Text Format

News

• Brad Crouch (News Corp) “Trying our patients”
• Peta Doherty (SBS) “This Adelaide housing development is being built on one of the state’s largest mass burial sites”
• Sowaibah Hanifie (7 News) “Impact of Gaza war on Australians”

Feature

• Angelique Donnellan, Daniel Keane, Sara Garcia (ABC) “Building on a Burial Ground”
• Roy Eccleston (Freelance) “Body Language”
• Sarah Hender (Freelance) “The Final Act”

Television/Video

News

• Peta Doherty (SBS) “This Adelaide housing development is being built on one of the state’s largest mass burial sites”
• Hannah Foord (Seven News) “Accused Killer Speaks”

Feature

To be announced at the event.

Radio/Audio

Feature

• Helen Karakulak, Jacinta Bowler, Ellen Phiddian (RiAus) “Debunks: Electric Vehicles”
• Megan Spencer (Virtual War Memorial Australia) “The Sudden Storm: The Bangka Island Massacre”
• Caroline Winter (Freelance) “Sick as a Dog”

News Reporting

To be announced at the event.

Visual Storytelling

• William Bailey (The Murray Valley Standard) “Body of Work”
• Che Chorley (ABC) “Body of Work”
• Justina Ward, Sam McKenzie (ABC) “The Science of Bushfires”

Multimedia News or Feature

• Shari Hams (ABC) “Influencers on notice as consumer watchdog sets sights on undisclosed ads on social media”
• Evelyn Leckie (ABC) “Woman sues Google twice”
• Nicholas Maher (ABC) “International Crises: Explained”

All Media

Best Rural/Regional Journalist

• Eliza Berlage (ABC) “Wine oversupply crisis”
• Eugene Boisvert (ABC) “South East SA work”
• Sophie Landau (ABC) “Connection, care, compassion”

Business, Economics, or Finance Report

No award in 2024

Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique

• Walter Marsh (Crikey!) “Rupert Murdoch: From rise to retirement”
• Evelyn Leckie (ABC) “A drop in the ocean”
• David Simmons (Solstice Media) “Banksy bungle”

Culture and Arts Report

• Roy Eccleston (The Australian) “Body Language”
• Helen Karakulak, David Simmons, Angela Skujins (Solstice Media) “ ‘Do or die’ for West End venues”
• Angela Skujins (Solstice Media) “The inner turmoil of tinnitus”

Freelance Journalist

• Daniel Clarke “Lost in the Woods”
• Megan Spencer “Virtual War Memorial Australia Schools Podcasts”
• Caroline Winter “Sick As A Dog”

Investigative Journalism

• Leah MacLennan (ABC) “South Australian greyhounds captured on video apparently being kicked, punched”
• Charlotte Varcoe (The Border Watch) “Mount Gambier Racetrack Troubles”
• Riley Walter (The Advertiser) “Child protection failures”

Social Equity Report

• Eugene Boisvert (ABC) “Maria Shipwreck Truth-telling”
• Peta Doherty (SBS) “This Adelaide housing development is being built on one of the state’s largest mass burial sites”
• Riley Walter (The Advertiser) “Flinders Ranges Sacred Site Destruction”

Sports Report

• Cale Matthews (ABC) “Sport Burnout”
• Michelle Wakim (ABC) “Menstruation and Sport”

The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist

• Isabel McMillan (The Advertiser) “Body of Work”
• Josh Brine (ABC) “Body of work”
• Sophie Holder (ABC) “Body of work”

The Julie Duncan Award for Student Journalism

• Alana Pahor
• Chelsea McLean
• Rachel Forbes

Entries to the SA Media Awards must have been published, broadcast, or televised in Australia in the 12 months from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

Eligibility for these Awards is based on independent acts of journalism, free from any commercial or corporate interests.

Entries open at 9am on Monday, March 4, 2024, and close at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

TEXT FORMATS

The following awards recognise print or digital journalism delivered primarily through the written word.

NEWS

• This award recognises excellence in news journalism created for print or digital formats. It recognises the diverse skills of the news reporter/journalist – not just for breaking news, but for all the other elements that make a great story under the pressure of deadlines, i.e. tenacity, writing ability, accuracy, ethics, research, impact, and great storytelling.
• The emphasis of this award is on solid, gripping reporting and outstanding individual (or small team) efforts in covering a news story.
• Entrants may submit up to three (3) pieces on the same issue or subject.

FEATURE

• The focus of this award is on quality writing. It celebrates excellence in the craft of feature writing and storytelling, with prime consideration given to the written word and research ability, as well as originality, creativity, impact, and technique.
• Entrants may submit up to three (3) pieces on the same issue or subject.
• This award is also open to multi-media packages, where writing is the primary medium.

TELEVISION / VIDEO JOURNALISM

This platform recognises journalism primarily produced in video formats, for TV, film and digital platforms.

FEATURE

• Awarded for excellence in research, impact and storytelling of a current affairs or feature story, as well as production expertise and writing.
• Entrants may submit up to three works in this category (related OR in a series). A body of work will also be accepted.

NEWS REPORTING

• This award recognises the skill of producing quality news journalism in television and video formats, under deadline pressure.
• The emphasis of this award is on solid, gripping reporting, clarity of message, and outstanding individual or team efforts in covering a developing news story. In particular, the judges will reward work demonstrating accuracy, immediacy, incisiveness, public impact, and storytelling ability.
• Entrants may submit a single short news report OR up to three (3) related reports on the same subject from any program, i.e. news, current affairs or online.

RADIO/AUDIO JOURNALISM

This platform recognises journalism produced primarily in an audio format for radio or digital platforms.

FEATURE (based on a single story)

• This award recognises audio feature productions and journalistic research programs focusing on in-depth information, utilising the crafts of storytelling and/or investigative journalism.
• This award acknowledges the unique skills required to present content for radio and digital broadcast, including podcasts.
• Judges will recognise excellence, highlighting research, impact, storytelling, investigation, analysis, and public impact.
• If entrants are submitting a podcast series, they may enter a maximum of three (3) episodes and no more than 90 minutes of total audio for the judges to listen to.

NEWS REPORTING

• This award recognises the skill of producing quality news journalism in TV and video formats, under deadline pressure. The emphasis of this award is on solid, gripping reporting, clarity of message, and outstanding individual or team efforts in covering a developing news story.
• In particular, the judges will reward work demonstrating accuracy, immediacy, incisiveness, public impact, and storytelling ability.
• Entries in this category may be a single short news report OR up to three (3) related reports on the same subject from any program, i.e. news, current affairs, or online.

VISUAL STORYTELLING

• VISUAL STORYTELLING replaces the photography and cinematography categories and emphasises the use of camera or graphic skills (sometimes combined with audio) to tell a story.
• Eligible mediums include still photography, TV and video journalism, camerawork, sound slides, and photo film. Entrants may also submit artwork; this includes illustrations, digital photo illustrations, cartoons, or information graphics displaying creativity, innovation and style, combined with artistic technique.
• Judges will take into consideration the entrants’ storytelling ability, courage, the public impact of their work, creativity, innovative use of technology, technical ability, and resourcefulness.
• Entrants may submit a single piece of work, such as a photo-essay or slideshow, OR up to three (3) pieces showcasing a body of work. Entries can include mixed production teams.

MULTIMEDIA NEWS OR FEATURE

• For the MULTIMEDIA NEWS OR FEATURE category, entrants are encouraged to enter journalism that does something new or surprising to tell a story imaginatively, effectively and with impact OR that connects with readers in new ways.
• Judges will take into consideration techniques in news gathering and presentation including data journalism and data visualisation, interactivity, and animation, as well as new formats or modes of distribution.
• Entrants may enter a single report OR a series on the same issue or topic, comprising up to three (3) reports as a single entry.

ALL MEDIA (INCLUDING ONLINE PUBLICATIONS)

BEST RURAL/REGIONAL JOURNALIST

• This award is open only to journalists based in regional/rural media and recognises their role in reporting on, and informing, their local communities.
• The resources available to the entrant in creating the work should be specified in a 200-word supporting statement.
• Entrants may submit up to three (3) pieces of work, not necessarily related, to be judged as indicative of their work.

BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, OR FINANCE REPORT

• This award recognises excellence in business, economics, and finance journalism.
• Judges will give special regard to newsworthiness, public benefit, storytelling, impact, incisiveness, and research.
• Entrants may submit a single report OR a series on the same issue or topic, comprising up to three (3) reports as a single entry.

COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS, OPINION and CRITIQUE

• This award is open to journalists involved in comment and analysis and includes leader writers, reviewers, opinion columnists and bloggers across the spectrum of discussion and debate.
• Entrants may submit up to three (3) pieces of work, not necessarily related, to be judged as indicative of their work.

CULTURE AND ARTS REPORT

• Awarded for the best culture and arts story in any medium – from newsworthy issues and individuals to topical trends, highlighting creative flair in the use of the chosen medium.
• Entrants may submit a single report OR a series on the same issue or topic, comprising up to three (3) reports as a single entry.

FREELANCE JOURNALIST

• This award recognises the unique and growing contribution that freelance journalists make to the industry. The entry must show editorial independence; newsworthiness; research; writing; production; incisiveness; impact; public benefit; ethics; originality; innovation; and creative flair.
• Entrants may submit up to three (3) pieces of work, which can be separate OR part of a series.

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

• Recognising the valuable role of investigative journalism, this award rewards well-researched and presented investigations.
• Works will be judged on accuracy, ethics, tenacity, and public benefit.
• Entrants may submit up to three (3) pieces of work on the same issue or subject.

POLITICAL REPORT

• This award recognises the best political reporting in any medium, including excellence in newsworthiness, impact, and insight.
• Entrants may enter a single report OR a series on the same issue or topic, comprising up to three (3) reports as a single entry.

SOCIAL EQUITY REPORT (formerly Public Service Journalism)

• This award recognises the vital role of public service journalism and media reporting that addresses issues relating to social and economic equality, human rights, and participatory democracy.
• Entries may submit a single story OR no more than three (3) related reports on the same subject.

SPORTS REPORT

• This award recognises the diverse skills of the sports journalist and the elements that make a great sports story – tenacity, accuracy, ethics, research, great storytelling, and the capacity to capture and share the emotion in sport.
• Entrants may submit up to three (3) pieces of work, not necessarily related, to be judged as indicative of their work.

OTHER CATEGORIES

HALL OF FAME

This award recognises long-term commitment and achievement in the industry.

The recipient of the Hall of Fame award will be chosen by the South Australian Media Awards Advisory Panel.

Third party nominations to be emailed with supporting material to MEAAstateawards@walkleys.com.

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

• The Journalist of the Year is awarded each year for the piece of journalism judged to be the best from the winners of all the categories.

JULIE DUNCAN MEMORIAL AWARD FOR STUDENT JOURNALISM

• This award is open to students from the University of South Australia’s Journalism program.
• Eligible works will have been published or broadcast as part of the students’ Journalism program and will reflect outstanding initiative and/or newsworthiness and technical skill and adherence to appropriate ethical and legal standards.
• Finalists and winners will be selected by the University of South Australia.

THE MAX FATCHEN AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG JOURNALIST

• Entrants must have been aged 25 or under as of 31 December 2022 and must display creativity, research, technical skills, newsworthiness, writing flair, and impact.
• Entries are not confined to reporting of youth issues – any media coverage may be entered in this category, providing the entrant is aged 25 or under.
• Entrants may submit three (3) pieces of work, not necessarily related, to be judged as indicative of their work.

Entries open 9am, Monday, March 4, 2024 and close at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

All entries must have been published, broadcast, or televised in Australia in the 12 months from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. Eligibility for these Awards is based on independent acts of journalism, free from any commercial or corporate interests.

All entrants must certify that their entry, apart from normal sub-editorial/production treatment, is their original work and that they have adhered to the MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics (‘Code of Ethics’) in the work preparation, and have complied with any relevant copyright requirements.

Judges will also be required to certify that they have read and understood the Code of Ethics and will apply it in judging entries.

All entrants must provide a professional headshot (individual or team) and biography of 150 words written in the third person. Joint, group, and team entries should provide only one bio reflecting all entrants and their contribution to the story and one team image.

All entrants (or lead entrant) must complete the Entry Questionnaire.

Eligibility

• Entries must be factually based and must be primarily the work of an entrant or entrants whose principal and permanent residence is in South Australia or working for a South Australian organisation during the eligibility period. The work may be supported by colleagues interstate.
• Entry is open to journalists who have self-published, including blogs and social media.
• Self-published entrants should provide relevant URL links and, where possible, verification of the work’s authenticity. If the entrant is verifying their own work, they must make this clear in their response to the entry questionnaire.
• All entries must declare any legal and other formal complaints and/or proceedings concerning the subject work. This includes, but is not limited to: defamation actions, contempt of court actions, suppression orders, complaints lodged with the publisher or author concerning accuracy, corrections or claims of plagiarism relevant to the work at the time of entry.
• Entrants must declare if the creation of the work involved payment or financial benefit or material support, including in-kind contributions, for information, an interview or access, and the nature of that payment.
• Entrants must declare any use of artificial intelligence (AI) used in producing the works entered. This includes but is not limited to data scraping, using language-based systems such as ChatGPT for writing and scripting, transcription services such as Otter AI and AI image tools to create artwork, photography, data visualisation and other graphics. The use of AI will not necessarily disqualify an entry, but transparency is important.
• Entrants must enter only once in each category, however if entering as part of a group or team may submit up to two entries in each category. Journalists entering more than one category must complete a separate entry form for each entry in each award category.
• Entrants may submit the same entry into any two categories either as an individual or as a group or team.
• Team or group entries may include up to five people with the name of the team clearly stated. Entries must be primarily the work of an entrant or entrants whose principal and permanent residence is in South Australia or work for a South Australian based organisation during the eligibility period. Entry must include substantial collaboration before publication on the same piece of work. This should be clearly outlined in the entry questionnaire.
• Each entry must be verified by a representative of the employer/commissioning media organisation.
• Nominations for the ‘Journalist of the Year’ will be selected from the winners of the other awards categories, excluding the Student category.
• The entrant acknowledges that MEAA and the Walkley Foundation may reproduce, broadcast, and communicate materials submitted for the purpose of promoting the Awards, conducting the presentation ceremony, and making the finalist and winners’ entries available to the public.

To facilitate access for judging, entrants provide work on an accessible URL. If the work is behind a paywall, the entry should provide a log in details for judges to access that work. If the work is behind a paywall, it is strongly advised that entrants also upload a copy of the entry (e.g. as a .PDF or .mp3 file) as work submitted without current log in details may not otherwise be able to be judged.

