The 2008 News Awards Finalists

(in alphabetical order)

The Sir Keith Murdoch Award



Tony Koch, The Australian, whose stories on rapes in remote communities caused a national outcry and led to justice for a 10-year-old girl whose attackers, despite pleading guilty, were not jailed. Koch’s story prompted an immediate State Government investigation and, ultimately, the jailing of five men. His revelations about the rape of a nurse posted alone on remote Mabuiag Island had a similar effect and led to improved security for workers on the island and proper counselling for the nurse.



Charles Miranda, Group London Correspondent, who broke one of the best stories of the year when he revealed that a senior law officer, Mark Standen, was the secret head of an international criminal drugs syndicate. Miranda’s 10-month investigation into the drug trail between Australia and the Netherlands led to two government inquiries while the NSW Crime Commission was stripped of its autonomy. Miranda juggled two media skilfully, breaking his stories online and revealing more in paper the next day, keeping constantly ahead of the opposition.

Newspaper of the Year



The Australian, which continues to build its reputation through brilliant execution of a meticulous plan. The rewards are obvious: rising circulation and proof that in times of turmoil readers are increasingly trusting The Australian to deliver strong news and informed insight on the things most relevant to them.



The Courier-Mail, which has managed its massive transition from the nation’s most traditional broadsheet to its feistiest tabloid with poise and confidence while keeping – and even growing – its place as the absolute news authority in Queensland. Its website and Saturday magazine complement the paper brilliantly, delivering a standout package.



The Sunday Herald Sun, which continues to deliver record circulation in the most challenging of times, reaching a 17-year high this year through brilliant understanding of its audience, and supreme news breaking, often from under the noses of rival media. The introduction of a new entertainment section and improvements to other sections have boosted advertising to position it as a powerful contender for this award.



The Sunday Times, with creativity and competitive spirit has outshone its 6 days a week rival. It’s seen off threats to press freedom and from the Fairfax online assault, by transforming itself into a lively seven-day publication through constant innovation of its website, PerthNow and brilliant live coverage of the police raid on its newsroom, proving its confidence in the strong challenges.



A regional newspaper One newspaper from the following list of Regional finalists has also been selected as a finalist for Newspaper of the Year.



Regional Newspaper of the Year

The Cairns Post Judges were impressed by the energy of this paper for being everything from a campaigner, a rock concert promoter, a travel broker and a wildlife photography agency in its determination to dominate North Queensland and strengthen its connection with Cairns. The paper’s website has broken new ground in marrying the demands of locals and tourists and has lead the way by turning the theory of User Generated Content into a groundswell readers’ movement that shapes what the Post publishes. The newspaper’s ultimately successful campaign for a new hospital was brilliantly executed.

The Geelong Advertiser, which has secured its place as one of the country’s most innovative newspapers with well executed initiatives, from allowing readers to “sack” the editor so they can choose the front page stories themselves, to creating groundbreaking campaigns that capture national attention and then giving away free milk to celebrate the success of the Geelong Cats. In the last year The Geelong Advertiser has done all this and more to re-define the role of a modern local newspaper.

The Northern Territory News Only The Northern Territory News could sell thousands of extra papers with a front page photograph of a crocodile doing its best to have a backpacker for lunch, and then sell even more a few days later by turning the same photograph into a souvenir postcard, surely becoming the only newspaper in the world that gives away crocodiles as reader prizes. The NT News has focussed on the distinctive interests and values of the Territory and the reward is growing circulation.

Community Newspaper of the Year

Central Coast Express Advocate which seamlessly juggles the demands of an unusual hybrid audience, balancing coverage of the local community with the big ticket issues that affect thousands of readers who live in the area but work in Sydney. The result is a newspaper that embodies parish pump while giving the metropolitan media a run for its money in coverage of stories such the highway collapse that killed a local family.

