches. Clients were perhaps expecting a younger editor, fresh from university and instead were presented with Clive, a veteran of Fleet Street, a former war correspondent and a past editor of one of the big national property magazines.

Not surprisingly, lunches were very entertaining, memorable, and long! One of the more amusing stories that Clive would tell was when he was in his late twenties and was working on one of the national newspapers on Fleet Street. Clive had either been fired or, more likely, had told the editor to get stuffed but as a consequence was out of a job. Whilst nursing his wounds in a Fleet Street pub one of his old friends, a professional diver, joined Clive in the pub and asked a favour of him.

North Sea Gas had just been discovered off the coast of East Anglia and his friend had been hired with several others to survey the ocean floor for suitable spots for the gas platforms. Clive’s diver friend had been let down by a diving associate who had cried off late in the day and he needed someone to take his place otherwise he would lose the job and the lucrative earnings. He assured Clive that he would not have to dive as he would do it all but there was a safety requirement that each diver needed a “buddy” in case of emergency.

The next morning Clive found himself on a boat in the North Sea hiding behind a copy of the Financial Times, nursing a horrendous hangover, whilst the other divers, including his friend took turns to survey the ocean floor.

About lunchtime the captain of the boat, who had lost a leg during the war, approached Clive, and asked him why he was not diving? Peering back from behind his paper a nervous Clive replied that he had not been asked…not a problem the captain said…you are next!

Luckily, Clive was a fit young man, a keen rugby player and despite being told the diving basics by his friend was nevertheless still very apprehensive as he was lowered to the ocean floor. A much-relieved Clive returned to the boat a little later and then for the rest of the day had to avoid the crusty one-legged Captain who had taken an amorous interest in him!

Clive had a full life and was certainly one of a kind, who was a good friend and will be sorely missed!

Employment advice by Media Contacts for Employers

 

Tips for Securing the Best Candidates

 

Securing the Best Candidates

Inevitably good quality candidates are always in demand. Our clients constantly talk about a “candidate short” market. It is therefore very important to have a strategy in place to help you secure the candidates that you want to hire once they have entered the recruitment process. Here are some tips, in chronological order:

Before Hiring:

  • What is your company’s reputation like amongst potential employees? Ways to enhance it include:
    • Positive reviews on Glassdoor
    • A well thought out “Careers” section on your web site. NB this should be more geared towards why you are a great place to work rather than a list of job specs outlining your demands in terms of what you are looking for. Perhaps have video content from current staff, or quotes from them about why they enjoy it. Highlight any unusual company benefits, talk about company culture and success stories of people who have joined
    • Being aware of any negative sentiment from former staff. Be ready to tackle it in a forthright way at interview
  • Prepare a pitch to set out your company’s vision, 5 year plan and how the role(s) can develop once people start
  •  If using a recruitment consultancy, make sure your rates are competitive. Pushing hard on a rate discount might seem like a cost saving, but it can make you less of a commercial priority. Give the recruiter urgency, agreeing when you would like to receive CVs and giving them interview availability.

First Contact:

  • Whether using a recruiter or sourcing a candidate directly, always try to find out the following information as early as possible, preferably before the first face-to-face interview. This can commonly be done in an initial telephone conversation. In red are the reasons for asking these questions and how to use the answers:
    • How long has the candidate been looking for a job and what stage(s) are they at with other employers? If the candidate has only just started looking, you could steal a march on your competitors. Maybe ask the candidate to hold off on making other applications until they have met you, and certainly get some urgency into the interview process to avoid unnecessary competition. If they are already interviewing elsewhere, you may need to drop everything and see them very quickly, with an accelerated interview process. Some savvy employers will do an “all-in one” interview day so that they can make a decision the same day as seeing the candidate.
    • What are their salary expectations? Check that there is no fundamental problem with meeting their needs. If you are in a position to potentially offer a significant increase, then this can be mentioned up front, to further enhance the appeal of your offering.
    • What is their notice period and do they have any holidays that might delay a start date or mean they need time off once they have started a new role? This information will help prevent any surprises once you get to job offer.
    • What are they looking for? If you can properly understand why someone wants to change jobs, you can use this to sell your role and company effectively, as you can match their needs. NB some candidates will give a vague answer such as “looking for a new challenge” - if so, be prepared to dig a bit to get to the true motivation. A good way of doing this is to ask “Why have you specifically decided that you need a new challenge now? What do you mean by wanting a new challenge – what do you want to change?”
    • When was their last salary review? Is there anything their current employer could do to change their mind about leaving? In a candidate short market, counter offers from employers are common. By pre-empting this early on and discussing it, you can help the candidate to visualise leaving their job, plus also be alerted to how high a risk there is of a counter offer being accepted.

Interview Process:

  • Assuming you like the candidate at interview, we would advise to do the following:
    • Make sure you sell your role and company to the candidate, matching up with their reasons for looking for a new job.
    • Give the candidate plenty of opportunity to ask you questions.
    • Have the candidate meet a good ambassador for the company – maybe a potential peer rather than line manager, who can sell the company on peer-to-peer terms and give an account of what it is like working there and why they enjoy it. NB you should use a positive employee, who has good people skills for this
    • Have a strategy for “closing” the candidate. If things go well, let the candidate know that you like them. Make arrangements for a second interview or make a job offer there and then. Ask for feedback and whether the candidate has any concerns (so that you can counter them)
    • If using a recruitment consultancy, be quick in exchanging feedback. Recruiters will prioritise clients who respond quickly and are keen to make things happen.

 

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Communication and PR Awards 2016 – Call for Entries

The 2016 Communication and PR Awards are now open for entries

Chaired and judged by leading editors and our peers representing the built environment, previous winners all demonstrated sector specific skills, knowledge, creativity and professionalism. This is a unique opportunity for you to be acknowledged and rewarded for your expertise and flair.