Julie Duncan Memorial Award

This category is open to students enrolled in the University of South Australia’s Journalism program and in their final year of study.

Hall of Fame

This Award recognises long-term commitment and achievement in the industry. Third party nominations must be submitted with relevant supporting material to MEAAstateawards@walkleys.com.

The recipient of this award will be chosen by the South Australian Media Awards Advisory Panel.

Cost of entry

• The cost of entering the awards, including GST, is $75 per entry for journalists and photographers. MEAA waives the entry costs for its financial members as a benefit of MEAA membership. Financial members are not required to pay the entry fee except where a non-member is part of a group entry, in which case the normal entry fee ($75 per entry) is required.
• To qualify for the fee waiver, MEAA members must retain financial MEAA membership for a minimum period of six months after joining.
• If you have lost your MEAA membership number or would like to speak to someone about joining, please phone 1300 65 65 13.

Judging criteria and considerations

The purpose of the South Australian Media Awards is to recognise creative and courageous acts of factually based journalism that seek out the truth and give new insight to an issue.

You can find information about the judging process and criteria that form part of the terms and conditions of entry here.

Please note:

• Judges have the right to reject an entry that, in their opinion, does not comply with the terms and conditions of the awards and/or in their reasonable opinion misrepresents an essential element of the story’s subject matter. The judges’ decision will be final.
• The MEAA Board reserves the right to withdraw award(s) if it later finds the entrant did not comply with the entry/eligibility criteria. This includes where the content has demonstrably been established to be misleading or false.
• Where a runner-up can be determined for an award that has been withdrawn, the award will be awarded to that entry.

Photography Awards

Visual storytelling has replaced the photography and cinematography categories and emphasises the use of camera or graphics skills (sometimes combined with audio) to tell a story. It includes still photography and camerawork. It also covers artwork, which includes illustrations, digital photo illustrations, cartoons, or information graphics displaying creativity, innovation and style, combined with artistic technique. Criteria include storytelling, public impact, creativity, innovative use of technology, technical ability, and resourcefulness. Entries can include mixed production teams. A body of work is also accepted.

Only photos or other visual creations published between January 1, 2023 and 31 December 2023 are eligible for entry.

Entry requirements for photographers

Material specifications: 

• Images must meet the following specifications:
  • Images must be uploaded in .jpg/.jpeg format
  • Images should be at least 3000 pixels in size
  • Each image should be saved in the .jpg/.jpeg format with a medium to high quality.
• All required image information, such as the creation date, place, and country, as well as the caption/description must be provided. It can be included in the metadata of the image files or entered on the entry website after uploading the images.
• The content of an image MUST NOT be altered. Only retouching that conforms to currently accepted standards in the industry is allowed. No cloning, montaging or digital manipulation other than cropping, ‘digital spotting,’ burning and dodging is permitted. The judges are the ultimate arbiter of these standards.
• Entrants must not intentionally contribute to, or alter, the scene they picture by re-enacting or staging events.
• Entrants must ensure captions are accurate and provide information in the entry questionnaire that is open and transparent about the entire process through which their pictures were taken and published.
• Participants who are longlisted by the first-round judges may be contacted and required to provide file/s as recorded by the camera for all images in order to proceed to the final stages of the contest. These file/s will be requested and examined confidentially during the judging period. A failure to provide these files if requested will lead to the elimination of the entry that will not proceed into the final rounds and will not become eligible for an Award.

How can I enter the 2024 SA Media Awards?

You must register by completing the electronic registration form on the entry page on this website.

Who can enter the SA Media Awards?

Entry is open to all journalists and media professionals across all forms of print and electronic media throughout South Australia.

Entrants must be South Australian residents or working for a South Australian-based organisation during the eligibility period.

Those who enter do not have to be members of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA). The Awards entry administration fee, however, is waived for MEAA members as one of the benefits of their membership. Not a member? Find out how to join here.

What are the conditions of entry?

Eligible entry submissions are for work published/broadcast January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

All entrants must certify that their entry, apart from normal sub editorial/production treatment, is their original work and that they have adhered to the MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics in the work preparation, undertake to continue to abide by the Code of Ethics and have complied with all copyright requirements.

KEY DATES

When do entries open for the 2024 SA Media Awards?

Entries open on Monday, March 4, 2024.

When do entries close?

Entries will close at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 7, 2024. In the interests of fairness, there will be no deadline extensions.

ENTRY FEES

How much does it cost to enter the 2023 SA Media Awards?

Entering the SA Media Awards is free for financial members of MEAA, and $75 (per entry) for non-members. Where a non-member is part of a group entry, the normal $75 entry fee applies.

Contact MEAA to discuss membership options or to confirm your membership number.

PREPARING TO ENTER

Do I need to do anything to prepare to enter the SA Media Awards?

As per the Terms and Conditions of Entry, all entrants must complete the questionnaire and provide a professional headshot (individual or team) and biography of 150 words written in the third person. Joint, group, and team entries should provide only one bio reflecting all entrants and their contribution to the story and one team image.

Where uploads are required, have your work ready to upload and make sure it is saved in the correct format.

What is an ‘entry title’ and will I be judged on this?

While you won’t be judged on your entry title, it will be used to refer to your work throughout the judging process. If you are chosen as a finalist, this entry title will also be included in any press releases and during the award presentation.

Do I need to have the entry form authorised?

Yes, for copyright and authentication reasons we require a declaration from your employer or commissioning company to submit your work.

During the online submission process, you will be asked to provide contact details for your editor, producer or equivalent manager. They will receive an email requesting verification of the work and related details. This person must verify the entry via the email they receive before it can be considered for judging by our panel.

If your work was self-published, you may verify this yourself, providing relevant URL links where possible. If you are verifying your own work, please make this clear to the judges in your supporting statement.

CATEGORY QUESTIONS

Can I enter the same category more than once?

Each entrant may enter every category once, however if you are entering as part of a group or team you may submit up to two entries per category. That is: one single entry and one joint or team entry OR two joint or team entries with different teams.

Entrants must complete a new and separate submission for each award category.

Can I enter the same subject material (e.g. story, photograph, etc) into more than one category?

Yes, you can enter the same subject material into a maximum of two categories.

GROUP VS. TEAM SUBMISSIONS

What’s the difference between a ‘group’ or a ‘team’ entry?

A group entry can include up to five people’s names as entrants, whereas in a team entry a group of five or more people enter a work under a single team name.

What is a group entry?

A group entry may include up to five people as entrants. Groups will complete one  (1) registration, listing  the full details for each group member.

Please note that the order of the names given in the group entry will be the order used on all publicity and trophies. You cannot change this order after an entry is submitted, so please consult with all members before entering.

What is a team entry?

Team entries comprise more than five individuals who will be recognised only as a collective.

A team entry is an entry produced by more than five individuals and should be attributed to the print publication or section, network or program. Please include the name of your team under ‘entrant’s name’ in the entry form.

JUDGING

How are entries judged?

The peer judging panels for the SA Media Awards are composed of media professionals, academics, and previous award winners. A panel of three judges will determine the winner and two finalists based on the criteria specified.

What are the criteria for judging?

Award winners will be chosen on the basis of journalistic excellence. Judges will have regard to:

• How the story was initiated and followed (with particular credit given for instigating or finding a story).
• Compliance with the MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics.
• Newsworthiness, including exclusivity.
• Public impact or benefit, including audience engagement and serving specific communities.
• Consideration of the resources available.
• Research and investigation.
• Whether artificial intelligence (AI) was used and the degree of AI use.
• Consideration of production pressures or deadlines and time constraints.
• Demonstration of best use of the format/s in which the work was published or broadcast
• Excellence in written or verbal communication and/or technical and production skill.
• Balance and accuracy

You can find information about the judging process and criteria that form part of the terms and conditions of entry here.

FILE UPLOADS AND PAYWALLED ARTICLES

Can I upload video or audio files as part of the entry process?

Depending on the size of your file/s, it may be better to supply a link in your online entry to where judges can view/listen to your work online, such as on YouTube or Soundcloud.

I have multiple PDF pages that I want to upload, how do I do this?

The entry system will only allow you to upload a single PDF file per story. Articles longer than a page can be merged into a single file at www.pdfmerge.com.

My PDF file is too large to upload, is there a way to make it smaller?

You can compress your PDF files for free at: smallpdf.com/compress-pdf.

What do I do if my news article or work is behind a paywall?

Entrants will need to ensure judges can access stories and content behind a paywall. Please upload these articles as PDF files, where possible. If you are providing links to paywalled articles or other paywalled works, you will need to include instructions or passwords in your supporting statement to give access to judges.

MORE INFORMATION

Who do I contact if I have more questions?

For all matters related to the SA Media Awards, please email MEAAstateawards@walkleys.com.

SA Journalist of the Year Gabriella Marchant.

The winners of the 2022 SA Media Awards were announced at a cocktail event in Adelaide on Saturday, June 25. Click on the tab below to see the full list of winners.

ABC’s Gabriella Marchant was named 2022 Journalist of the Year for her entry “Rhys’s Final Wish”, which won four additional categories at the Awards.

MEAA’s Regional Director for WA, NT and SA, Tiffany Venning said: “Congratulations to all the finalists and winners this evening. The quality of work coming from South Australia is among the very best in the country, and it was my very great pleasure to be here to celebrate it.”

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance congratulates all 2022 finalists and winners.

Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique supported by the Judith Neilson Institute
● Tom Richardson, InDaily, “Politics and sport”

Best Rural/Regional Journalist supported by Stories Well Told
● Gabriella Marchant, ABC News, ABC Online and ABC Radio The World Today, “Body of work”

Coverage of Public Service Journalism supported by SACOSS
● Gabriella Marchant, ABC Online and ABC 7.30, “Rhys’s Final Wish”

Sports Journalism supported by Media Super
● Michael McGuire, The Advertiser, “This Sporting Life”

Investigative Journalism supported by Media Super
● Patrick Martin and Nicholas Harmsen, ABC, “SA Parliament’s expenses scandal continued”

Freelance Contribution supported by the Adelaide Economic Development Agency
● Daniel Clarke, Foxtel History Channel, Binge and SA Weekend, “Body of work”

Visual Storytelling supported by the Judith Neilson Institute
● Lincoln Rothall and Evelyn Leckie, ABC News, “A line in the Sand”

Best Radio News/Current Affairs or Feature Report supported by Media Super
● Sean Fewster and Daniel Panozzo, FIVEaa, “Just Lawful – The Hillier Triple Murders”

Best TV/Video News Report supported by Media Super
● Hannah Foord, 7NEWS Adelaide, “Port Hughes Murder”

Best TV Current Affairs or Feature supported by the Judith Neilson Institute
● Gabriella Marchant, ABC 7.30, “Rhys’s Final Wish TV”

Best Print/Text News Report supported by the University of South Australia
● Gabriella Marchant, ABC Online, “Rhys’s Final Wish Online”

Best News or Lifestyle Feature supported by the University of South Australia
● Gabriella Marchant, ABC Online, “Rhys’s Final Wish Online”

The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist supported by the Judith Neilson Institute
● Bec Whetham, ABC Landline and ABC Online, “Stories of hope”

Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Student Journalism supported by the University of South Australia
● Sarah Herrmann

Journalist of the Year supported by the University of South Australia
● Gabriella Marchant, ABC

Bronze Award Categories: All Media

Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique supported by MEAA

• Tom Richardson, InDaily, “Pandemic Observations”

Judges’ comments: Tom’s opinion pieces are easy to read, palatable, provocative and well thought out. Tom has a knack for capturing the zeitgeist of the pandemic in South Australia. Tom is clearly aware of the power of humour. He delivers serious topics with an exquisite use of references to pop culture, which makes his articles relatable and funny.

Best Rural/Regional Journalist supported by Stories Well Told

• Gabriella Marchant, ABC online, ABC AM and ABC 7PM news, “Body of Work”

Judges’ comments: Gabby Marchant’s reportage shines a light on important community issues, using local voices to tell stories that resonate nationally. She tackles issues of inequality and social justice in a considered manner. Her work demonstrates a commitment to building trust with sources and to persistence in covering difficult topics.

Best Coverage of Public Service Journalism supported by SACOSS

• Patrick Martin and Nicholas Harmsen, ABC News, ABC online and 7PM, “SA parliament expenses scandal”

Judges’ comments: This entry really is a standout in its field. Compelling reporting that shines a spotlight on corruption within South Australia’s democracy, forcing a cabinet reshuffle and prompting multiple members of parliament to stand down. At a time when journalism’s under extraordinary pressure to deliver with shrinking resources, these in-depth reports really emphasise the importance of actively seeking out the truth and independently checking on authority.

Sports Journalism supported by Media Super

• Michael McGuire, The Advertiser and SA Weekend, “This Sporting Life”

A gripping and touching intro, setting the scene of the hardship faced. Tactfully done. The journalist has taken the time to really get to know the sources and shares this detail with the reader. This strengthens the reader’s experience.

Best Investigative Journalism supported by Media Super

• Patrick Martin and Nicholas Harmsen, ABC News, ABC online and 7PM, “MP expenses scandal”

This series of reports epitomises solid investigative reporting. Using thorough research, tough interviewing techniques and strong story telling the entrants were able to expose the appalling misuse of the Country MPs Accommodation Allowance, leading to an ICAC investigation and several resignations from the ministry.

Best Freelance Contribution supported by MEAA

• Royce Kurmelovs, The Guardian and The Saturday Paper, “Body of Work”

Judges’ comments: Royce’s entry stood out in this category as a fine example of quality investigative journalism. His three stories were well researched and brilliantly realised. Royce took time to earn the trust of his interviewees and showed a high level of respect for the trust they placed in him.

Bronze Award Categories: Radio

Best Radio News or Current Affairs or Feature Report supported by Media Super

• Paul Culliver, RN’s Background Briefing, The World Today and RN Breakfast, “Port Pirie’s lead problem”

Judges’ comments: A highly informative piece. Great trio of stories. Immense public benefit. Narrative construction clear, concise and engaging. Superb!

Bronze Award Categories: Television

Best TV/Video News Report supported by MEAA

• Brittany Evins, ABC News, “Recovery”

Judges’ comments: In a highly competitive category with entries of a high calibre, Brittany Evins work stands out for its detail and storytelling. Giving a human face to the consequences of the disastrous bushfires in South Australia her work informed the public about what happens after the news cycle moves on. Building on her experience in reporting the initial bushfire crisis, Brittany used the traditional journalistic skill of relationship building to develop a genuine rapport with the subjects and produced distinct, sensitive, stories explaining the slow process of rebuilding, while connecting recovery to related news issues of post-disaster administration, mental health, environmental regeneration, and the COVID era.