The Noosa Journal Published in the heart of APN territory, The Journal gives expression to the energy and intense community spirit of Noosa. The paper’s courageous and innovative re-launch put sport in the middle and business on the back page, a widely-applauded move showing that while many regard Noosa as a playground, it is a dynamic business community for locals. The Journal’s energetic mix of reporting and photography dovetails well with campaigning on behalf of its readers.

Southern Times Messenger This is a little newspaper that thinks big - campaigning for jobs for auto-workers stranded by the closure of the Mitsubishi factory, fighting for a rail link to its community, saving its Blue Light teenagers’ disco and treating the local footy premiership as bigger than the AFL grand final. The connection the paper has built with its community is proved by the fact that more than a third of all readers’ letters to Messenger Newspapers are addressed to the Southern Times, although there are ten other newspapers in the stable.

Highly commended

Hornsby Express

Knox Leader

Magazine of the Year

Australian Good Taste In a competitive field, Australian Good Taste stands out through creative editorial extensions, allowing readers to expand their magazine experience online, in print and on television and radio. The magazine boasts five cleanly designed colour coded mini magazines, making it easy to navigate. Despite a cover price rise, Good Taste remains one of Australia’s highest selling food magazines, featuring a popular website on which readers can enjoy quizzes and even invite friends to dinner choosing what they want to eat.



QWeekend, which continues to impress with its strong journalism, beautiful photography and clean design. Its core focus is on content, featuring exclusive interviews which range from Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan’s revelation that he had once tried drugs to the harrowing thoughts of a pregnant woman just released from jail over the death of her 18-month-old daughter. With a package that inspires, informs and entertains, both readers and advertisers love the improvements to QWeekend. Readership is up 9.2 per cent year on year and revenue has grown by an impressive 40 percent.



Vogue Australia Australia’s number one fashion title significantly boosted awareness of its brand through a range of new editorial initiatives, including the involvement of its editor-in- chief Kirstie Clements with Foxtel’s popular television show, Australia’s Next Top Model. The magazine also developed its website, introducing Vogue Forum to give readers even greater engagement with the magazine. It has editorial authority and strong design.

Website of the Year

dailytelegraph.com.au which has integrated with the masthead to become a true 24-hour newsroom, best witnessed by its coverage of the Sydney Harbour boat tragedy that claimed the lives of six people. The website performed well during the Federal election, providing front page news for the paper through online polls which revealed the loss of former Prime Minister John Howard’s support base in Sydney. The site’s strong news breaking credentials, lively entertainment and interaction with readers led to a 270 per cent increase in page impressions year on year.

geelongadvertiser.com.au The Geelong Advertiser re-invented its newsroom with the goal of total news integration in print and online with one pool of journalists. It became the first regional news site to achieve up to two million page impressions in a month. The site provides a vibrant, informative and innovative experience for readers, who were even allowed to join an online news conference to choose the next day’s front page news.

heraldsun.com.au This lively and engaging website reflects the newspaper is in its three pillars of dominance: breaking news, AFL and entertainment. heraldsun.com.au has stamped its authority online with a bold redesign and the introduction of Super Footy, which has quickly become Australia’s number one AFL site. The website broke Victoria’s biggest political story in years, the resignation of Premier Steve Bracks, and was the first Australian website with audio from the scene of actor Heath Ledger’s death, adding video, live updates, news and galleries throughout the day.

PerthNow which became the fastest growing metropolitan news website in Australia, despite not having the support of a daily newspaper and in the face of a rejuvenated competitor. As well as breaking news, PerthNow has introduced innovations such as an edited version of that night’s television news and live reads from Nova. Its quirky Left Brain, Right Brain test delivered an incredible 2.5 million page impressions.

Chairman’s Award

Evan Hannah and staff of The Fiji Times for their professionalism and courage in publishing the truth in the face of a clampdown by the military dictatorship which resulted in Evan being illegally deported.

Jeff Darmanin and Lisa Davies, The Daily Telegraph, for their two-and-a-half years of sensitive coverage of Lauren Huxley and her family. following the attack in which she almost died. Their work stands as a testament to their sincerity, compassion and professionalism.

