Journalism student wins Guardian opinion writing award

Sophia Ankel, a journalism Masters student from Goldsmiths, University of London, has won The Guardian’s 2018 Hugo Young award.

The award, founded in memory of political columnist Hugo Young, encourages fresh voices, new perspectives and good writing, and champions the best political opinion writing among postgraduate journalism students.

Sophia’s winning article ‘What I learned when naked pictures of me leaked online’ describes her experience as a victim of revenge porn and its harrowing after effects. In her piece Sophia wrote: “I finally pressed “send” and, with that, lost all ownership and dignity of something deeply private and personal to me – my own body”. Her article appeared in the opinion section of The Guardian and was published both in print and online.

The award was presented to the winner and nominees commended by The Guardian’s editor-in-chief Katharine Viner and joint political editor and lead judge Anushka Asthana.

Following her win, Sophia said: “The journalism course at Goldsmiths has opened many doors for me and given me opportunities and connections that I wouldn't have had before.  More importantly, my amazing lecturers and peers really encouraged and supported me through writing this story, one that I was originally very nervous to write. Without them, I wouldn't have submitted my article in the first place.”

It is the second year in a row that a Goldsmiths student has won the award, last year’s winner was Daniel Lavelle for his article on homelessness.

Read more about the award in the GNM press office release.