Best TV Current Affairs or Feature supported by MEAA

• Lyndal Redman, Caroline Winter and Lauren Hillman, You Are Not Alone online and Kidspot, “You Are Not Alone documentary”

Judges’ comments: You Are Not Alone is a confronting and compelling documentary which addresses a difficult topic with a high level of sensitivity and compassion. The case studies were raw, honest and varied. You Are Not Alone addressed so much more than the pain of a miscarriage – it covered entire journeys, from elation to heartbreak to support. It’s an important piece that’s sure to help encourage the thousands of women and men who suffer a loss to speak out freely about their heartbreak. It was beautifully shot and edited too. Congratulations to all involved.

TV/Video Camerawork supported by Mosaic Audio Visual

• Lincoln Rothall, ABC News and 7PM, “Body of Work”

Judges’ comments: Lincoln’s entry displayed an impressive dose of humanity. The stories were hard to tell carefully, but Lincoln showed care in spades. With the use of movement, shadow, reflection and clever sequences, Lincoln demonstrated thoughtfulness, innovation and creative flair. It was obvious he’d been key in making the talent feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Bronze Award Categories: Print/Digital

Print/Text News Report supported by Telstra

• Patrick Martin and Nicholas Harmsen, ABC News online, “Expenses scandal”

Judges’ comments: A cool, persistent pursuit of the financial, property of business arrangements of State members of parliament, particularly former Legislative Council President Terry Stephens, who claimed tens of thousands in travel allowances they may not have been entitled to. Clearly showed the flaws and lack of accountability in the South Australian system of paying travel allowances to members; and led to referrals to the state anti-corruption body and the possibility of improvements in public administration.

Best News or Lifestyle Feature supported by The University of South Australia

• Roy Eccleston, The Advertiser and SA Weekend, “Out Of The Ashes”

Judges’ comments: Roy Eccleston’s’ timely and deeply descriptive feature brings to life the devastatingly frightening, but inspiring, story of John Hird and Alison Heath as they shelter in a bunker while fire destroys the iconic Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in January 2020. Through their words, Eccleston draws the reader into an emotionally charged, blow by blow account of an event that has changed their, many other people’s lives, forever. This feature dives behind the headlines and brings to life a uniquely personal account of a tragedy in a way that is rarely captured so soon after an event.

Bronze Award Categories: Photography

Best News Photograph or Photographic Series supported by MEAA

• Sean McGowan, The Weekend Australian, “Raising Ash”

Judges’ comments: Sean McGowan’s image was a stand-out among the entries; a strong portrait, conveying the story of the bushfire though the background of the image and an atmospheric use of light.

Best Feature Photograph or Photographic Series supported by Atkins Lab

• Ben Kelly, SALIFE Magazine and online, “Journey Back to the Red Centre”

Judges’ comments: The judges said Ben Kelly’s entry featured a series of stand-out images, where great use of colour and available light combined effectively to illustrate the story. The image of the hot air balloon was particularly strong as was the striking portrait of Didgeridoo player Dwain Phillis.

Silver Award Categories

The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist supported by Department of Human Services

• Stephanie Richards, InDaily, “Body of Work”

Judges’ comments: In an impressive field of young journalists, Stephanie Richards stood out for the high quality and compelling nature of her work and for her initiative and commitment to telling each story. Shining a light on issues on the fringe of mainstream media attention and focussing on the people behind the headlines, Stephanie demonstrated how taking the time to build trust and rapport with contacts can result in powerful human storytelling and reporting that makes a difference.

Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Student Journalism supported by The University of South Australia

• Helen Karakulak, University of South Australia

Judges’ comments: Helen has demonstrated outstanding leadership as a student journalist at the University of South Australia, where she fosters UniSA student journalism and oversees a large team of students undertaking editorial and journalism roles. She is an academically high-performing student, who takes on complex topics in her written and audio journalism, including race-gender intersectionality, work-life balance and the Facebook news ban and media bargaining code. As part of a team, Helen was awarded the National Nine News Student Journalism Award in 2020.

Best Radio Broadcaster supported by MEAA

• Paul Culliver, ABC Radio Adelaide, ABC Radio Melbourne and RN’s Background Briefing, “Body of Work”

Judges’ comments: Paul Culliver’s in-depth reporting on lead exposure at Port Pirie was public interest journalism at its finest, and showcased the power and intimacy of audio reporting. His interview with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the wake of the bushfires was a masterclass in persistence and accountability.

Best TV Broadcaster (Presenter, Reporter and/or Camera) supported by Media Super

• Patrick Martin, ABC TV News South Australia, 7PM, “MP expenses investigated”

Judges’ comments: Patrick’s entry was a stand out. He researched and delivered the ultimate piece of investigative journalism. His series of stories took skill and courage as he pursued prominent politicians who were desperate to avoid scrutiny. The country members allowance scandal set the news agenda for many weeks.

Best Print Journalist supported by The University of South Australia

• Tom Richardson, InDaily, “Body of Work”

Judges’ comments: Tom Richardson’s forensic reporting on the November 2020 South Australian lockdown provided unique insights into the roller coaster management of the COVID-19 pandemic. His innovative use of GIFs in storytelling and exclusive story on the ICAC investigation of country members allowances put him at the front of the pack in this tightly contested award.

Best Photographer supported by Serafino Wines

• Sean McGowan, The Weekend Australian, The Southern Cross and WildArk.org, “Letters from Hell”

Judges’ comments: Sean McGowan’s photographs “Letters from Hell” heartbreakingly document the impact of the black summer bushfires on farmers, wildlife and firefighting personnel alike. They showed excellent technical ability, and had real impact in raising international awareness of the tragedy at Kangaroo Island.

Gold Award Categories

Hall of Fame supported by MEAA

• Bryan Charlton

Judges’ comments: Beginning his career at The Advertiser as a 16 year old the late Award winning photo journalist Bryan Charlton couldn’t have dreamed of the amazing experiences and opportunities ahead of him. His journey took him to London and The Age in Melbourne where he worked for 17 years before returning to Adelaide.
His portfolio goes beyond sport with photos of the Queen, Lady Diana and Australian Prime Ministers.
His photographs have adorned the walls of sporting exhibitions and venues in Adelaide and interstate. An image of world famous cricketers, Sir Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar, holds pride of place at the Australian Sports Museum in the MCG.
In 2004 at the inaugural SA Media Awards Bryan took out the prestigious Silver Award for Best Print Photographer and the Bronze Award for Best Photo Series.

Journalist of the Year supported by The University of South Australia

Patrick Martin, ABC

Judges’ comments: The judges said Patrick’s series of stories took skill and courage as he pursued prominent politicians who were desperate to avoid scrutiny. At a time when journalism’s under extraordinary pressure to deliver with shrinking resources, these in-depth reports really emphasise the importance of actively seeking out the truth and independently checking on authority. Patrick stamped himself as a broadcast journalist who could exercise patience and persistence to achieve a result and shine a light in a dark place.

Bronze Award Categories: All Media

Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique supported by MEAA

• Jane Howard, Guardian Australia, Kill Your Darlings and Witness, “Body of Work”

Judges Comment: The winner stood out amongst a high calibre of finalists, for the clever and entertaining way she intertwined commentary and opinion, with hard facts. Tackling a range of topical issues from gender equity in the art world to the anti-vax debate, the winning body of work displayed extensive research and a knack for interpreting data in an interesting way. Jane Howard shines an important light on the increasingly neglected field of ‘Arts’ reporting.

Best Rural/Regional Journalist supported by Stories Well Told

• Bec Whetham, 7pm news, ABC SA, News Breakfast and ABC Online, “Country convert”

Judges Comment: The judges agreed Bec Whetham was the unanimous winner in this category despite a strong list of entries. Her use of innovative techniques, such as drone footage, compelling subject matter, an engaging camera presence and a disarming sense of humour, helped give her the edge. Her love for rural journalism and the unique characters from South Australia’s country regions shone through, along with a keen instinct for constructing engaging stories under strict deadline pressures.

Best Coverage of Public Service Journalism supported by SACOSS

• Fiona Churchman, Travis Saunders, Rachel Fountain, Joel Werner and

Monique Bowley, Audio Studios, ABC Radio, “The Parenting Spectrum”

Judges Comment: Travis and Fiona’s podcast, featuring their son Patch, is raw, deeply personal and incredibly insightful. It conveys feeling and information in equal measure through a medium the judges noted requires creativity and hard work. The topic challenges and changes the way people think about autism, celebrating diversity, ticking all the boxes in this category.

Sports Journalism supported by Media Super

• Isadora Bogle, 7pm news, ABC SA and ABC News Online, “Sport in the South East”

Judges Comment: Wonderful writing, research and production, especially noteworthy given the lesser resources available to a solo reporter outside the metropolitan area. Shows real flair and a sense of community, resulting in engaging content of local, state, and national relevance. Strong presentation and delivery, with a gift for extracting the best from the talent.

Best Investigative Journalism supported by Media Super

• Casey Briggs and Rebecca Puddy, ABC News, “Combustible cladding fears over major Adelaide buildings”

Judges Comment: The judges were impressed by Casey Briggs’ series of stories tackling the major public safety issue of combustible cladding on some of Adelaide’s most visited and iconic buildings. Months of investigation, including Freedom of Information requests, resulted in engaging, informative and impactful TV news packages that led to the state government having to address a lack of transparency in relation to concerns about the safety of buildings thousands of South Australians use every week.

Best Freelance Contribution supported by MEAA

• Royce Kurmelovs, The Saturday Paper and Guardian Australia, “Body of Work”

Judges Comment: This category attracts more entries every year, revealing a depth of talent and diversity of content. This year the winning entry demonstrated qualities that epitomise the ideals of journalism, showing a determined commitment to find the truth, through investigation and sheer hard work-breaking impactful national interest stories on the lives, and well-being of Australians including the environment.

Bronze Award Categories: Radio

Best Radio News or Current Affairs or Feature Report supported by Media Super

• Annie Hastwell, The History Listen, Radio National, ABC, “Waterloo Bay: That word Massacre”
• Megan Spencer, Australian War Memorial website, “From A Whisper To A Bang!”

Judges Comment: A powerful piece of important storytelling that explores the past, examines controversy today, and looks to the future. An exceptional piece that is beautifully researched, written and produced, with a sensitive and distressing topic presented in a balanced, insightful and non-judgemental way, painting a ‘picture in sound’ of fracture lines – dividing a community that has attracted attention world-wide. Riveting and courageous reporting. From a whisper to a bang is a beautiful, sometimes confronting journey that blends the personal with the public, a journey that takes the listener on an insightful ride. Exceptional research, writing and production that has been developed with empathy, curiosity, and presented with passion and richness. The audio story draws you into the scene.

Bronze Award Categories: Television

Best TV/Video News Report supported by MEAA

• Mark Mooney, 7 News, “Cancer Bungle”

Judges Comment: Mark’s piece is a heart-wrenching expose, which shines a light on holes in the health system. It is to be applauded that Mark’s enquiries prompted action from the government and that Mark continued to follow Mr Burg’s plight as the situation progressed. Mark’s piece allows us to experience the subtle stoicism of Mr Burg who seems to have a dying wish to take care of his family. It also provides an insight into the devastation felt by his wife, Lynda.

Best TV Current Affairs or Feature supported by MEAA

• Angelique Donnellan,30, ABC, “Deadly DIY”

Judges Comment: It should not be underestimated the amount of background work Angelique has put into bringing this story to light. Clearly Angelique has recognised the importance of Mathew Werfel’s plight to Mathew, to his family and to the broader community. Mathew Werfel could be anyone of us. Angelique broke the story by realising the importance of Mr Werfels’ situation by trawling through court lists. Angelique then had the sensitivity required to convince Mr Werfel his story should be told, and the integrity to do the story justice. Mr Werfel and his family made a wise choice in trusting Angelique to tell his story.

TV/Video Camerawork supported by Mosaic Audio Visual

• Tony Salvatore, Today Tonight, “Body of Work”

Judges Comment: Breathtaking. If, under normal circumstances a picture tells a thousand words. Tony’s work tells a million.

Bronze Award Categories: Print/Digital

Print/Text News Report supported by Telstra

• Lauren Novak, The Advertiser and Advertiser.com.au, “Ashlee’s Out”

Judges Comment: This category contained some excellent hard-news stories. Some were scoops, some were heart-warming human-interest pieces and some could point to positive outcomes for their audiences. But only a few were the complete package, which made judging quite difficult. Nevertheless, the entries by finalists Michelle Etheridge, Lauren Novak and Tom Richardson illustrate just how important hard-news reporting is in a world where transparency is in limited supply. The winning entry stems from years of work in this field, and from the patient and sensitive development of a relationship with these sources. The stories provide great insights into the damage crime can do, but also the power of forgiveness when there is genuine remorse. Excellent story-telling skills make this compelling reading, confronting the question in every reader’s mind: How could you ever forgive the person responsible for your granddaughter’s death. Especially when that person is your daughter.

Best News or Lifestyle Feature supported by University of South Australia

• David Eccles, InDaily, “The Life and Death of Andy MacQueen: child sexual abuse, church cover-ups and the mental health system”

Judges Comment: In a strong field of feature writing on topics ranging from cannabis to kink culture, David Eccles’ entry is a stand-out. The Life and Death of Andy MacQueen: child sexual abuse, church cover-ups and the mental health system is a harrowing, poignant story sensitively told by the reporter who had clearly earned the trust of the family. The reporter displayed writing flair, making strong use of quotes and graphics to advance the storytelling.

Bronze Award Categories: Photography

Best News Photograph or Photographic Series supported by MEAA

• Tricia Watkinson, The Advertiser, “Hellfire”

Judges Comment: Tricia’s stunning portrait of Alverna Ballard epitomises a great news image, where the photographer had to react to a situation with technical fluency and emotional maturity in order to capture a fleeting moment. The resulting image is bold and dramatic, while keeping a strong emotional connection between subject and viewer.

Best Sport Photograph or Photographic Series supported by MEAA

• William Bailey, Murray Valley Standard website and Facebook, “Eagles Break Drought”

Judges Comment: The judges agreed that the raw emotion conveyed in Eagles Break Drought was a perfect distillation of the grassroots nature of football in regional South Australia and what it meant for these men to finally win. Judges also appreciated the technical skill required to capture such a fleeting moment.