Young Journalist of the Year

Pia Akerman, The Australian, for a portfolio of news-breaking stories that demonstrate initiative, attention to detail and fine investigative skills, including a first class series on the decline of the Murray-Darling River system which sparked a swift government response.

David Hastie, Herald Sun, whose entry showed an impressive talent for sniffing out and then hanging on tenaciously to a strong news story. Wayne Carey and Corey Worthington were two of the biggest stories in Melbourne this year and David broke ground on each of them.

Lauren Williams, The Daily Telegraph, who backs up strong reporting with the extra work needed to take her stories from the printed page into other dimensions, whether online or through campaigns such as her involvement with the Telegraph’s anti-whaling campaign.

Scoop of the Year

Tony Koch and Padraic Murphy, The Australian, for their revelations that a number of men and youths, some from influential families in the Aurukun community, were not jailed for the rape of a 10-year old intellectually impaired Aboriginal girl, even though they pleaded guilty. The story attracted worldwide attention and the ramifications were huge: Premier Anna Bligh ordered an investigation of all sex offence cases in Cape York for the previous two years; the prosecutor in the case resigned; the case went to the Court of Appeal and ultimately five offenders were jailed for up to six years.

Charles Miranda, Group London Correspondent, for his extensive investigation into a sophisticated drug operation between The Netherlands and Australia. Using both the internet and print to stay ahead of the pack, rival media was left behind, forced to quote News Limited as their source on the scandal.

Linda Silmalis, The Sunday Telegraph, whose scoop on an argument involving John Della Bosca and Federal MP Belinda Neal at a Central Coast restaurant, The Iguana Club, led to “Iguanagate” which destabilised the leadership of NSW Premier Morris Iemma, cost two jobs and forced the Education Minister to stand aside pending the outcome of a police investigation. The story laid bare the way power is used and possibly abused in NSW.

Cameron Stewart, The Australian, for a report in which billionaire Richard Pratt confessed that he was guilty of price fixing. The story set off a chain of events that ultimately led to the businessman facing criminal charges.

Coverage Across All Media

The Daily Telegraph, for its Federal election campaign coverage. The team used their website highly effectively to deliver engaging polls, good blogs, video and great interactivity, brilliantly complementing the paper’s printed coverage.

Geelong Advertiser, for its Grand Final coverage. The team created an exciting and uplifting presence online while cleverly interacting with print for saturation coverage of a massive local story.

The Sunday Times and PerthNow, for their coverage of the raid on their newsroom by 16 Major Fraud Squad officers seeking information about a government leak on a story. The team put video on their website during the raid, and kept the story going online until they could cover it thoroughly in print on Sunday.

Campaign of the Year

Binge City, Herald Sun. A campaign against binge drinking and youth drinking which was so powerful that it led to the Federal Government raising the tax on alcopops, a 2am lockout for pubs in Victoria and a State Government freeze on late night liquor licences.

Bully Wall, Geelong Advertiser. The timely campaign against bullying in schools was original, effective and courageous, raising awareness of the issue nationally and helping to herald changing community attitudes towards the problem.

Cairns Hospital, The Cairns Post. The newspaper’s effort to secure a new hospital for its community was highly ambitious, energetic and superbly executed in every way, cleverly engaging readers and leading ultimately to a fantastic result – the government’s agreement to build a new hospital.

Just Think, Geelong Advertiser, an anti-binge drinking effort which took newspaper campaigning to a new level through such innovations as printing 5000 posters for pubs and launching a Facebook site to complement the campaign. Since then, the campaign has been taken up by 33 Leader newspapers as well.

Features Journalist of the Year

Trent Dalton, The Courier-Mail, for his remarkable ability to find everyday subjects and bring them alive through investigative reporting, beautiful writing and unusual realism. His portfolio ranged from coverage of his experience living as a homeless man to a touching interview with a woman whose home of several decades was about to be bulldozed.

