Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards

This article is about the international Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards (abbreviated "AJOYA"), issued from 1996 to 2009-2010 by the World Leadership Forum, Ltd, of London, England, U.K., in conjunction with the Farnborough Air Show (England) and the Paris Air Show (France).

AJOYA should not be confused with the Australia's "Aviation Journalist of the Year" Awards, issued by that country's National Aviation Press Club (at least during 2010, in Sydney, Australia). Those awards were restricted to writers from Australia and New Zealand. For more on those awards in 2010, see: "Australian Aviation’s McLaughlin ‘Aviation Journalist of the Year’", on australianaviation.com.au December 6, 2010.

The international Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards (abbreviated "AJOYA") were awards for writers and broadcasters working in the aerospace and aviation field, including specialists and those working for non-specialist titles. The awards dinner took place in mid-July (timed to coincide with the Farnborough Air Show and the Paris Air Show), and brought together aviation media and industry representatives.

The awards were organised between 1996 and 2010 by Malcolm Turner and his company (the "World Leadership Forum, Ltd," of the UK) under the auspices of the Royal Aeronautical Society of the U.K. and the Aero Club of France (Aéro-Club de France).

The Awards, given annually, were typically organized in a hierarchy:

...which judges narrowed down to...

...from which, based on judges' scores, were selected...

...from which were selected, based on judges' scores...

...and an additional award...

The AJOYA awards were originally trophies in the form of a bronze eagle - leading the awards to become known colloquially as 'budgies', and for the competition to become known as the 'Budgie Awards'. The design of the Trophy changed several times, becoming a representation of the Aerospace Journalist of the Year logo, and then a simple engraved glass 'spike'.

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