by Danny Boyle

dboyle@thekmgroup.co.uk

The winner of a top journalism award has already been comparing notes with news veteran Jon Snow.
Tania Steere , of Darent Mead, Sutton-at-Hone, and who attended Dartford Grammar School for Girls, was presented the Bob Friend memorial scholarship by the Channel 4 news presenter after a lecture at the University of Kent at Medway.
The 19-year-old, a Centre for Journalism student at the Chatham Maritime campus, was so inspired by his talk on the power of social networking that she immediately signed up to Twitter.
She sent Snow a message on the site – and he replied, congratulating her on scooping the golden opportunity of a month’s paid work experience at Sky News.
The prize, launched in memory of the late Sky News presenter Bob Friend three years ago, will also pay for Tania’s first-year tuition fees.
She said: “It’s not quite sunk in yet, but I’m over the moon. It was a complete surprise to win.
“It was difficult to go up against my colleagues and friends, but everyone is very happy.
“I can’t wait to get to Sky now. My main ambition is to work for a major broadcaster so this is a great first step.”
Tania added: “It was a real honour to meet Jon Snow.
“He’s an inspiration so I was delighted to receive a tweet back from him.”
Tania won the prize for describing how she would cover the royal wedding for Sky News.
Her ideas impressed a panel of judges, including Rob Kirk, Sky News editorial development manager
Professor Tim Luckhurst, head of the Centre for Journalism, said: “I’m confident that Tania will succeed. She deserved to win. One day she will be a tremendous reporter. She is already a great ambassador for the Centre for Journalism and Sky News.”
He added: “It is the most prestigious prize available to a British undergraduate student of journalism. It encourages competition for places on the BA in Journalism and helps us to attract brilliant applicants from all over the UK and the English-speaking world.”
The first Bob Friend memorial scholarship winner was Alan McGuinness and Daniel May won last year.