Best Feature Photograph or Photographic Series supported by MEAA

• Brad Fleet, The Advertiser, “Leigh Creek”

Judges Comment: Brad’s use of the natural tones and shapes of the Leigh Creek landscape, with the compliment of stunning portrait work, really set his entry apart. The earthy textures and harsh environment were blended beautifully with the warmth of personality and optimism.

Silver Award Categories

The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist supported by Department of Human Services

• Joshua Boscaini, ABC News – online and television, “China’s reach in South Australia”

Judges Comment: The Max Fatchen Award for the best young journalist is perhaps the most exciting category in the awards, since it shines with vigour and enthusiasm of youth and the promise of our media’s tomorrows. Once again it attracted a wealth of exciting entries confronting the judges with hours of intense deliberation. The standard was wonderful but one young journalist stood out with a demonstration of initiative, courage and tenacity which belied HIS years. He unravelled and doggedly pursued a delicate story which has long needed to be told. We know this young journalist will go far. Congratulations Joshua Boscaini.

Julie Duncan Memorial for Student Journalism supported by University of South Australia

• Thomas Kelsall, The University of South Australia

Judges Comment: Thomas is a double-degree student doing journalism and international relations at UniSA. He focuses on reporting welfare policy, environmental politics, foreign policy and international politics. Apart from maintaining a stratospheric Grade Point Average throughout his degree, he has a keen interest in international affairs. He’s provided outstanding leadership as former Editor and current mentor of the university’s On The Record publication.

Best Radio Broadcaster supported by MEAA

• Narelle Graham, Petria Ladgrove and Adam Jones, Regional Drive SA and Broken Hill, ABC Radio, “ABC radio Regional Drive SA and Broken Hill”

Judges Comment: Imagination, a well-modulated voice and good diction are the added professional tools to this element of our media awards and they are demonstrated in spades by this year’s winner, who knows not only how to source and research great stories and interesting people, but also weave them into engrossingly and enlightening entertainment.

Best TV Broadcaster (Presenter, Reporter and/or Camera) supported by Media Super

• Ben Avery, Nine News, “Body of Work”

Judges Comment: As always a strong field contested the Best Broadcaster category in this year’s awards. The judging panel took the view that the winner was represented by more than one excellent story. Rather he exhibited the ability to adapt to a range of broadcasting styles and formats, all with maturity, authority and compassion.

Best Print Journalist supported by University of South Australia

• David Eccles, InDaily, “The Life and Death of Andy MacQueen: Child sexual abuse, church cover-ups and the mental health system”

Judges Comment: Writing a series of articles for InDaily, David Eccles poignantly paid tribute to the life of Adelaide musician Andy MacQueen. MacQueen was one of 30 people sexually abused by Robert Brandenburg. It was a burden the young man carried for 42 years before taking his own life David expertly, but without the hyperbole often injected into works about paedophiles, documented the life and spiral downward of the happy boy who succeeded in his career despite being destroyed within, and ultimately succumbing.

Best Photographer supported by Serafino Wines

• Sarah Reed, The Advertiser, “Body of Work”

Judges Comment: The judges noticed a trend towards some softer, feature-type treatment of news shots in this year’s entries, allowing the finalists to experiment with special effects producing spectacular pictures. This was nowhere more evident than in the Catching Fire shot by winner Sarah Reed. Sarah’s entries demonstrate how the art and craft of a news photographer cover a whole-of-life range of topics. From an emotive picture of Eddie Betts, through an empathetic shot of animal carers, to the joyful return of footy to the APY lands, her control of composition and technique is masterful.

Gold Award Categories

Hall of Fame supported by MEAA

• Rex Leverington

Citation: Stepping in to the Hall of Fame in 2020 is a familiar name. He was not always in the media. Before he was in the media he was an office boy. We all have to start somewhere. He spent his early working life as a travel consultant for the Orient Steam Navigation Company and even Elder Smith. However, his heart had been elsewhere since he was a lad growing up in Edwardstown. His heart belonged to radio. It was 1957 when he managed to score a job as a junior tech with radio 5KA. He was a callow teenager, Sadly, he says now, he didn’t know a green wire from a red wire and he was quickly sidelined to other duties and then, well back into the workforce. It was a whole decade later when he got his foot in the radio door again. 5DN, bless it, took him on for the princely sum of $48 a week as the midnight to dawn announcer. The rest is fairly colourful history. These were the swinging 60s and the nascent days of talkback radio. Our man had workmates such as Mel Cameron, Vitor Stewart Braham and the great Jeff Medwell. There was a sort of “oops” moment in 1969 when he was sacked. But he shot straight over to 5KA where he made such a success of the graveyard shift that he went on to breakfast and then to the newsroom where he found his true raison d’etre. He wrote and chased up stories before slipping sideways into music PR at WEA records. In 1973 he returned to the newsroom as a journalist and newsreader at 5AD. But, like most journos of the time he simply had to do a London stint, so there he was working as a journalist for LBC and VISNEWS before returning home to the 5AD Broadcasting network. These were halcyon newsroom days. As news editor, he not only ran the newsroom then but when the Tiser and 5AD, who were one business and at the height of their profitable years, bought a helicopter, he was in charge of it. It was a busy working chopper, especially at lunchtimes. In 1983 he popped over to work as news editor of 2UE in Sydney for a year, co-ordinating the LA Games on air. Then it was back to Adelaide where, for the next decade he was one of the most beloved voices ever on the ABC Radio 5AN. He was the second longest serving AN Breakfast presenter and basked in fabulous ratings. He did the name on the night shift. He’s done myriad things and won myriad prizes – Best Current Affairs Program Pater Award for his interview with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Daniel Award for edited highlights of 5AN’s Formula One coverage in 1987. Among other things, he was responsible for reintroducing live radio to the Adelaide public with audience participation shows out at the ABC and in the Capri Cinema – big crowds and TV coverage. He’s MCed and judged, opened and closed events and, notably he was the man behind the most popular ever Quiz Show on radio, Rex’s Quiz. Yes, indeed, inaugurated today into the SA Media Hall of Fame….. it is REX LEVERINGTON.

Journalist of the Year supported by University of South Australia

• Ben Avery

Hardworking … versatile … and humble … just some ways to describe the 2020 South Australian Journalist of the Year. This journalist has the ability to produce high quality coverage of major breaking news events, in physically trying conditions. They have the skill to follow a story patiently, working and researching to shed light on some of the darker South Australian mysteries. This journalist also has the natural ease to talk with people from all walks of life and show us their highs and lows. From live coverage of the Adelaide Hills bushfire disaster… to a revealing cold case murder investigation… to the redemption of the Australian Cricket Team, this journalist is solidifyng a reputation of being determined, compassionate and engaging. Recently given the well-deserved role as a FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT with NINE NEWS, he’s already been seen running determinedly through the streets of London. First named Journalist of the Year in 2016, the 2020 JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR IS BEN AVERY.

Bronze Award Categories: All Media

Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique supported by MEAA

• Tom Richardson, InDaily, “SA Politics”

Best Community Journalist supported by MEAA

• Ashleigh Pisani and Kate Uren, Portside Weekly Messenger, The Advertiser, “Protect Our Dolphins”

Best Rural/Regional Journalist supported by Stories Well Told

• Brooke Neindorf, ABC Radio and ABC Online, “Dear Doctors…..please come to Kimba”, “Smelly birds cause chaos for farmers”, “30 years of oyster farming”

Best Coverage of Public Service Journalism supported by SACOSS

• Rhiannon Elston, SBS World News, “Nuclear vote, domestic violence and suicide prevention”

Sports Journalism supported by Media Super

• Liz Walsh, Sunday Mail, The Advertiser, “Women’s sport”

Best Investigative Journalism supported by Media Super

• Hendrik Gout, Today Tonight, “Onkaparinga Credit Cards”

Best Public Relations Campaign (Government or Private) supported by MEAA

• Connie Hassouros, Dale Atkinson, Katie Comas, Tori Moore, ABC Radio Adelaide, The Gawler Bunyip, The Advertiser, “SA Public Education Awards a class act”

Best Freelance Contribution supported by MEAA

• Royce Kurmelovs, NITV, SBS, The Saturday Paper, “Three missing minutes, and more questions: Why did Wayne Fella Morrison die in custody?”,”Inquest on Wayne Fella Morrison: As an inquest into the death in custody of Wayne Fella Morrison continues, his family hopes for justice while the South Australian government cuts funding to key Aboriginal legal services.”, “EXCLUSIVE: System to prevent Indigenous deaths in custody failing in SA”

Bronze Award Categories: Radio

Best Radio News or Current Affairs or Feature Report supported by Media Super

• Glen Moret, ABC, “From the South via radio”

Bronze Award Categories: Television

Best TV/Video News Report supported by People’s Choice Credit Union

• Lauren Rose, Seven News, “Emu Killer”

Best TV Current Affairs or Feature supported by MEAA

• Angelique Donnellan, ABC TV, “Borrowed Time”

TV/Video Camerawork supported by Mosaic Audio Visual

• Tony Salvatore, Today Tonight, “Regional Mental health”, “Autism Ride”, “Drunken Lawyer”

Bronze Award Categories: Print/Digital

Print/Text News Report supported by Telstra

• Andrew Hough, The Advertiser, “Port Pirie Mayor”

Best News or Lifestyle Feature supported by University of South Australia

• Rebecca Puddy, Rhett Burnie, Jessica Haynes and Tony Hill, ABC, “Take a dive with the Wet Mules”

Bronze Award Categories: Photography

Best News Photograph or Photographic Series supported by MEAA

• Thomas Huntley, The Australian, The Advertiser, “Jay”, “Sherwood bushfire”

Best Sport Photograph or Photographic Series supported by MEAA

• Sarah Reed, The Advertiser, “Shattered”

Best Feature Photograph or Photographic Series supported by MEAA

• Thomas Huntley, The Advertiser, SA Weekend Magazine, Herald Sun, “Fairy tale family”, “Aussie herp”, “Cameron corner”, “Sleeping beauty ballet”, “Finlay’s will to walk”

Silver Award Categories

The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist supported by Department of Human Services

• Bension Siebert, InDaily, “New mental health scandal hits SA Health”, “Secrecy surrounds would-be faction to control the next Adelaide City Council”, “REVEALED: Le Cornu site sale price millions above valuations”

Julie Duncan Memorial for Student Journalism supported by University of South Australia

• Thomas Kelsall, University of South Australia

Best Radio Broadcaster supported by MEAA

• Caroline Winter, ABC Audio Current Affairs: AM Program, “SA Election Coverage 2018”

Best TV Broadcaster (Presenter, Reporter and/or Camera) supported by Media Super

• Angelique Donnellan, ABC TV 7.30, “Pet Food Scandal”, “Dust Coated and Disappointed”, “Newstart Struggle”

Best Print Journalist supported by University of South Australia

• Brad Crouch, The Advertiser, “Health Exposes”

Best Photographer supported by Serafino Wines

• Matt Turner, The Advertiser, “Into the Swing”, Major Swoop”, “Splash Test Dummies”

Gold Award Categories

Hall of Fame supported by MEAA

• Stan James

Journalist of the Year supported by University of South Australia

• Angelique Donnellan

2018 SA Media Awards winners and finalists with judges’ comments

2018 SA Journalist of the Year Angelique DonnellanBRONZE: All Media – Graphic, Artwork or Cartoon

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• Owen Lindsay: Walking City: City Mag
• Peter MacMullin: MacMullin three toons: News Corp

Winner:

• Ray Hirst: Body of work: News Corp

Judges’ Comments:

Ray Hirst’s body of work has the unique power of the printed word combined with creative imagery and design to capture the eyes and imagination of the reader.

BRONZE: All Media – Public Service Journalism

Sponsored by: SACOSS

Finalists:

• Hannah Foord :Bullied to death – the Libby Bell story: Network Ten
• Lauren Novak: Right to safety: News Corp

Winner:

• Nicola Gage and Angelique Donnellan: Abuse in State Care: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Judges’ Comments:

Nicola Gage and Angelique Donnellan’s stories exposed the abuse and mal-administration at an Oaken nursing home for mentally ill older Australians, sparking a government investigation and ultimately leading to the facility being closed and its residents rehoused. Their series of stories over five months highlighted the pain and suffering of patients and their families, and revealed a government which neglected to act when first confronted with concerns about the state-run nursing home two years earlier. The trust they built with talent and their persistent inquiries resulted in impactful coverage that became a catalyst for change – a hallmark of quality public service journalism.

BRONZE: All Media – Coverage of Sport

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• Michael McGuire: Sport times three: The Advertiser
• Tom Richardson: Touch of the Fumbles: InDaily

Winner:

• Nick Butler: Nick Butler China: Network Ten

Judges’ Comments:

Nick Butler anchored the sports break for Ten Eyewitness news from Shanghai over three nights to mark the sporting significance of Port’s inaugural clash with the Gold Coast in China. He also filed two comprehensive and innovative sports stories a day despite facing challenges from limited resources. His presentation and delivery style was colourful and informative, engaging the viewer and communicating the excitement of the trip for players and fans.

BRONZE: All Media –Freelance Contribution

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• Annie Hastwell: Exploring SA : Various
• Jane Howard: Body of work: Various

Winner:

• Royce Kurmelovs: Body of work: Various

Judges’ Comments:

The winning entry shows a selection of stories from the far edge of what is considered mainstream social conduct. The articles use personal stories to shine a light on broader issues affecting many Australians and the results are both insightful and rare. The body of work shows a commitment to seeking out and telling untold stories. Patience, persistence and care are clearly present. All finalists demonstrated a high degree of creativity and considerable effort, though in vastly difficult subject areas, making this a difficult category to judge.

BRONZE: All Media -Rural/Regional Journalist

Sponsored by: Stories Well Told

Finalists:

• Brittany Evins: Riverland: Community Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• John Hunt: The Sale of the Whyalla Steelworks: Southern Cross GTS/BKN
• Peri Strathearn: Body of work: The Murray Valley Standard (Fairfax Media

Winner:

• Les Pearson Body of work: Plains Producer

Judges’ Comments:

Amid a particularly strong range of entries this year, this body of work stood out by a nose. The pieces cover a range of difficult issues, each handled with humanity and executed with flair.  They demonstrate the work of a reporter trusted by and passionate about his community, which is particularly important in the regional and rural category. It’s fitting to note the hard work of the other finalists, who must work with increasingly limited resources and often under pressure. The high quality of the work despite this is to be commended.

