WINCHESTER journalism students have been recognised for their efforts by the BBC.

The BBC’s College of Journalism praised their creative use of ‘innovative and modern reporting techniques’.

Third year students Kate Drummond and Jason French, and graduates Anja Elen Elkenes and Sam Ashton, came runners up with two entries in the BBC’s Student Innovation Awards 2013.

The nationwide competition scours universities to find the next generation of pioneering reporters.

One of the entries was put together by all four students on the night of the Eastleigh by-election. They combined a webcast, a live outside broadcast from the count and post-result interviews with candidates to create a package of interactive coverage.

Jason was also a runner up in his own right with a multimedia history of nuclear power entitled Gone Fission.

Kate Drummond said: “We were absolutely delighted and proud to be runners up for the Student Innovation Award. “The team worked so hard on the Eastleigh by-election coverage – each and every one of us put a lot of time into the coverage, which took place throughout the night.

“To be recognised for our commitment and hard work is a very satisfying achievement.”

The BBC shortlisted four entries for final scrutiny by a professional judging panel, made up of Jonathan Baker, Head of the BBC College of Journalism, Olivia Solon (associate editor of Wired.co.uk), and Philippa Thomas, BBC News presenter.

The recognition in the BBC Student Innovation Awards follows a recent win for Winchester students at the Broadcast Journalism Training Council Awards in the category Best TV News Day.