MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR INAUGURAL KENNEDY AWARDS
The finalists have been announced in the inaugural Kennedy Awards for Excellence in NSW Journalism.
The 30 judges, led by former News Ltd CEO John Hartigan, were impressed by the quality of more than 400 submissions contained in 307 entries. The awards are named to honour legendary crime reporter, Les Kennedy, who died last year.
The 85 finalists, competing for the Kennedy Spirax Trophy, were revealed tonight at a function hosted by awards sponsor, the Australian Hotels Association (NSW).
These are the finalists in the 2012 Kennedy Awards, which will be presented at a gala ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney on August 10:
Most Outstanding Regional Reporting - the Paul Lockyer Award
The Daily Advertiser, Wagga
Catherine Clifford and Elyse Denman, ABC Tamworth
Giselle Wakatama, ABC Newcastle
Most Outstanding Crime Reporting
Matt Doran, Network Ten
Yoni Bashan, The Sunday Telegraph
Lisa Davies, IlyaGridneff, Dan Proudman, Fairfax
Racing Writer of the Year, sponsored by the Australian Turf Club
Craig Young, The Sydney Morning Herald
Brent Zerafa, The Daily Telegraph
Phil Rothfield, The Daily Telegraph
Judges’Commendation: Jessica Owers, author of "Peter Pan."
Outstanding Radio Reporting - the Sean Flannery Award
Sarah Mohrice, 2UE
Gillian Cannon, 2GB
Catherine Clifford, ABC Tamworth
Outstanding Radio Current Affairs
Ray Hadley, 2GB
Peggy Giakoumelos, SBS
Ian Dodd and Chris Smith, 2GB
Outstanding News Photo, sponsored by Destination NSW
Jacky Ghossein, The Sydney Morning Herald
Brad Hunter, The Daily Telegraph
Alex Ellinghausen, Fairfax
Judges’Commendation: Nick Moir, The Sydney Morning Herald
Outstanding Portrait
Tamara Dean, The Sydney Morning Herald
Jon Reid, The Sydney Morning Herald
Brendan Esposito, The Sydney Morning Herald
Judges’Commendations: WolterPeeters and Steve Christo, Fairfax
Outstanding Online Photographic Essay, also sponsored by Destination NSW
Jane Dyson, St George Leader
Mike Bowers, The Global Mail
Jacky Ghossein, The Sydney Morning Herald
Outstanding Online Video
Asher Moses Fairfax,
Alex Ellinghausen, The Sydney Morning Herald
Tony Walters, The Sydney Morning Herald
Outstanding Team Player, the Cliff Neville Award
Lissa McMillan, SBS
James Hamilton, Today Tonight, Seven Network
Michael Thompson, The Ray Hadley Show 2GB
Outstanding Mentor
Claudia Taranto, ABC
Mike Bowers, The Global Mail
David Richardson, Today Tonight, Seven Network
Outstanding Sport Reporting, sponsored by the Seven Network
Jonathan Marshall and Neil Breen, The Sunday Telegraph
Quentin McDermott, ABC Four Corners
Caro Meldrum-Hanna, ABC 7.30
Young Journalist of the Year
Rosie Squires, The Sunday Telegraph
Hugh Whitfeld, Seven News, Sydney
Joel Tozer, The Global Mail
Outstanding Coverage of Indigenous Affairs, sponsored by Coles
Mike Bowers, The Global Mail
Caro Meldrum-Hanna, ABC 7.30
Gordon Weiss –The Global Mail
Outstanding Television Camera Coverage, the Gary Ticehurst Award
Paul "Bowie" Bousfield, Nine Network
Paul Walker, Seven News, Sydney
Mitch Wall, Nine News, Sydney
Outstanding Television News Reporting, sponsored by Network TEN
Lachlan Kennedy, Network TEN
Paul Kadak, Seven Network
Matt Doran, Network TEN
Outstanding Television Current Affairs
Tracy Grimshaw, A Current Affair, Nine Network
Quentin McDermott, ABC Four Corners
Caro Meldrum-Hanna, ABC 7.30
Most Outstanding Columnist, the Peter Ruehl Award
Jill Margo, Australian Financial Review
Heath Aston, The Sun-Herald
Outstanding Finance Reporting, sponsored by Sky News Australia
Vanda Carson, The Daily Telegraph
Peter Ryan, ABC Radio
Ben Woodhead, Melanie Beeby, Australian Financial Review
Outstanding Online News Breaking
IilyaGridneff, Fairfax
Sean Nicholls, The Sydney Morning Herald
Paul Bibby, The Sydney Morning Herald
Outstanding Court Reporting
Lizzie Pearl, Nine Network
Paul Bibby, The Sydney Morning Herald
Quentin McDermott, ABC Four Corners
Scoop of the Year
Jonathan Marshall and Neil Breen, The Sunday Telegraph
Kate McClymont, The Sydney Morning Herald
Linton Besser, The Sydney Morning Herald
Most Outstanding Illustration
Simon Bosch, Fairfax
Mario Lendvai, News Limited
John Shakespeare, The Sydney Morning Herald
Splash of the Year
Patrick Lion and Gary Ramage, The Daily Telegraph
Jonathan Marshall and Neil Breen, The Sunday Telegraph
Lisa Davies, Paul Bibby, Louise Hall, The Sydney Morning Herald
Most Outstanding Investigative Reporting
Linton Besser, The Sydney Morning Herald
Natalie O'Brien, The Sun-Herald
Kate McClymont, The Sydney Morning Herald
Most Outstanding Newspaper Feature
Mark Whittaker, The Good Weekend, SMH
Rosemary Milsom, The Newcastle Herald
Adam Shand, The Sun-Herald
Judges’commendation: Steve Barrett, Seven Network
Outstanding Political Reporting, sponsored by NRMA
Andrew Clennell, The Daily Telegraph
Lee Jeloscek, Seven News Sydney
Sean Nicholls, The Sydney Morning Herald
P&O Cruises New South Wales Journalist of the Year
Linton Besser, The Sydney Morning Herald
Andrew Clennell, The Daily Telegraph
Kate McClymont, The Sydney Morning Herald.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell will present the P&O Cruises NSW Journalist of the Year Award at the gala ceremony on August 10. The winner will enjoy a 9-night Sunshine Melodies Cruise for two, departing Sydney on Pacific Jewel on November 25 with calls at Port Vila in Vanuatu, Lifou, the Isle of Pines, New Caledonia before returning to Sydney December 4.
The Kennedy Awards committee expressed its gratitude for the generous support of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises, PelikanArtline, Coles, the Australian Turf Club, the NRMA, Network Ten, Destination NSW, Seven Network, Sky News Australia, the office of the NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister and the Australian Hotels Association.
The committee also announced tonight that Destination NSW will provide the winners of the News Photo and Online Photographic Essay Awards trips to Lord Howe Island and Mungo National Park for special photo assignments,
The 2012 Kennedy Awards are raising funds to support the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children and Students.
Media Enquiries REBECCA RICHARDSON 0413 130400