The Awards are intended to showcase and give recognition to in-house PR departments, Public Relations Consultants and Freelance Practitioners working in the built environment, including architecture, construction, residential and commercial property. The Awards are dedicated to communications activity and were established in 2013 in response to the increasing recognition by journalists and PR professionals of the important role that public relations and communications plays in the industry.

“The IBP awards provide an excellent opportunity for communication professionals to get the recognition they deserve for the important role they play working for organisations in the built environment.”
Harriett Hindmarsh
IBP Chair and Vice President, and Global Head of Marketing
and Communications, AECOM Buildings and Places

See last year’s winning entries

Key dates are:

Friday 15 April at 12 noon: Closing date
Thursday 19, Friday 20 and Monday 23 May: interviews will take place between 09.00 and 12.30 at The Building Centre
Thursday 16 June: Awards Presentation Party

For full details, hints and tips and how to enter online click here

Entry includes 2016 annual membership subscription and complimentary  invitation to the awards party!

Front Page

IBP National Journalism Awards 2022 shortlist announced

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the 49th annual IBP National Journalism Awards.This years’ shortlisted journalists and media brands have once again wowed the judges. The standard of the entries is extremely high and there is some tough competition within each category. Click here to see the full shortlist.

The winners for these categories and the much-coveted ‘Journalist of the Year’ accolade will be revealed at the awards ceremony on Thursday 17 November at IET Savoy Place in Central London. You can now book your tickets for the IBP Award Ceremony via Eventbrite.

Thank you to everyone who entered the IBP Awards this year, and many congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted. We look forward to celebrating with you at the awards.

Executive Board Message 2021

I think you will all agree that it has been quite a year, but hopefully we should see a return to something that is, if not normal, then closer to normal life as we begin to pick-up the pieces and engage with colleagues and face-to-face business challenges.

The lockdown has given the IBP executive board a chance to reflect and review where we are as a membership organisation, and to look at how we might want to shape the role of the organisation going forward.

The executive board has lots of ideas and you will hear more about these initiatives over the next months as we prepare for this year’s journalism awards. If you have any ideas that you would like to share with the board please let me know by email to: Harriett.Hindmarsh@aecom.com

Harriett Hindmarsh
Chair, IBP

Click here for the AGM papers

Peter Bill receives Outstanding Contribution to Journalism Award

Peter Bill is still in journalistic harness, having worked in the construction sector in many different forms, since leaving school at the age of 15 and starting to train as a surveyor in 1962.

A long-form career included 11 years with Wimpey, two with Anglo-American in Zambia, then eight years with a builder and housebuilder before his conversion to journalism, joining Contract Journal in 1983.

Our new journalist had no time to waste. After two years at CJ he was off to Building as features editor, rising up the ranks to become editor from 1990 to 1996, a highly  successful era for the magazine, when it won unprecedented numbers of awards including many IBP Journalism Awards.

A brief excursion in the City of London at Fleming Securities was a reminder of the civilised nature of the world of IBP. Editorship of the Estates Gazette followed, then a long period as a columnist on EG, but also in the general  public’s eye as the Evening Standard weekly property commentator.

Now an occasional columnist for Property Week, he also produces an acerbic daily twitter comment while working on his latest book, entitled Arrested Development, a follow-up to Planet Property, published in 2014.

Peter’s continued contribution to journalism in the built environment is marked with the presentation of the first IBP Outstanding Contribution Award.

Tony Travers to give 2021 Wren Talk’

2021 Journalism Awards nominations

Graham Ridout remembered

Graham Ridout, award winning investigative journalist on Contract Journal and Building magazine was laid to rest on Monday 7th June. He passed away aged 74 on 10th May having been diagnosed with lung cancer last November. He seemed to have got through chemo and radiotherapy quite well but spent his last 5 weeks in hospital after developing sepsis. It was hoped that he would recover but his condition deteriorated.

Some of his friends and colleagues remember him… please click here

IBP National Journalism Awards 2020: Full results, awards bulletin and nominations

To view details
Click Here

The Annual Wren Talk: ’Nicholas Barbon – the man who transformed London’

Architectural writer and historian Jeremy Melvin gives this year’s talk on the colourful seventeenth century economist and financier, Nicholas Barbon, who turned property development into speculation and invented fire insurance.

Click here for full information and ticket applications 

IBP Futures Group: Response and Responsibility – Video

Response and Responsibility the full debate in individual speaker modules followed by the Q&A.

Please click here

What the industry says…

See what the industry is saying about the IBP Journalism Awards

Click Here

Ibp 50th Anniversary Celebration Programme

Built environment comms professional? Stand out by learning the science behind the art of communications

Harriett-HindmarshHarriett Hindmarsh,
Chair of the Board for IBP and Vice President, Global Marketing and Communications at AECOM. ​

I’ve worked in the built environment industry as a communications professional for over 10 years and in that time I’ve seen the role evolve enormously.

The post-recession world is incredibly dynamic and demanding with more and more pressure on resource and the need to be accountable, and in my opinion as professionals we need to acknowledge the way the profession is changing.

Here are the major trends that you need be on top of if you want to thrive...

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

About ibp

International Building Press (ibp) is a membership organisation that brings together journalists and communications professionals involved in the construction, architecture, housing and property sectors.

ibp provides its members with unparalleled opportunities to share experiences, network and further their careers through a calendar of events events link and two prestigious annual awards schemes.

Membership is open to national, regional, business and technical journalists, press relations and communications professionals and to employees and freelancers alike. Current members include many of the best known professionals on the field

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