BRONZE: All Media – Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique

Sponsored by: Law Society of SA

Finalists:

• Jane Howard: Body of work: The Guardian
• Lauren Novak: Arguments on behalf of women: News Corp

Winner:

• Daniel Wills: The State: News Limited

Judges’ Comments:

An increased field and great diversity of entries made judging this category particularly difficult this year, as did a generally high standard of entry. Comparing pieces on issues as diverse as gender, politics and the Arts is fraught with difficulty. After much debate, the judging panel settled on Daniel Wills as the winner, for his ability to summarise complex political situations and to strike a balance between presenting facts while still drawing conclusions and between writing with fairness and with flair. At a time when the quantity, volume and sometimes shrill and shallow nature of opinion in the media can be overwhelming, it is vital for journalists and commentators to present well-argued and considered commentary, analysis and critique. The judging panel was also impressed with the quality of work by finalists Lauren Novak and Jane Howard

BRONZE: All Media – Investigative Journalism

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• Hendrik Gout: Grant Controversy: Seven Network
• Tom Richardson: RSL Hell: InDaily

Winner:

• Brad Crouch: RAH stroke deaths scandal: News Corp

Judges’ Comments:

In the best tradition of investigative journalism, Brad Crouch’s expose started with a seemingly mundane inquiry into staffing issues at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He discovered that its promised 24/7 coverage for stroke patients was not possible. Through tenacious research he discovered that two stroke patients died at the RAH on a day when the hospital’s only two specialists qualified to provide life-saving treatment were both rostered on leave. Subsequent staff changes ordered by the government and Health Department could well save lives.

BRONZE: All Media –Community Journalist

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• Nicola Gage: Aboriginal community searches for answers over Waterloo Bay massacre: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Dan Jervis-Bardy: Body of Work: News Corp

Winner:

• Rhiannon Elston: Body of work: SBS

Judges’ Comments:

Rhiannon’s work stood out in this hotly contested category. She comprehensively covers these stories for a national audience that would not have been told otherwise. Through her own research and contacts Rhiannon has discovered these stories of the South Australian community that deserve to be told and which show the rich diversity in our society. The Dinka Bor initiation ceremony shows with great empathy how this community is overcoming its difficulties by strengthening cultural ties to their new island home. The Begona Brides story is an important slice of South Australia’s cultural heritage that could have so easily been forgotten, while the Koonibba football club yarn is a brilliant piece of grass roots reporting from a community that could do with more attention on its positives rather than its struggles.

BRONZE: Best Three Headlines 

Sponsored by: Media Super

Winner:

• Greg Barila: “Mr Xenopom”,”Now you sashimi, now you don’t!” and “All quiet on the question front”: News Corp

Judges’ Comments:

Greg Barila’s, “MR XENOPOM” heading is extremely clever and summarises the story brilliantly — if a headline is meant to be an index of the story’s content, then this headline is an exemplar par excellence. The second headline is amusing and appropriate for the light-hearted story, and the third is a clever play on the name of a publication that’s prominent in popular culture.

BRONZE: Public Relations Campaign (Government or Private)

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalist:

• Brian Littley, Victoria Moore and Sarah Coligan : HomeStart leads the nation as a launch-pad into Great Australian dream : The Press Gallery

Winner:

• Victoria Moore: Zipper Kids Score Open Heart Goals: The Press Gallery

Judges’ Comments:

As the traditional media industry experiences change and faces challenges so too does the Public Relations sector of the media.  But there’s still a place for communication campaigns designed to reach the public using a combination of traditional and newer media channels, and where PR professionals assist media with creative campaign themes and story leads. In this category it was difficult for the judges to separate the final nominees, as both delivered useful public information about very different issues.  But with a campaign that meets essential criteria for newsworthiness, creativity and public interest, the winner is  Zipper Kids Open Heart Goals by Victoria Moore.

BRONZE: Print/Text News or Lifestyle Feature

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Finalists:

• Brad Crouch: Stark Insight Into RAH EDs, Old and New: News Corp
• Farrin Foster: The Act of Knowing: CityMag

Winner:

• Penelope Debelle: Michael Abbott: Devil’s Advocate: The Advertiser

Judges’ Comments:

In a strong field of entrants, Penelope Debelle’s feature was a stand-out. The reporter delved into the private passion of a prominent Adelaide figure who rarely gives interviews. The result is a well-rounded portrait of a formidable QC who is also an expert collector of Asia art and a philanthropist.
“He is a fascinating individual, a lone wolf with a circle of friends and interests that goes way past the law. He has no time for Adelaide’s legal mutual admiration society whose members drink wine and talk about the latest High Court appointment. He is a man apart with a grand passion for Asian art that began in the 1960s when the former St Peter’s College student was fresh from a law degree at Adelaide University.’’ The judges were impressed with the originality and the reporter’s writing flair.

BRONZE: Print/ Text  News Report

Sponsored by: Telstra

Finalist:

• Daniel Wills: Catch me if you can: News Corp

Winner:

• Brad Crouch: RAH stroke deaths scandal: News Corp

Judges’ Comments:

Brad Crouch’s series of exclusive news stories for The Advertiser revealing the scandalous circumstances surrounding the deaths of two stroke victims at the Royal Adelaide Hospital are a testament to all-round reporting skills – from building contacts, expertise in his round, and doggedness in pursuit of the facts. First Crouch discovered the RAH’s claim to have 24/7 coverage for strokes could not be true, since it only had two rostered specialists available. Then he found, partly by cross checking obituary columns, that two patients had died of stroke when the experts were not available. Crouch’s revelations about the lack of timely care – and the internecine medical politics behind it – shocked not only the unwitting families of those who died but the coroner who had not been informed of the cases. First class work which continues to resonate today and, by exposing flaws in the system, may well help save lives.

BRONZE: TV/Video Current Affairs or Feature

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• Hendrik Gout: Grant Controversy: Seven Network
• Mark Mooney: Manna Hill Tragedy: Seven Network

Winner:

• Angelique Donnellan and Sophie Wainwright: Who is Sally Zou?: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Judges’ Comments:

The journalist who has won best TV Current Affair or Feature, conducted thorough research and produced a news story that was timely and newsworthy at a time when foreign political donations were at the top of political agenda.  As a result, the journalist produced an insightful and strong narrative of high public interest.

BRONZE: TV/Video  News or Current Affairs Camera

Sponsored by: Mosaic AV

Finalists:

• ABC TV Team Entry: Sellicks Beach Historic Races: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Travis Levi: Travis Levi-Today Tonight: Seven Network

Winner:

• Tony Salvatore: Body of work: Seven Network

Judges’ Comments:

Powerful sweeping shots of the landscape and emotive close-up’s are just a few of the reasons why this journalist is the winner of this category. Their placement of talent and creative shots meant that the audience had no choice but to be continually immersed in the narrative.

BRONZE: TV /Video News Report

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• Isabel Dayman: Xenophon candidate sacked: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Hannah Foord: Libby Bell: Network Ten

Winner:

• Angelique Donnellan and Nicola Gage: Oakden Scandal: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Judges’ Comments:

The winner in the category of Best TV News Report deserves credit for persistently covering the issue over a long period of time and continuing to break new news angles on an issue that every news outlet in town was chasing. Their work shows both sensitive interviewing of victims and whistle-blowers and holding authorities to account. Their work was clearly newsworthy and in the public interest, and had the most far-reaching and long-lasting impact.

BRONZE: Radio/Audio  News &  Current Affairs or Feature

Sponsored by: Media Super

Finalist:

• Greg Barila : Heaps Good History podcast: News Corp

Winner:

• Caroline Winter: Summer Special: Australia’s Space Race: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Judges’ Comments:

Caroline Winter’s documentary on Australia’s Space Race is an outstanding contribution to the radio documentary genre, using soundscapes, music, ambience, interviews and narration to weave a fascinating story about Australia’s ‘place in space’. This is a great example of the use of audio to bring a story alive – not simply reading a script. The use of atmos and interviews was cleverly scripted and made the topic even more engaging, making the listener feel like a fly on the wall of history. The program showcases a wide range of voices from international experts to amateur stargazers and students aspiring to be astronauts. This documentary was very newsworthy and brings alive the current reinvigorated excitement about Australia’s role, past, present and future, in the space exploration sector.

BRONZE: Sport Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• William Bailey: Thrilling Finish: Murray Valley Standard (Fairfax)
• Tom Huntley: Tom Huntley – Sport: Advertiser

Winner:

• Sarah Reed: Tex Soars: News Corp

Judges’ Comments:

Sarah Reed’s ‘Text Soars’ photograph is teasingly at the peak of the action and is a showcase of what Australian Rules Football is famous for, the spectacular high mark.

BRONZE: Feature Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalists:

• Dave Laslett, Tyrone Ormsby and Josh Geelen : The Act of Knowing: CityMag / City Standard
• Sarah Reed: Oar Inspiring: News Corp

Winner:

• Tom Huntley: Body of Work The Advertiser

Judges’ Comments:

Tom Huntley’s ‘cube’ is startlingly brilliant, creative and an irresistible image, in a difficult and unique setting, that extraordinarily displays a brilliant concept that many could not imagine, let alone photograph with such impact.

BRONZE: News Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner:

• Sarah Reed: Despair: News Corp

Judges’ Comments:

Sarah Reed’s photograph poignantly captures a deeply emotional moment that had been comprehensively written about in the sports media.  It was handled with compassion and recorded a specific moment in time that tells the story.

SILVER: Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Student Journalism

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Finalists:

• Ryan Colsey: Body of work : University of South Australia
• Ashleigh Piles: Body of work : University of South Australia
• Sam Richards: Body of work : University of South Australia

Winner:

• Jesse Neill: Body of work : University of South Australia

Judges’ Comments:

This award recognises the University of South Australia’s best journalism student, both in an academic sense and  in acknowledgement of the winner’s great potential as a reporter from portfolio of works submitted. This year there were more finalists than usual which is a testament in itself to the high calibre of students’ work. And the winner is Jesse Neill. Not only is he a scholar with an amazing GPA, he’s also a great writer who’ll no doubt go far as a journalist.

SILVER: Max Fatchen Award For Best Young Journalist

Sponsored by: Department of Human Services

Finalists:

• Isabel Dayman: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Bension Siebert: InDaily

Winner:

• Max Burford: Network Ten

Judges’ Comments:

Life can be difficult for sports journalists competing with hard-news reporters in this category, however Max’s quality outshone a stellar field. His reports demonstrated different qualities – working under intense pressure for Adelaide’s Grand Final story and dogged digging for the Rory Sloane story. Yet it was his use of Port Adelaide’s famous creed, to highlight the link between players and fans, that illustrated his ability to lift a story from the realm of the mundane to the intensely interesting. Burford consistently displays an ability to find different and engaging ways to tell stories and as a result, his work is always memorable.

SILVER: Best Photographer

Sponsored by: Serafino Wines

Winner:

• Sarah Reed: The Advertiser/Sunday Mail

Judges’ Comments:

Sarah has demonstrated in this year’s body of work just how she masters seizing split-second opportunity. The judges remarked that her wild weather photo is unlike any of its kind they’ve seen before. The composition in the image of Tex’s mark is perfect. And the overwhelming picture of Sam Jacobs with his parents does everything an excellent news photograph should do – telling the entire story in a single snap.

SILVER: Best Radio/Audio Broadcaster

Sponsored by: MEAA

Finalist:

• Greg Barila: News Corp

Winner:

• Caroline Winter: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Judges’ Comments:

Caroline Winter’s reports took the listener to Australia’s Outback, looking at the need for more Aboriginal Rangers at Uluru… and then she took us all the way to Outer Space, with an in-depth and entertaining piece about Australia’s role in a new space race. But it was Caroline’s ‘Fly on the Wall’ report on a new Ice addiction treatment program that was captivating. Speaking to the addicts and experts, the piece perfectly harnessed the power of radio reporting.

SILVER: Best TV Broadcaster (Presenter, Reporter, Camera)

Sponsored by: Media Super

Finalist:

• Travis Levi: Seven Network

Winner:

• Angelique Donnellan: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Judges’ Comments:

The judge’s said Angelique’s entries were a stand-out, with compelling story content and holding immense public interest. The judges recognised that some news stories are difficult for television journalists to cover, due to the lack of interesting available vision, but that Donnellan persisted and found ways to present an absorbing yarn. The judges believed that Donnellan’s doggedness to uncover the scandal, stick with it, and present it to the public, made her a very worthy winner. The story led to an ICAC inquiry and was also the subject of a Senate inquiry.

SILVER: Best Print/Text Journalist

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Finalists:

• Brad Crouch: News Corp
• Michael McGuire: News Corp

Winner:

• Daniel Wills: News Corp

Judges’ Comments:

Daniel beat top-quality opposition from a large field, with his consistently excellent work demonstrating the ability to ferret out the hidden facts behind important public issues, and to write about them in engaging and coherent ways.  His story about the arrest of a senior State Government bureaucrat demonstrated his ability to reveal issues readers need to know, while his high-quality writing moves easily from hard-hitting news reporting to analytical and compelling feature writing. His opinion writing courageously takes the state’s power-brokers to task and demands a better future for South Australians. This is Fourth Estate journalism at its best, working conscientiously on behalf of South Australia’s citizens.

GOLD: Hall of Fame for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner:

• Merv Agars

Judges’ Comments:

It is an honor to announce the 2018 South Australian Media Hall of Fame, Gold Award. An award reserved for those whose contribution to the media is outstanding.

Since the inaugural Awards in 2004, its inductees include exceptional contributors to the Media in South Australia – Marg Ralston, Don Riddell, Shirley Stott- Despoja, John Scales, Samela Harris, Keith Conlon, Patricia Dunstan, Rob Kelvin, Ray Titus, and sadly some who are no longer with us – Max Fatchen, Stewart Cockburn, Kevin Crease, Michael Atchison, Murray Niccoll, John Doherty, and Des Colqhoun.

And while the 2018 inductee to the South Australian Media Hall of Fame is no longer with us, his legacy to sports journalism and sport in this State lives on, and so tonight we honour him.

Born at Elliston on the Eyre Peninsula, he started his league football career in 1946 with West Adelaide with whom he played 107 games. In his second year he played in the club’s premiership side, and went on to represent South Australia on eight occasions. Forty years after playing in the 1947 premiership team, he wrote the ultimate account of the club’s story, West Adelaide Football Club – Bloods, Sweat and Tears.

His sporting prowess didn’t end with football, but extended to playing district cricket with East Torrens, where he scored a century on his A-grade debut in 1947.

Already working at The Advertiser newspaper as his league football career was ending, he was moved from the commercial department, to the editorial floor in 1954, to work as a sports journalist.

