Queensland Media Awards

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McKENNA NAMED QUEENSLAND’S TOP JOURNALIST

The Australian’s Michael McKenna was named Queensland’s Journalist of the Year for 2009 at the Queensland Media Awards, held at the Hilton on August 29. McKenna also won the Best Print/Online News Report category, and shared the Best Sports Report honour with his colleague Dan Koch.alt

The win was a sweet one for McKenna (right, at Charters Towers) who despite regular nominations has never before independently taken home a gong at the Queensland Media Awards.

The judges felt McKenna’s work stood out amidst a very strong field, and were
impressed with his courage and tenacity reporting on the dangers of taser stun guns. McKenna’s work reached behind the Police Media Unit’s pro-taser public relations campaign and led to a CMC investigation.

Also honoured on the night was ABC journalist Albert Asbury for his outstanding contribution to journalism. Asbury passed away earlier this year after a long and distinguished career; his family accepted the award on his behalf.

As the chief-of-staff for ABC TV News for 32 years, Albert nurtured generations of journalistic talent. Premier Anna Bligh once described him as a “remarkable journalist…who played a lengthy and pivotal role in television’s daily reporting of Queensland’s current affairs”.

A strong field of over 360 entries ran the full gamut of a tumultuous twelve months in Queensland. From the election of our first female Premier to wild weather, as severe drought gave way to floods and devastating storms. And from misbehaving sports stars and financial markets in meltdown, to violence on the streets and disadvantage in our communities: Queensland has so many stories to tell.

As the Queensland Media Awards show, our media are more than equal to the task.

2009 QUEENSLAND MEDIA AWARDS WINNERS

Young Journalist of the Year

Sponsored by Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Thomas Chamberlin, The Cairns Post, “Cash for Comment”

Most Outstanding Journalism Student – Regional

Sponsored by Queensland Parliamentary Media Gallery

Kieran Moran, James Cook University, “Bouncers Behaving Badly”

Most Outstanding Journalism Student – Metropolitan

Sponsored by Queensland Parliamentary Media Gallery

Tom Hersey, Queensland University of Technology, “Body of Work”

 

Best Broadcast Report – Regional & Community Media

Sponsored by John Deere & Company

Megan Woodward, ABC Radio AM, “The Ignored Flood"

 

Best News Photograph – Regional & Community Media

Sponsored by ABC

Marc McCormack, The Cairns Post, “Dengue Death”

 

Best Print/Online Feature Article or Opinion Piece – Regional & Community Media

Sponsored by James Cook University 

Nathan Evans, The Noosa Journal, “How Many More? Why it’s Time to Stop Playing Politics over Killer Highway”

 

Best Print/Online News Report – Regional & Community Media

Sponsored by Kingfisher Bay Resort

Tony Raggatt, Townsville Bulletin, “Storm Drain”

 

Excellence in Rural Journalism
Sponsored by Australia Post

Pip Courtney and Ingrid Just, ABC TV Landline, “Blue Hills – Back to the Future”

 

Best Coverage of Social Equity and/or Indigenous Affairs

Sponsored by Queensland Council of Social Service

Chloe Cassidy, Network Ten, “On the Ball”

 

Best Coverage of Multicultural Issues

Sponsored by Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland

Amanda Watt, The Courier-Mail QWeekend, “Hell and High Water”

 

Best Business or Property Report

Sponsored by Terry White Chemists
Liam Walsh, The Courier-Mail, “The Business of ABC”

 

Best Three Headlines

Sponsored by Australia Post

Grantlee Kieza, The Courier-Mail, “Three Headlines”

 

Best Cartoon, Illustration or Graphic

Sponsored by Media Super

Brett Lethbridge, couriermail.com.au, “ Australia”

 

Best Sports Report

Sponsored by Media Super

Dan Koch and Michael McKenna, The Australian, “Broncos Under Investigation”

 

Best Comment, Analysis, Opinion & Critique

Sponsored by Purple Palate

Mike O’Connor, The Courier-Mail, “It’s a Bridge too Far”

 

Best Photographic Essay

Sponsored by Nikon

David Kelly, The Courier-Mail QWeekend, “Man or Mouth”

 

Best News Photograph

Sponsored by Seven Network ( Brisbane)

Marissa Calligeros, brisbanetimes.com.au, “Thurston Breaks Down at Uncle’s Funeral”

 

Best TV News Camera Work

Sponsored by The Courier-Mail

John Varga, Seven News, “ Moreton Bay Oil Spill"

 

Best Broadcast Interview

Sponsored by Griffith University

Bill McDonald, Ten News at Five, “ Walk Down Disaster Lane”

 

Best TV Current Affairs, Documentary or Feature (including camera work)

Sponsored by Fosters Group Ltd

Caitlin Shea and Kristine Taylor, ABC TV Australian Story, “All the Pretty Horses”

 

Best Print/Online Feature Article

Sponsored by Local Government Association of Queensland

Amanda Watt, The Courier-Mail QWeekend, “Vicious Cycle”

 

Best Radio Current Affairs or Feature

Sponsored by Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance

Heather Stewart, Anita Barraud and Damien Carrick, ABC Radio National The Law Report, “ Queensland’s Child Protection System”

 

Best Radio News Report

Sponsored by Network Ten ( Brisbane)

Stefan Armbruster, SBS Radio World View, “Malu Sara – Coroner’s Findings”

 

Best TV News Report

Sponsored by Queensland University of Technology

Michael Best and Michael McKinnon, Seven News, “Police Corruption”

 

Best Print/Online News Report

Sponsored by The Walkley Foundation
Michael McKenna, The Australian, “Shocked to the Core”

 

Best Investigative Report

Sponsored by Slater & Gordon Lawyers

Michael Crutcher and Matthew Fynes-Clinton, The Courier-Mail, “The Drugs Scourge”

 

Journalist of the Year

Sponsored by Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance Queensland Branch

Michael McKenna, The Australian

 

Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism

Sponsored by The University of Queensland

Albert Asbury, ABC

 

For further information contact Michelle Rae, 0411 757 669.