Student Publication Association National Conference 2025

SPANC25 logo

The SPA National Awards and Conference is back for its biggest and best year yet!

#SPANC25 is coming to Exeter from Friday 4th – Sunday 6th April 2025 with a top lineup of speakers, hands-on workshops, networking meet ups and the UK’s largest student publication awards.

We’re thrilled to be bringing SPANC to Devon’s historic city. Keep up to date with speaker announcements and the launch of our national awards by following us on Instagram or signing up to receive the SPA’s newsletter. 

Jack headshot

"I’m delighted that #SPANC25 will take place in Exeter, hosted by Exeposé, a highly decorated member of the SPA."

Jack Walsh, SPA chair

Meet our host publication

This year's SPANC is brought to you with Exeposé, the University of Exeter's independent student newspaper. 

In its current form Exeposé has been up and running since 1987 - but Exeter has had a student newspaper since at least 1938. 

The paper has a rich history of agenda-setting scoops, from Boris Johnson commenting on initiation ceremonies in an interview, to threats of legal action from the university over a story on expenses. 

Exeposé is a two-time Best Publication winner at the SPA awards, and has also been recognised for its campaigning journalism on Harry's Law, after the death of Exeter student Harry Armstrong Evans.

Roxy-Moon Dahal Hodson

SPA Conference & Events Officer
Working with Exeter media societies, we plan to create an inclusive conference with opportunities for everyone to get involved and of course create the best weekend possible. We cannot wait to welcome hundreds of student journalists to our wonderful city and university this April to celebrate another successful year of student journalism in the UK and Ireland!

Amy Rushton & Charlie Gershinson

Print Editor-in-Chief & Deputy Editor, Exeposé
Exeposé have proved they are keen and capable to host this event in conjunction with all of the team at the SPA, and we couldn’t be more happy to welcome them on board. This year will be bigger and better than before. We are increasingly finding more new and exciting ways to champion student journalism, so get ready for a fun, diverse, and action-packed national conference. See you there!

Tickets

Tickets for #SPANC25 are now on sale - and thanks to the generous support of Exeposé our all-in accommodated tickets are even price matched to 2024!

What's included in my ticket?

  • A welcome social on Friday (with food!) giving you the chance to meet other student journalists and let off some steam.

  • Access to the full conference programme with panel discussions and keynote speaker events from top journalists.

  • Up to 80% off your train travel to #SPANC25 with GWR.

  • Workshops to get bespoke feedback on your work.

  • Access to one-to-one drop in sessions with senior industry professionals, as well as workshops to get bespoke feedback on your work.

  • Your chance to run for election to be part of the SPA’s executive committee next year and put on an even better event.

  • A goody bag full of freebies, previous years’ have included sweet treats, magazines, our glossy brochure, socks, stationery and more.

  • A reserved seat at the National Awards, including a three-course dinner, as we celebrate the best of student journalism.

  • Meet students from across the UK and Ireland, network, and swap copies of your student publications.

  • Meals during the conference itself on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

  • Accommodated tickets also include breakfast and a bed in a shared twin room at a hotel in Exeter.

  • An opportunity to vote at our AGM to shape SPA policy for the next year.

    We know our industry is unequal — and as students, you rarely have spare cash lying around.

    We also know the difference attending SPANC and winning our awards can make to your future career. Previous members and award winners have gone on to secure jobs at the BBC, Sky News, The Times, The Guardian, and many more.

    We see it as a core part of our mission at the SPA to help diversify the industry and give opportunities to those not traditionally represented, so we’re pleased to bring back our Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) for 2025, helping those otherwise unable to afford to come to Exeter for #SPANC25. Find out more here.

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    Questions?

    Where will #SPANC25 be held?
    All our events this year including our awards will be held at the Sandy Park Conference Centre, EX2 7NN. Our #SPANC25 hotel is right next door making it very easy to get into talks (and to get ready for awards!).
    How do I get to Exeter?
    If you're getting the train, Exeter St Davids railway station runs direct services from London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Manchester, York, Newcastle and Birmingham. The closest station to the conference centre and hotel is Digby & Sowton - make sure you use our SPA discount in your confirmation email to get up to 80% off your tickets! Exeter Central station is located in the city centre and is served by slower London trains.

    If you are looking to take a coach to Exeter, National Express runs direct services from London and Birmingham. From other locations, it would be most convenient to change in London, Birmingham or Bristol.

    Exeter is located at the end of the M5 motorway. Parking is included with our accommodation options.

    If you're coming from further afield, flights to Exeter Airport are available from Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Flights to Bristol Airport are available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and Newcastle.

    Where will I be staying?
    If you buy an accommodated ticket, you’ll be staying in a twin room at the Courtyard Exeter Sandy Park. You’ll be sharing a twin room with one other person, and we’ll always try and ensure that person is someone from the same publication as you.

    If you’ve already found someone to share with, both attendees must indicate this when booking their ticket.

    There is also the option to upgrade to a single-occupancy double room.

    If you book a conference and events only ticket, it is up to you where you stay and you are responsible for finding your own accommodation.