With his impeccable knowledge — and exemplary commitment to excellence, he held the position of sports journalist for 13 years before going on to become The Advertiser’s longest-serving sports editor — serving from July 1967 to April 1986.

He covered the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968; Munich, 1972 and Montreal, in 1976; and in the words of a former colleague who was with him covering the Munich Olympics, that were brought to tragedy by terrorism, “he proved that he could handle a major world news event, as well as he could report a sporting contest”. And again, at Montreal, as a trusted journalist, he got the inside running — for the world — when the Africans decided to walk out because of the ban on New Zealand.

Following his retirement in 1985, he continued to write sports columns, in particular lawn bowls.

His former colleagues say he was a team man, a complete and thorough gentleman, a guiding light who always upheld the ethics of journalism.

He is also remembered for his family life – 67 years with his “life partner” wife Margaret, and sons Graeme, Tony and Scott.

Nominated by his peers for this most prestigious media award, he has been inducted in the Adelaide Oval Media Hall of Fame and South Australian Football Hall of Fame. Aged 92 when he left us just 9 months ago, he is remembered as a man of principle and dignity, both in his sporting pursuits and journalism.

Ladies and gentleman, as I call his son Graeme and longtime colleague and friend Michelangelo Rucci to the stage, would you stand to acknowledge the outstanding contribution to the South Australian Media of the late Merv Agars, as tonight we honour his induction to the South Australian Media Hall of Fame.

GOLD: 2018 SA Media Awards Journalist of the Year

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Winner:

• Angelique Donnellan: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Judges’ Comments:

Our State is privileged by the incredibly talented journalists that ARE our local industry.

Despite the increasingly challenging times we face, – journalists in South Australia arrive in newsrooms demanding of themselves and each other new, unique and significant content for their audience.

Journalists who daily disprove the notion, the future of our world can prosper via citizen journalism and ubiquitous aggregated information alone.

One such journalist does this in such an emphatic manner and with such determination, that they have been chosen as this year’s Journalist of The Year.

An Advisory panel judge concluded that this year’s winner would be: “A worthy winner of the premier journalistic honour in this state or any other.’’

Their ability to confront and expose, contrasted with their deft touch and eloquent resolve… has already been recognised in three Bronze Awards tonight. Only to be further showcased by their body of work in Silver, none more incisive or significant than the ongoing exposure of elder abuse at Oakden nursing home, resulting in Federal Health Department sanctions and winning her Best TV Journalist tonight.

The 2018 Journalist of the year is Angelique Donnellan.

2017 SA Media Awards winners and finalists with judges’ comments

ALL MEDIA

Best Coverage of Social Equity Affairs

Sponsored by:  SACOSS

Winner: Alex Mann: “Body of Work”, ABC 7.30 – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments:

The judges praised Alex Mann’s sensitive and insightful handling of three stories that were highly contentious and very difficult to report.  Stories of this calibre are the result of achieving the trust and respect of those at the heart of the issue, diligent research, and carefully considered reporting, where what is omitted is as critical as what is included.

Alex’s exclusive report detailing prominent euthanasia advocate Max Bromson’s suicide required extraordinary deftness to capture the reality of Max’s final moments without compromising Max’s family. Commensurate care was needed to avoid any suggestion of advocacy –  for, or equally, against – the suicide.  His coverage presented the human face of a contentious legal and political issue and arguably promoted understanding of it complexities.

His story “Never Married” elicited an apology from Premier Weatherill for South Australia’s lack of recognition of overseas same-sex marriages. When a freak accident claimed the life of Englishman David Bulmer-Rizzi, honeymooning in Adelaide with his husband Marco, the trust Alex built within 24 hours enabled powerful reportage that is both a respectful tribute to David and testament to Alex’s prowess.

Similarly, trust built with Adnyamathna people enabled Alex to present precious cultural insights to viewers, to inform their considerations of the nuclear waste dump debate through the lens of one of Australia’s first peoples.

All three pieces reflect a journalist of great skill for whom reporting with fairness and equity is paramount.

Finalists

• Jessica Adamson: “Hindley Street, Kimba’s Battle and Junior Footy”, Seven News
• Alina Eacott: “Body of Work”, ABC News

Graphic,  Artwork or Cartoon

Sponsored by:  MEAA

Winner: Matt Pike: “100 Unforgettable Olympic Moments”, Adelaide Now – Links (One Two)

Judges Comments:

Matt Pike’s work was well executed and very original. It displays a high level of technical skill as well as many hours of painstaking research. The result is an engaging piece that allows readers to peruse decades of history in a light-hearted and whimsical way. Moments of triumph, scandal, heartbreak and humanity are skilfully captured and presented for readers to consume.

Finalists

• Raymond Hirst :”Body of Work”, The Advertiser,
• Peter MacMullin: “MacMullin All Sorts”, Sunday Mail

Coverage of Sport

Sponsored by:  Lion

Winner: Alex Mann: “Body of Work”, ABC 7.30 – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments:

This was an incredibly impressive portfolio of work from a reporter who obviously loves sport and is powerful at communicating that. Alex’s beautiful portrait of the terminally ill Leicester City fan gave the viewer goose bumps. The emotion was beautifully portrayed, never maudlin, and conveyed the unifying aspect of sport that speaks the same language around the world. The basketballer story showed skilful scripting to take this story well beyond the stock standard “player done good” yarn. And he showed his craft again with a great story on Chalmers, touching on what was missing in many other stories about this surprise swimming package – his incredible relationship with his father. Alex Mann knows how to build a compelling sport story.

Finalists

• Richard Earle: “Footy firsts – contracts, drugs and racism”, The Advertiser
• Michael McGuire: “Sport in three acts”, The Advertiser

Rural/Regional Journalist

Sponsored by:  Stories Well Told

Winner: Kate Hill, Selina Green, Courtney Howe and Alexia Atwood: “Ambulance cover backlash”, ABC South East – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments:

This group effort demonstrates what can be achieved when newsroom journalists work together to cover a story.

The ABC South East team identified a political decision that would impact thousands of residents in their community and persisted in covering the topic, speaking to a wide range of stakeholders and members of the community as the issue evolved over time.

The extensive coverage played a key role in the public debate of this issue and no doubt helped influence policymakers who eventually amended a controversial decision.

Finalists

• Nicola Gage: “Body of Work”, ABC 7PM News South Australia
• Peri Strathearn: “Body of Work”, The Murray Valley Standard

Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique

Sponsored by:  Law Society South Australia

Winner: Michael McGuire: “Three columns”, The Advertiser – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments:

This competitive category features – as it always does –  a large number of entries from a range of media and journalists, including freelancers. The breadth of topics and diversity of views submitted was equally wide ranging.

The finalists represent the high standard of work across the category by all entrants.

Michael Maguire’s winning entry stood out for its presentation of clear and incisive arguments in short, sharp, and occasionally – witty – prose. His unequivocal stance on issues in the public interest clearly invites and generates further discussion and debate.

Finalists

• Jane Howard: “Body of Work”, Kill Your Darlings
• Hendrik Gout: “Body of Work”, Today Tonight Adelaide
• Daniel Wills: “The State”, The Advertiser

Investigative Journalism

Sponsored by:  MEAA

Winner: Hendrik Gout: “Chris Fox Camp Gallipoli”, Today Tonight Adelaide – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments:

Hendrik Gout’s forensically researched stories display the best qualities of investigative journalism – thoroughness, meticulous attention to detail, compelling narratives that bring clarity to complicated issues, and dogged determination to reveal the truth. This trilogy of stories divulging the fraudulent activities of purported charity Camp Gallipoli and the false claims of its founder Chris Fox required courage and exceptional care to report, given society’s reverence for the ANZAC legacy. The exposure of Fox’s egregious misrepresentation of the organisation and his relatives’ war service in order to profit at the expense of genuine heroes was rendered all the more potent by Hendrik’s masterful storytelling and distinctive presentation, fittingly resulting in the revocation of the organisation’s charitable status.

Finalists

• Brad Crouch: “Health System Dramas”, The Advertiser
• Angelique Donnellan: “Asbestos Scandal”, ABC TV News
• Bension Siebert: “Adelaide Streetlights Tender”, InDaily

Best Community Journalist

Sponsored by:  MEAA

Winner: Kate Hill: “Shipwreck Hunters, Emergency Gawkers and Biker Church”, ABC South East SA – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments:

Kate Hill’s stories are interesting and consistently well researched, written and presented.

More importantly, Hill’s work in this entry exemplifies the core skill of a good journalist: the ability to observe the world, identify stories worth investigating, and to then pursue them thoroughly, with fairness and an open mind.

Her biker church story was the result of observing motorcycle riders around town and deciding to follow her journalistic nose. The story was clearly based on some hefty leg work, gentle arm twisting and a determination to provide her audience with a rare glimpse inside the life of a Christian motorcycle group.

Similar, her piece on “gawkers” was the result of her observations and subsequent investigations. The piece raised important and timely issues about how social media is complicating the job of first responders in managing emergency situations.

Finalists

• Eugene Boisvert: “Local News”, Coast City Weekly Messenger

Print/Digital News or Lifestyle Feature

Sponsored by:  University of South Australia

Winner: Lauren Novak: “Yvette Rigney Wilson – Inside Story”, The Advertiser – Links (one two)

Judges Comments:

In Yvette Rigney Wilson: Inside Story, Lauren Novack pieced together a compelling portrait of woman allegedly killed by her partner.

The reporter has seamlessly combined interviews with people who knew the victim and data on child protection in this newsworthy feature, which also highlights the impact of family violence on the indigenous community.

The writing shows flair and sensitivity, with commendable use of anecdotes and quotes.

The judges also note the reporter produced the feature under significant time and workload pressures, while dealing with the emotional toll of reporting on this harrowing case.

We believe Lauren Novack is a worthy winner.

Finalists

• Deborah Bogle: “Grave injustice”, SAWeekend
• Michael McGuire: “Fast Eddie”, SAWeekend

Print/ Digital News Report

Sponsored by:  Telstra

Winner: Brad Crouch: “Transforming Health Dramas”, The Advertiser – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments

South Australians worried about the Weatherill Government’s shake-up of the health system, and what it means for their access to hospital and health care, should be grateful for the in-depth, expert reporting of Brad Crouch. Brad’s detailed grasp of the complex issues and well-placed sources were on display with a series of exclusives. His story revealing the possible closure of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital was just one of a series of scoops in an excellent portfolio of work that included fears for the future of the QEH and the resignation of the emergency department chief at Modbury Hospital.

Daniel Wills is highly commended for his impressive revelations about the lawsuits, problems, and counter-claims, behind the mysterious delays and costly stand-off between the government and the builder of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Finalists

• Lauren Novak: “Forcing transparency in child protection” , The Advertiser
• Daniel Wills: “Losing their cool”, The Advertiser

TV Current Affairs or Feature

Sponsored by:  MEAA

Winner: Alex Mann: “Max Bromson’s Battle”, ABC 7.30 – Links (one )

Judges Comments

The winner of this category took a particularly challenging story and treated it with great sensitivity and respect while at the same time exploring a hugely important issue that can affect each and every one of us. This story was a thought provoking piece that without directly demanding it, encouraged the viewer to re-think their stance on euthanasia and one that had an immediate political reaction.

Finalists

• Mark Mooney: “Preparing for War”, 7 News
• Sophie Taeuber: “Shamsiya’s Story”, Network Seven, Today Tonight

TV News or Current Affairs Camera

Sponsored by:  Mosaic Audio Visual

Winner: Andrew Foote: “Flooding Coverage”, Seven News 6pm- Links (one)

Judges Comments

Andrew Foote’s flood coverage was outstanding, taking the viewer right to the centre of the action. He came up with innovative angles under enormous pressure. Andrew demonstrated consistency in his work and a no-nonsense approach to representing natural disaster.

Finalists

• Reg Bradshaw: “Body of Work”, 6PM News, Nine News Adelaide

TV News Report

Sponsored by:  Uniting Communities

Winner: Phoebe Bowden: “Privacy Breach”, Ten Eyewitness News – Links (one two)

Judges Comments

The entries in the Best TV News Story category were particularly strong this year, making it a very competitive category and a challenge for the judges to choose a winner. The journalist who has won best TV News story, conducted a thorough investigation, uncovering a story which highlighted how the public’s trust is not always honoured. The journalist’s persistence to kept on digging until they uncovered the extent of the problem, led to an internal enquiry in SA Health and as a result, a change in public policy.

Finalists

• Alina Eacott: “Statewide Blackout”, ABC News
• Edward Godfrey: “ Body of Work”, 9 News
• Mike Smithson: “NRAH exposed”, 7 News – 6pm

Radio News &  Current Affairs or Feature

Sponsored by:  Media Super

Winner: Caroline Winter: “Statewide Blackout”, ABC PM program – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments

Caroline Winter’s portfolio is a brilliant example of good old fashioned shoe leather reporting that takes listeners into the heart of the blackout. Caroline could have opted out of this story at any time but instead took it solely upon herself to drive into the blackout and find compelling audio to illustrate the absurdity of a state without power. Tight scripting combined with great talent which she found herself under immense deadline pressure.

Finalists

• Carl Smith: “Bionic Bodies”, ABC Radio National’s “The Science Show”
• Mike Smithson, Tom Rhen and Andy Ruzzgar: “Bastille Day Attack”, FIVEaa Breakfast program

Sport Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Dean Martin: “Body of Work”, The Advertiser – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments

Timing is everything in this action shot, but knowing your craft is anticipating the sports action, which is the essence of this memorable sports photo by Martin.

Finalists

• Tom Huntley: “Body of Work”, The Advertiser
• Sarah Reed: “Body of Work”, The Advertiser

Feature Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by:  MEAA

Winner: Simon Cross: “Body of Work”, The Advertiser – Links (one two)

Judges Comments

This is a beautiful eye-catching and arresting image of ‘our best friend’. Cross’ photograph demonstrates that persistence, attention to the details and patience pays off.

Finalists

• Morne De Klerk : “Cool Head celebrates New Years Eve”, The Guardian Online
• Tom Huntley: “Body of Work”, The  Advertiser

News Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by:  MEAA

Winner: Tom Huntley: “Body of Work”, The Advertiser – Links (one two)

Judges Comments

This image captures the devastating moment a family and police officer realises the death, by drowning, of the family’s child at a suburban beach with significant impact and respect.

