A Media Studies student from the University of Sussex has been shortlisted in a national journalism competition, organised by the Guardian.

Corey Pellatt, who has just entered the final year of his degree, is one of only five finalists in the running to become Student Digital Journalist of the year in the 2013 Guardian Student Media Awards.

The category recognises a student journalist “who is harnessing the power of digital media for a greater good and creating insightful, interesting and relevant content that reaches audiences in new and innovative ways”.

Corey and his friend Lewis Scrafton – now a finalist in Media Practice at Sussex - set up the print version of the quarterly SQ Magazine in late 2009 while they were studying for their A-Levels at Sussex Downs College in Eastbourne.

Corey recalls: “We wanted to enhance our chances of securing a place at a good university, develop some knowledge of the media industry and also give the people of Sussex a great product.

“The first few issues were really well received and we decided to take a gap year before starting university in order to develop the publication, which we felt had plenty of potential.”

The magazine – which the duo describe as “the UK's leading independent youth culture publication” - is now approaching its tenth issue and is distributed freely to readers on the south coast.

It went online in early 2011 and the website attracts more than 50,000 unique visits every month.

Corey focuses on content and the news agenda, while Lewis takes on more of a creative role at SQ Magazine.

Corey says: “Being shortlisted for Digital Journalist of the Year is a massive honour for me and feels like the end product for four years of relentless work.

“While we’ve always enjoyed great feedback from our readership, it’s incredible to be validated by industry professionals and receive recognition from the Guardian Student Media Awards.”

This year the judges for the Student Digital Journalist category are Ian Burrell, assistant editor and media editor at the Independent newspaper, and Laurence Durnan, editor for Political Scrapbook (“news and gossip from Britain’s leading left-wing blog”).

Corey has been invited, along with all the other shortlisted student journalists, to attend an awards ceremony in London on 27 November, when the winners of the competition will be announced.

Corey says: “I'm looking forward to the awards ceremony and hopefully I can continue Sussex's strong tradition of doing well at the event!”

In 2012, Joe Lord-Jones followed previous successes by Sussex student journalists when he triumphed in the Student Broadcast Journalist category with his film about Palestine's bid to join the United Nations as a full member state.

If Corey wins, he will get the chance to complete two weeks’ work experience at the Guardian.