Multimedia Journalism (Broadcast) MA alumna Johanna Eickholt won the award in the Best Social Short Video category from the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) on 12 December, with alumna Aarna Raj as the runner-up. The BJTC works in partnership with universities such as Westminster, UK broadcasters and online publishers to ensure journalism graduates are fully equipped to forge a career in the fast-changing world of news, current affairs and documentary making.
Johanna Eickholt had the opportunity in February 2024 to join London’s homeless volunteer group, The Hot Choc Mob, to record a social media video promoting their support group. Using the social media hashtag #SpreadWarmth, the organiser of the group Lynn Hammarstrom-Craggs aims to support the homeless community and other vulnerable members of society in the city by providing hot drinks, food, clothing and a chat. The Hot Choc Mob's main objective is to create warmth in the lives of people whose daily existence can be a struggle. The group seeks to approach all those they meet with an open-minded spirit of empathy and solidarity.
Johanna’s research began with an article from The Guardian in January 2024 that discussed the rise in rough sleeping in London. The report motivated her to investigate local charities and initiatives and after some searching, she found the Hot Choc Mob on meetup.com. Johanna focused the short video on Lynn due to ethical considerations surrounding filming people who are experiencing homelessness and wanted to make sure to respect their privacy and dignity.
The judges claimed that the winner showed “great attention in the filming and editing, with good use of music and a strong central character.”
Runner-up Aarna Raj filmed a video titled What Is Social Media Anxiety? which depicts Shuja Huda, a psychotherapist in the National Health Service (NHS), discussing the increasing concern of social media anxiety among young people. The video’s concept stemmed from the increasing conversations surrounding social media anxiety, which was emerging as a widely discussed issue at the time. Aarna noticed that while the term was gaining traction, its impact on mental health was not fully explored in mainstream media. This inspired her to delve deeper and present the topic in a way that was accessible, relatable and thought-provoking for the audience. Aarna aimed to balance creativity with authenticity to ensure the message resonated across diverse viewers.
Regarding the filming process, Aarna aimed to reflect the theme of anxiety by visually experimenting with creative techniques like lighting where she used dim and cold visuals to portray an anxious feeling. Editing involved refining transitions, adding captions and ensuring the pacing aligned with platform expectations, making the video both engaging and informative.
As this was an individual project, it provided immense opportunities for personal and professional growth. Aarna received the opportunity to navigate every stage of production, from research to execution, which came with valuable new learnings.
Both alumni members graduated last year. The videos were advertised on Westminster World, an Instagram page run by the Multimedia Journalism (Broadcast) MA course led by Course Leader and Senior Lecturer Steve Hill and accredited by the BJTC. Westminster World aims to advertise news and culture to young Londoners.
About the Award, Johanna said: “Just a year ago, I never imagined being nominated. This past year has been such an amazing journey of learning and growth, and I’m very thankful to my lecturers and classmates at Westminster for all their support along the way.
“One of the most memorable parts for me was setting aside the camera and having conversations with people experiencing homelessness. Each of their stories is so special and important.”
Aarna added: “Shuja Huda’s insights and expertise added incredible depth and value to the video, making it a much richer and impactful piece. This recognition as runner-up means so much to me because it represents my growth as a storyteller and a video producer. It’s not just for the video but for the hard work, late nights and creative risks that went into it. It’s an honor to know that my efforts have been appreciated on such a platform which motivates me to continue pushing boundaries and telling stories that matter.”
This Award by the BJTC directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: No Poverty and 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about the Media and Communication courses at Westminster.
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