Finalists

• Simon Cross: “Body of Work”, The Advertiser
• Tricia Watkinson: “Margo’s Dream Kiss”, The Advertiser

Silver Categories

Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Student Journalism

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Winner: Kelly Hughes: “Body of Work”, University of South Australia – Links (one two )

Judges Comments

The Julie Duncan Student Journalist of the Year for 2017 is Kelly Hughes. Kelly is studying a double degree in Journalism and Creative Writing with a sub-major in International Relations. Apart from registering a commendably high grade point average, Kelly has worked hard at gaining experience in the industry. She’s done work experience at Fairfax Media and had articles published in The Age, the SMH, and the Financial Review, and admits she’s fallen in love with financial journalism. As a result, she’s the Editor of The Personal Super Investor, where she both writes her own content and reposts that of others. Kelly says she’s an avid believer in women’s rights and equality between the sexes, and is also interested in politics and world news. She says: “I wholeheartedly believe as a journalist one of our most important roles is to give a voice to the voiceless and empower people with knowledge and information.

Finalists

• Emily Pemberton
• Chloe Szentpeteri

Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist

Sponsored by: Office for Youth – Department for Communities and Social Inclusion

Winner: Bension Siebert: “Body of Work”, Solistice Media/In Daily – Links  (one two three)

Judges Comments

Bension Siebert’s reports reveal an admirable capacity for digging beneath the surface of local government events and issues to discover relationships and situations that have the potential to go seriously wrong. After one such story, a group of Adelaide councils withdrew a tender for $50 million worth of street lights. Local government might be where citizens are most likely to come in contact with their representatives, but Bension’s reporting is where they are most likely to encounter clear explanations of what their councillors are doing. His ability to inspect complicated documents and complex situations and explain them in a language all his readers can understand is praiseworthy indeed.

Finalists

• Madeleine Dunne
• Gertie Spurling

Best Print/Digital Journalist

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Winner: Lauren Novak: “Body of work – sexism, child protection, domestic violence” The Advertiser – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments

Over a number of years Lauren Novak has thrust the issue of domestic violence in SA from the back pages and left hand pages of the daily newspaper, to a regular and rightful position on pages 1, 3 and 5. She has also been at the forefront of reporting as the state continues to grapple with its failures to address child abuse. On domestic violence she has exposed, in a series of exclusive stories, the nature of these dark and often invisible crimes hiding in plain sight, but causing a mounting toll of death and misery in our community. In three works submitted for these awards over the last year she has prised the annual death toll caused by domestic violence from a recalcitrant and ultimately embarrassed South Australian Police force. She has helped expose the appalling treatment of women in that police force, and finally she helped force the State Government to publish regular internal data that quantify the extent of child protection failings in a system under extreme pressure.

Finalists

• Brad Crouch
• Daniel Wills

Best Radio Broadcaster

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Caroline Winter: “Body of work”, ABC- Links (one two three)

Judges Comments

Caroline Winter is a genuine storyteller.

With her naturally engaging style and crafty use of the medium, she produces compelling stories that humanise the issues of the day.

She provides a voice to South Australians dealing with the most difficult of situations and clearly earns the trust of those who open up to her.

Caroline’s winning entry is just a sample of a strong body of work that makes her a deserved winner of this award.

Finalist

• Mike Smithson

Best Photographer

Sponsored by: Serafino Wines

Winner: Tom Huntley: “Body of Work”, The Advertiser – Links (one two three four five)

Judges Comments

The calibre of photographs across the board in this category, meant to come out as the winner, took something truly special. The judges were impressed by the breadth of Tom’s work, and by his ability to capture small ordinary moments, and make them extraordinary. That skill, best demonstrated by his image Leon and the Mummy. The drummer boy spoke to Tom’s ability to create a piece of art with his lens, while his technical skill was on full display in the image of women in science. And his photograph on Glenelg beach of a police officer with a hand on his heart, as he spoke to a mother who’d lost her son to drowning, was a fine example of the photographer as news gatherer: that image alone, told the entire story in a single frame.

Finalists

• Dean Martin
• Sarah Reed

Best Television Broadcaster (Presenter, Reporter or Camera Person)

Sponsored by: Media Super

Winner: Alex Mann: “Body of Work”, ABC 7:30 – Links (one two three)

Judges Comments

Alex has shown an exemplary ability to handle complex and sensitive narratives within the broadcast medium. His piece on the Leicester City fan staying alive for his team, is extraordinarily moving – Alex found the joy and celebration, rather than the sadness. In a media landscape full of stories about Cy Walsh, Alex’s is beautifully crafted and utterly compelling. His piece on the euthanasia death of Max Bromson is insightful, balanced, and deftly navigates a legal and ethical minefield. That story alone, is worthy of the highest praise.

Finalists

• Jessica Adamson
• Stacey Lee
• Mark Mooney

Hall of Fame for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Samela Harris

Judges’ comments:

Samela Harris, the 2017 SA Media Hall of Fame inductee is described by colleagues as possessing “restless energy”, delivering “innovative and witty reporting”, and having “very wide perspectives on the world”.
While Adelaide had a long tradition of social and society notes in newspapers written by women, it had few women who worked at the hard end of news reporting until Sa came along.
She was the first non-social pages female writer at Rupert Murdoch’s, The News, and broke ground on stories such as the banning of women from front bars, the moratorium marches, and opposition to the death penalty. She was also the first female football columnist, not just at The News, but so far as is known, anywhere in Australia.
An early adopter of new technology, Samela was out in cyberspace when no one knew what it was. Out in virtual communities when no one had heard of them and became the inaugural online editor of The Advertiser. She created a ground-breaking Internet column that continued weekly for seven years called Net Adventures, created a website for it and even introduced Twitter to her peers (and taught them how to use it).

Samela Harris is one of the pioneering examples of female professional journalists in Australia.

2017 Journalist of the Year

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Winner: Alex Mann, ABC 7:30

Judges Comments

If ever a journalist held a judging panel hostage to their emotions, it was this entrant in the 2017 Awards.

Exceptional versatility and insight, patience with research and well-honed presentation characterise this extremely worthy Journalist of the Year.

A highly controversial and very difficult subject to cover, in an exclusive report, this journalist delivered a sense of intimacy and immediacy which drew hearts and minds of judges and public alike, into the depths of an agonising human dilemma.

A superbly researched and edited feature – it was just one of their stories recognised this year.

The degree of excellence was so outstanding, they were awarded first place in four different categories this evening.

The same compassionate insight and delicacy of touch that told the euthanasia story of Max Bromson, came to bear in a fastidiously-researched analysis of the Cy Walsh Verdict and yet again, on the coverage of a dying Foxes Fan willing himself to stay alive, for just one more victory by his team.

The 2017 Journalist of the Year… is Alex Mann.Tab 1 content goes here.

2016 SA Media Awards winners and finalists with judges’ comments

The Nine Network’s Ben Avery was named Journalist of the Year at the 2016 South Australian Media Awards. In 2016, there were a record 184 entries over 22 categories.

Avery’s award was for a body of work which included his coverage of the investigation of the murder of young Mannum mother Jody Meyers in August 2015, for which he also won Best TV News Report. It was a big night for Avery, who took home a third award for Best Television Broadcaster, the second consecutive year he has won this award.

The judges said Avery was “one of the best story breakers in the business”. They noted that he has “a naturally engaging style as a TV broadcaster – not only in his delivery but also in how he gathers news, demonstrated by his ability to break stories by forming strong contacts”.

Margaret Ralston AM was inducted into the SA Hall of Fame for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism. A genuine trailblazer, Ralston began her career as a journalist with the now-defunct Adelaide afternoon daily paper The News in 1972 and was later appointed as Sports Editor, a position she held until 1992. She was the first woman to hold this position at a major metropolitan Australian newspaper.

Ralston’s citation says: “Marg was a great encourager to young journalists, including providing advice to women reporting on SANFL games which required them to speak to coaches and players after the games in the change rooms.

In a new category, Hendrik Gout of Network Seven won the award Best Investigative Journalism for his coverage of the collapse of the Interfert network of fertiliser companies. The judges commented: “His skilful unravelling and articulate account of a complex financial scandal with significant ramifications in three states ensured it was accessible and easily understood by a broad audience . . . While foot-in-the-door journalism has its detractors, this series of reports showed it at its effective best and displayed a balance and impartiality that stands out within the genre.

The ABC’s Natalie Whiting was named Best Radio Broadcaster, with the judges commenting: “Natalie Whiting does a top notch job of telling compelling original stories for people who don’t have a voice -on topics that affect the lives of vulnerable South Australians . . . It’s not easy to shed light and make a difference on topics that aren’t the headline grabbing news of the day, but Natalie Whiting does this with accuracy, sensitivity, strong writing and solid broadcast skills.

Other big winners included The Advertiser’s Lauren Novak, who was named Best Print/Digital Journalist for a body of work including her agenda-setting and forensic coverage of South Australia’s dysfunctional child protection system and domestic violence epidemic over a number of years. Best Photographer in a high-calibre field was Dean Martin, also of The Advertiser.

The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist went to Bension Siebert of Solstice Media/InDaily, while Ashleigh Pisani from the University of South Australia won the Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Student Journalism.

SA Media Awards Winners and Finalists with Judges’ comments

ALL MEDIA

Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique

Sponsored by: Law Society SA

Winner: David Washington, InDaily: Body of Work

Finalists

• Lauren Novak, The Advertiser: Body of Work
• Daniel Wills, The Advertiser: The State

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

Increasingly, in this category, journalists are required to make sense of an avalanche of information, while “speaking truth to power”, articulating public concerns and producing entertaining, thought-provoking content. At the same time, there’s increasing competition for attention with many more avenues for comment, analysis, critique and opinion. Not only does everyone have an opinion but they have the means to express it. Commentary Journalism has probably never been more challenging, so standing out in this category is a major achievement!

With a large number of entrants, the judges were confronted with the difficulty of selecting only one winner. In a high calibre field the three finalists were exceptional in demonstrating the critical qualities of newsworthiness, thorough research, incisiveness, originality and public benefit.

The winning entry expressed all of these qualities in a diverse and eloquent body of work that was engaging, entertaining and informative.

Best Community Journalist

Sponsored by: Stories Well Told

Winner: Kate Hill, ABC: Body of Work

Finalists

• Eugene Boisvert, Messenger Community News: Body of Work
• Dan Jervis-Bardy, Messenger Community News: South Rd

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

Kate Hill’s entry canvassed some fascinating human interest stories specific to her regional patch. All were covered with sensitivity and compassion and written in a highly skilled and engaging manner.

Best Rural/Regional Journalist

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Elise Fantin, ABC: Palliative care saved

Finalists

• Elizabeth Anderson, Fairfax Media: Body of work
• Peri Strathearn, The Murray Valley Standard (Fairfax Media): Drugs, dollar signs and a derelict drummer

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

With rural and regional newsrooms particularly under threat by a shrinking media landscape, it is heartening to see the high quality of entries in this important category.

Elise Fantin’s series on palliative care showed dedication to a difficult topic and undoubtedly contributed to the public pressure that saw services restored. Her focus on rural health and services for critically ill patients gave voice to a community who may not always be able to speak for themselves.

However, all three entrants displayed skilled and creative reporting, and the outcome was certainly close. The judges particularly appreciated both Peri and Elizabeth’s clear desire to seek out unique stories and tell them in an engaging way, as evidenced by the tie for second place.

Best Coverage of Social Equity Affairs

Sponsored by: SACOSS

Winner: Natalie Whiting, ABC News 24: Body of Work

Finalists:

• Loukas Founten, ABC News: Body of Work
• Kate Hill, ABC: Inside the Sex Offenders treatment program
• Kim Robertson, Nine News Adelaide: Deportation Fight

Links to view submissions (one, two)

Judges Comments:

The production values in Natalie Whiting’s body of work are impressive – her balanced treatment of such difficult and disparate topics showcased a high level of skill. Natalie enabled her talent to articulate their stories in challenging surroundings, and overcome their social circumstances in doing so. She allowed those at the heart of the story to tell it their way, and clearly gained their trust over a number of days and weeks. Natalie carefully reported on the many complexities to these difficult stories, treating the subjects with a great deal of dignity. Beautifully executed.

Best Coverage of Sport

Sponsored by: Lion

Winner: Richard Earle, The Advertiser: Trailblazers

Finalists

• Neil Cross, ABC: Body of Work
• Michael McGuire, The Advertiser: Body of Work
• Tom Richardson, InDaily: Body of Work

Link to view submission

Judges’ Comments:

The sports category was hotly contested one and the judges found it very difficult to separate the entries. Richard Earle was selected as the winner for three stories across three different sporting codes that dug deeply into his subjects and their lives. His stories were captivating and well-written.

Best Investigative Journalism

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Hendrik Gout, Seven Network : Interfert

Finalists:

• Verity Edwards, The Australian: National Geographic
• Lauren Novak, The Advertiser: Child Abuse Report Line problems
• Max Opray, Schwartz Media: Solarium Ban

Links to view submissions (one, two )

Judges’ Comments:

In the highly contested category of investigative journalism, the judges’ minds were exercised by an extremely high calibre of entries, confirming the merit of this new category. Hendrik Gout’s winning entry faced stiff competition in a field that provoked extended debate. He prevailed on some compelling counts, foremost amongst them the extended, dogged and thorough research conducted into the collapse of a network of fertilizer companies. His skilful unravelling and articulate account of a complex financial scandal with significant ramifications in three states ensured it was accessible and easily understood by a broad audience. A huge work with tentacles reaching internationally, Hendrik displayed fearlessness and flair to expose the myriad failings that brought a series of rural agricultural suppliers to the brink of failure – while the instigators, the bank and the government regulator seemingly did little to remedy the situation. While foot-in-the-door journalism has its detractors, this series of reports showed it at its effective best and displayed a balance and impartiality that stands out within the genre.

Best Freelance Contribution

Sponsored by: Media Super

Winner: Max Opray, Schwartz Media, Guardian News and Media: Body of Work

Finalist

• Marie Barbieri, Australian Yoga Journal (Contact Media Pty Ltd): Connecting to place

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

Max Opray’s entry saw a wide range of diverse issues tackled impressively and intelligently, with energetic and captivating writing. A highlight for the judges was his eye-opening expose on an underground network of illegal sun bed.

TV and RADIO

Best Radio News or Current Affairs or Feature Report

Sponsored by: Anglicare SA

Winner: Carl Smith, ABC: Energy Futures

Finalists

• Tom Fedorowytsch, ABC: SA Bushfires body of work
• Mike Smithson, FIVEaa Radio: Jay’s film crew

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

The judges were unanimous in agreeing that Carl’s series on Energy Futures was the strongest radio feature, in terms of depth of coverage and high-level production values. This series is especially pertinent to a South Australian context at the moment, given the closure of the Northern Power Station in Port Augusta and new recommendations that the state host a nuclear waste disposal facility. Carl featured a wide range of talent to provide an in-depth analysis of energy choices available in Australia, placing the listener on the scene in many occasions through strong use of radio production techniques.