    How do I get to Sandy Park if I'm staying elsewhere?
    If you've sorted your own accommodation, there are lots of ways to get to Sandy Park.

    The conference centre is on a main cycle route, served by both Digby and Sowton and Newcourt railway stations and within easy reach of Exeter City Centre.

    This is a 24/7 coach service - South West Falcon (Plymouth to Bristol) - providing connections between Plymouth, Exeter, Taunton, Bristol Airport and Bristol City Centre. Tickets can be pre-booked at megabus.com. Visit www.swfalcon.com to find out more.

    Service 9/9A (Exeter to Sidmouth) buses from Exeter city centre run up to every half hour, 7 days a week.

    Green Park & Ride runs from Matford, through the city centre and out to Sowton up to every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday.

    Is there parking on site?
    There is an onsite car park at Sandy Park with over 500 spaces which operates an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system where all vehicle registrations will be captured on arrival and departure by camera.

    All visitors will need to enter their vehicle registration number at one of the machines in the car park.

    There is no need to display the receipt in the vehicle once paid.

    Visitors can top up at a machine or by the RingGo app if overstayed.

    Charges are as follows, from 6th January 2025:

    Up to 15 minutes - free

    Up to 1 hour - £1.50

    2 – 5 hours - £4.50

    5 – 12 hours - £6.50

    12 – 18 hours - £7.50

    24 hours - £12 .00

    Mobile app RingGo can be used to pay for the parking.

    When should I get there?
    Arrive any time from 3pm on Friday, final sessions will end by 4pm on Sunday.
    Is the site accessible?
    Yes! We will also ensure there is a quiet room for anyone who needs to use it. Please flag any specific requirements or questions to us as you book your ticket so we can make sure everyone can enjoy #SPANC25.
    What food do I get?
    Your ticket gets you dinner on Friday night, breakfast (accommodated tickets only) and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, plus your three-course meal at the awards on Saturday night.
    Do you offer any help with costs?
    We know how stretched student budgets are, which is why we offer tickets at a subsidised price thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. If cost is a barrier to you being able to attend our event and you are from a group underrepresented in journalism please search for our Financial Assistance Scheme.
    Will my university or SU help cover costs?
    Maybe, and we strongly recommend it because going to SPANC is an investment in the future of your paper. We’ve previously lobbied for this on behalf of our members and we’re more than happy to write to your university or SU to tell them why they should help fund your tickets. Email richard@spajournalism.com for more information.
    Do you offer refunds?
    Please be mindful before you buy a ticket that we cannot offer refunds as the SPA has to order meals, tickets and hotel rooms in advance, based on ticket sales. We may be able to put you in touch with another student to sell your ticket to if we have a waiting list, but this is not guaranteed.
    Does SPANC have an age limit?
    Yes, although the SPA grants membership to under 18s, only those aged over 18 are permitted to attend our physical events, including SPANC.
    Can I watch the awards online?
    We’ll be gutted if you can’t make it but yes, our awards will be live-streamed.
    What if I have more questions?
    Email chair@spajournalism.com or geri@spajournalism.com.

    National Awards

    The SPA’s National Awards are a celebration of all the excellent work that takes place at student publications throughout the year! Our awards cover a wide variety of articles and publications and previous winners have gone onto score excellent jobs across the industry and beyond.

    The winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony on the Saturday night at SPANC.

    Find out more about our awards, including our full awards guide, here

    Publication awards

    The following awards can only be entered once per publication, usually by the Editor-in-Chief or Head of Section.

    Best Publication


    Best Specialist Publication


    Best Newcomer Publication


    Best Design (Newspaper and Magazine)


    Best Overall Digital Media


    Best Website


    Best Project or Initiative


    Best Culture Publication or Section(s)


    Best Science Publication or Section


    Best Sport Publication or Section

    Individual awards

    These awards can be entered by anyone who has contributed to an SPA member publication.

    You can nominate yourself twice for: Best News Story, Best Feature, Best Interview, Best Investigation, Best Comment Piece, Best Lifestyle Piece, Best Arts and Culture Piece, Best Creative Piece, Best Science or Tech Piece.

    You can nominate yourself once for: Best Reporter, Best Student Photographer, Rising Star, Best Sports Reporter, Best Culture Writer

    There is no limit on how many times you can nominate other people, see our full awards guide for more details.

    Billy Dowling-Reid Award for Outstanding Commitment


    Best Reporter


    Best Culture Writer


    Rising Star (Best Newcomer)


    Best News Story


    Best Investigation


    Best Feature


    Best Interview


    Best Science or Tech Piece


    Best Sports Reporter


    Best Comment Piece


    Best Lifestyle Piece


    Best Arts or Culture Piece


    Best Creative Piece


    Best Student Photographer

    Past winners

    Excited for what's ahead? Take a look at who has won in our last 12 years.

    The SPA would love your help to keep supporting the next generation of student journalists.

    We are committed to increasing diversity in in the media industry, and every year support students from backgrounds not traditionally represented to attend our conference. But we can only run our events with your kind support, to keep prices either free or as low as possible.

    Give a one-off donation here or consider becoming a sponsor. Contact our sponsorship officer here to find out more about the packages available - from small to large, it all helps!