Best TV News Report

Sponsored by: Media Super

Winner: Ben Avery, Nine News Adelaide: Jody Meyers Murder

Finalists

• Angelique Johnson, ABC: Pinery Fire
• Stacey Lee, Seven News Adelaide: Police Brutality

Link to view submission

Judges’ Comments:

This category drew a high standard of entries making the judging process very hard. The judges would like to commend all the journalist in this category for their strong entries.

The winner researched for over two weeks in order to break this story. The journalist showed their commitment to being where the news was, and this is how they managed such a breakthrough. Their persistence was rewarded with exclusive interviews and details. It was a story that every media outlet in Adelaide was following and he lead the pack. This journalist produced a narrative that was clear, insightful and had great impact.

Best TV Current Affairs or Feature

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Alex Mann, ABC, 7.30 Report: On The Run

Finalists:

• Prue Adams, ABC: Q Fever
• Hendrik Gout, Channel 7: Farah 4 Kidz

Link to view submission

Judges’ Comments:

Another category which drew a very high standard of entries.

The work of this journalist was followed up by other media, and fed into a national discussion about exploitation of workers. The journalist’s bravery was highlighted when he went up against a very influential business in SA, in the face of legal threats. The journalist uncovered an important issue, got good talent to talk to him despite concerns about repercussions, and explained a complicated issue well.

Best TV News or Current Affairs- Camera

Sponsored by: Mosaic Audio Visual

Winner: Scott Perry, Nine Network Australia: Sampson Flat Bushfire Coverage

Finalists

• Nine News Group Entry, Nine News Adelaide: Pinery Fires
• Tony Salvatore, Channel Seven: Body of Work

Link to view submission

Judges’ Comments:

In a field of entries dominated by natural disasters, Scott Perry’s work stood out. Working alongside a reporter, they were the only crew on frontline of the fire ground as the blaze changed direction and double backed. In a difficult and dangerous workplace environment, Perry filmed up close the elements for the report to paint a comprehensive picture of the battle on the ground to save Kerbrook. He captured the urgency and confusion of the remaining residents, closely following them as they tried to douse the flames with hoses and buckets of water. He did this in isolation from other media crew, in an environment with rapidly changing risks and among people who were clearly highly stressed. His work demonstrates courage and a high level of commitment to his craft.

PRINT/DIGITAL

Best Print /Digital News Report

Sponsored by: Telstra

Winner: Penelope Debelle, Advertiser Newspapers: Chemotherapy bungle exposed

Finalists:

• Bradford Crouch, Advertiser Newspapers: Hospitals’ ED overhaul
• Lauren Novak, The Advertiser: Child Abuse Report Line problems

Link to view submission

Judges’ Comments:

A top-notch expose from a reporter with a strong contact list, a keen eye for news, and an ability to think on her feet as the story developed. The page one pieces led to a state inquiry and once again underscored pressures on the health system. The scoop revealed how the health of cancer patients had been potentially compromised by inadequate doses of chemotherapy due to a typographical error. Worse still was the follow-up revelations that the doses continued for some patients even when the problem was supposed to have been fixed. A great exclusive which benefited the victims of the bungle, the broader public interest, and kept the health system under scrutiny.

Best Print /Digital News or Lifestyle Feature

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Winner: Verity Edwards, The Australian: Chloe Valentine

Finalists:

• Andrew Dowdell, The Advertiser: 20 years after murder acquittal, servo gunman speaks
• Michael McGuire, The Advertiser: Hopeless

Link to view submission

Judges’ Comments:

Verity Edwards’s piece on the death of four-year-old Chloe Valentine brings the detachment of the professional journalist to an intensely emotive issue. Chloe’s mother Ashlee Polkinghorne and her partner Ben McPartland were both jailed on charges of manslaughter by neglect, and Edwards’s account of that neglect makes for harrowing reading. She documents the numerous occasions where Families SA failed to act, the missed opportunities where intervention by Families SA would have saved Chloe’s life and – through it all – the heartbreak of Chloe’s grandmother Belinda Valentine, who sought in vain to adopt Chloe and so keep her safe. Edwards doesn’t spare her readers the anguish, but this nevertheless is an empathetic article, told with great sensitivity. Most importantly, it reminds us of our collective responsibility to protect the vulnerable.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Best News Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Kelly Barnes, The Australian: John Lush – Pinery Fires, at son’s burnt-out home

Finalists:

• Tom Huntley, Advertiser Newspapers: She’s got talent – car overturned next to park ’n’ ride sign
• Dean Martin, Advertiser Newspapers: Kung Fu chaos – fire in the CBD

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

This is a powerful human interest photograph which depicts the personal loss and devastation from the Pinery fires. Kelly has conveyed the power of Australian bush-fires through the quiet emotion of a father standing in the ruins of his son’s home.

Best Sport Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Ryan Schembri, SMP Images/Australian Baseball League: Twilight pitching – Baseball

Finalists:

• William Bailey, Murray Valley Standard: No Hurdle to Great
• Morne De Klerk, Getty Images: Knockout – Soccer net

Link to view submission

Judges’ Comments:

Ryan has brought us three images that illustrate the course of a baseball series – Adelaide Bite v Melbourne Aces. This important encounter was the decider for minor premiership. The photographs show off Ryan’s technical skills as well as an understanding of the game and the ability to adapt in various situations to make best use of available light and action. The before, during and after-game photos from this four-game encounter tell us a story and bring us closer to the players, the event and ultimate victory for Adelaide.

The judges were pleased to see in this category the wide range of sports being covered and many entries displayed the photographer’s passion for the contest.

Best Feature Photograph or Photographic Series

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Simon Cross, The Advertiser: Sky-high wind power

Finalists:

• Tom Huntley, The Advertiser: Beekeeping kids
• Dean Martin, The Advertiser: Tomato ally, Port Augusta tomatoes

Links to view submissions (one, two)

Judges’ Comments:

Again this winning photograph is a unanimous decision by the judges. Embodying the strong concepts of photojournalism, Simon showed a fearlessness in climbing the wind turbine. The unusual angle shows careful planning, creative thinking and an eye to capture new technology from a different perspective.

SILVER AWARD CATEGORIES

Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Student Journalism

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Winner: Ashleigh Pisani, University of South Australia

Finalists

• Bonnie McBride, University of South Australia
• Daniel Whyntie, University of South Australia

Link to view submission

Judges’ Comments:

Ashleigh Pisani is a journalism and international relations student at the University of South Australia, who dreams of becoming a political journalist one day.

Ashleigh, who’s edited University of South Austraila’s student publication On The Record, says she “wants to be in the thick of it in our nation’s capital, reporting on all the important goings on, as well as the often colourful invective and drama that dominates the Australian political landscape”.

As well as reporting for On The Record and publishing her own blog, Breakfast at Parliament, Ashleigh has an eye-wateringly high grade point average. She is a recognised leader in the university’s journalism program and her lecturers predict a bright future for her in the news industry.

Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist

Sponsored by: Office for Youth — Department for Communities and Social Inclusion

Winner: Bension Siebert: Solstice Media/InDaily

Finalists:

• Phoebe Bowden: Network Ten
• Fraser Goldsworthy: Seven Network

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist is open to young journalists working in any media. The judges were encouraged by the breadth and strength of the entries submitted in this category this year

The winner is Bension Siebert from InDaily for a series of articles on the new South Road Superway

Bension reported serious allegations about construction practices on the Superway, the most expensive road project in the state’s history.

His dogged persistence investigating claims by workers and structural engineers led eventually to a state parliamentary committee inquiry.

The judges considered that Bension’s carefully crafted and balanced articles reflected an impressive depth of investigation and succeeded in raising serious concerns without either sensationalising or trivialising the subject matter.

The judges highly commended the entry of the ABC’s Elise Fantin for her reports that Country Health SA was going to reduce palliative care services in the state’s south-east.

Elise’s impressive and balanced reports followed the issue through from the initial announcement of the cuts through a funding dispute between the federal and state governments to the state government’s eventual decision to reinstate the positions.

Best Radio Broadcaster

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Natalie Whiting: ABC

Finalist

• Mike Smithson:FIVEaa Radio

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

Natalie Whiting does a top notch job of telling compelling original stories for people who don’t have a voice -on topics that affect the lives of vulnerable South Australians. In this winning entry it’s the Stolen Generations, Kidney Disease and Disability. The fact her stories have contributed to change speaks for itself. It’s not easy to shed light and make a difference on topics that aren’t the headline grabbing news of the day, but Natalie Whiting does this with accuracy, sensitivity, strong writing and solid broadcast skills.

Best Print/Digital Journalist

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Winner: Lauren Novak: The Advertiser

Finalists:

• Penny Debelle: The Advertiser
• Tom Richardson: InDaily

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

For a number of years Advertiser reporter Lauren Novak has led the Adelaide media in her forensic coverage of South Australia’s dysfunctional child protection system and domestic violence epidemic, while also as a young journalist furthering her studies in Europe and participating in a media exchange to Cambodia.

In the current judging period she again displayed news-breaking excellence by revealing in her piece ‘Urgent pleas put on hold’ that pressured Families SA call centre workers were being directed as an efficiency measure to deliberately leave calls for help on hold, potentially putting children at risk.

Further, her Freedom of Information investigation titled ‘Abusing the system’, quantified the extent to which offenders are breaching court protection orders to get at their victims.

In her final exclusive titled ‘SA police officer’s racism disgrace’, Lauren revealed Police Commissioner Gary Burns had allowed an officer to avoid serious punishment despite the officer telling an Aboriginal man he would like to tie a hose around his neck and then quote; “set you on fire and drag you around the streets attached to our car”.

The judges paid tribute to Lauren’s courageous efforts to expose these issues to the South Australian public.

Best Photographer

Sponsored by: Serafino Wines

Winner: Dean Martin: Advertiser Newspapers

Finalists:

• Sarah Reed: News Corp/The Advertiser
• Tricia Watkinson: News Limited

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three, four, five)

Judges’ Comments:

It was a matter of the agony of the ecstasy for judges assessing the entries in this category of the 2016 Media Awards.

To say they were of high calibre is an understatement. All the 2016 entrants impressed. Some dazzled.

Hours were spent. Judges had images up for days, looking at the glories of light and composition, the quick reflexes of those photographers who captured historic moments and emotions in lightning-fast action candids, those who snatched action from a sporting fray and froze it in sharp death-defying precision, those who touched the heart with pathos and melancholy in the aftermath of tragedy…

Those, also, who took a tired old theme and breathed new life into it. Let us not forget the media has to cover so many classic stories and predicaments over and over again.

This year’s winner is an old hand at all of this.

Decades in the job have not wearied his artist’s eye or jaded his view of the world. They have just further honed him as a great exponent of his art.

He is DEAN MARTIN, veteran ‘Tiser ‘Tog.

He wins for his body of work, from sport to on-the-spot hard news, from eye-catching sparkle to sweet, timeless humanity.

His photograph of the new tomato economy of Port Augusta is a feast for the eye. HIs shot of the firefighters aloft in a pall of smoke as the city Kung Fu Academy burned down is unforgettable. He saw St George fighting the dragon in that scene. His imagination is always working. And when he came to illustrate what could be a pretty ordinary Anzac Day story about buglers, he brought in a 3-year-old boy and lifetime’s expertise with light and produced a work of art, one of the great shots of the year and any other year.

Dean Martin. Master of his art.

Best Television Broadcaster (Presenter, Reporter or Camera Person)

Sponsored by: Media Super

Winner: Ben Avery: Nine News Adelaide

Finalists:

• Prue Adams: ABC
• Graham Archer: Seven Network

Links to view submissions (one, two ,three)

Judges’ Comments:

The judges were impressed with Ben’s naturally engaging style as a TV broadcaster – not only in his delivery but also in how he gathers news, demonstrated by his ability to break stories by forming strong contacts.

His live crosses are flawless yet conversational – a difficult balance to master.

Ben’s entries showed deftness in covering major news events with calm authority and an ability to hit the right tone in a variety of situations, from the urgency of an unfolding bushfire, to the shock death of Phil Walsh, including breaking the news to South Australians on morning radio before updating through a series of live crosses and a comprehensive evening news package.

His script writing blends simplicity with a fine turn of phrase – all while detailing the facts and letting the stories speak for themselves.

But some stories are only able to speak for themselves because of strong investigative reporting, and in Ben’s standout work covering the Jody Meyers murder case he broke many exclusive elements, including a breakthrough arrest.

Hall of Fame – For Outstanding Contribution to Journalism

Sponsored by: MEAA

Winner: Margaret Ralston AM

Judges’ Comments:

The 2016 inductee to the South Australia Media Hall of Fame, Margaret (Marg) Ralston AM began her career as a journalist with Adelaide’s afternoon daily paper The News in 1972 and was later appointed as Sports Editor, a position she held until 1992. She was a trailblazer, being the first woman to hold this position at a major metropolitan Australian newspaper.

Margaret was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia’s Day Honours List in 2001 for service to amateur and professional sport, particularly in South Australia, as a journalist and administrator.

Marg was a great encourager to young journalists, including providing advice to women reporting on SANFL games which required them to speak to coaches and players after the games in the change rooms.

Journalist of the Year

Sponsored by: University of South Australia

Winner: Ben Avery

Judges Comments:

The Journalist of the Year for 2016 is one of the best story breakers in the business, and they certainly proved that over the past twelve months.

They have the natural flair to earn the trust of people from all walks of life, and the determination to keep asking questions to find out the truth.

They have proven they can hold to account those people, who are clearly trying to conceal the truth.

Their story telling is done with a natural ease and warmth, and has given people dealing with the most dreadful of situations a voice.

Not only do they have the ability to doggedly pursue a story over days or weeks, but this year’s journalist of the year, has shown repeatedly the skill to react to breaking news, whether that’s human tragedy or natural disaster, and bring live rolling coverage to the people of Adelaide, while also discovering what others didn’t.

This was exemplified in their coverage of the biggest story of the year, the death of Phil Walsh, when they were the first to deliver the news of the stabbing of the Crows coach, that left so so many in disbelief.

This year’s winner is a compassionate, and determined and versatile reporter, and also a great bloke.

The journalist of the year for 2016… Is Ben Avery.