Kate Legge, The Weekend Australian Magazine Kate proves that great feature writing is not just the ability to craft a story but to combine it with solid leg-work and a perceptive mind. Her reconstruction of the events in a Melbourne nightclub that led to a fatal peak-hour shooting – extracted from countless court documents and interviews with witnesses – is a fine example of the art.

John Lyons, The Australian From the influence Brian Burke wields over the West Australian Labor Party to a report on how fathers are re-learning the basics of parenting after family break-up through alcoholism or drug addiction, Lyons shows his versatility and skill as a seasoned and perceptive writer.

Specialist Writer of the Year

Fiona Hudson, The Sunday Herald Sun, for her spectacular coverage of a court round, including use of Canada's online court database system to unearth an intriguing tale of a reclusive but wealthy Melbourne-loving philanthropist and a disputed Will with deliberately planted legal traps that embroiled the Lord Mayor of Melbourne.

Steve Lewis, Group Daily Newspapers, for a series of agenda-setting national exclusives that meet the challenge of breaking the stories that aren’t on the political agenda.

Joe Spagnolo, The Sunday Times, whose story of the Troy Buswell chair-sniffing affair brought down the Liberal leader and a potential future Premier. Remarkably, the story was apparently well-known in the parliamentary gallery but no one else was brave enough to cover it.

Business Journalist of the Year

Richard Gluyas, The Australian Displaying almost excruciating patience over many years, Gluyas was able to expose, despite legal pressure, an otherwise unknown fortune and its owner’s favourable treatment by the Australian Tax Office.

Cameron Stewart, The Australian, whose exclusive on billionaire Richard Pratt’s confession that he was guilty of price fixing in Australia’s largest ever cartel case was one of the most significant business stories of the year. The story led to Pratt facing criminal charges and a possible jail term.

Liam Walsh, The Courier-Mail, A body of work demonstrating his keen awareness of his Queensland audience; Walsh’s investigative skills led to agenda-setting coverage of the ABC childcare collapse and details behind the surprise collapse of a successful Queensland developer with political and sporting links.

Sports Journalist of the Year

Mike Colman, The Courier-Mail An established sports feature writer and reporter, Mike spread his abilities over multiple platforms for a report on efforts to mark the final resting place of Aboriginal cricketer Eddie Gilbert, who dismissed Don Bradman for a duck in 1931 but died in obscurity 47 years later.

Reece Homfray, Messenger Community Newspapers, for his ability to turn the seemingly ordinary into a cracking read. Homfray’s portfolio includes an engaging report on a cat used to test the suitability of retiring racing greyhounds as pets, and the discovery that the number of women training as apprentice jockeys in South Australia has overtaken men.

James Hooper, The Sunday Telegraph, for a series of firsts including the split between South Sydney Rabbitohs owners Russell Crowe and entrepreneur Peter Holmes a Court, secured only by Hooper’s willingness to get out of the office and wear out some shoe leather. His story breaking the player code of silence on the illegal grapple-tackle by Melbourne Storm was also impressive.



Josh Massoud, The Daily Telegraph, Massoud’s strong news-breaking abilities put him at the cutting edge of the two major rugby league stories of the year – the crisis at the Bulldogs over the defection of Sonny Bill Williams to a French rugby union side, and a series on Willie Mason, covering his desire to leave the Bulldogs to his ultimate signing with the Sydney Roosters.

Sub-editor of the Year

Tim Douglas, The Australian A fine sense of the absurd is evident in Tim’s work whose heading for a story on the film franchising trend, (‘All movies are created sequel’), and on the abusive style of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey (‘Ramsey spices reality with a pinch of assault’) - say it all.

Michael Westlake, The Sunday Mail, Brisbane Whose musical bent led to a series of highly amusing headlines, including ‘Stomp in the name of love’ for a story on a face-stomping incident between two rugby league players who had been involved with the same girl.

Simon Wilkinson, The Advertiser The double entendre is alive and well in Simon’s work. “Smoking ban has its drawbacks” needs no further explanation and his heading on a story on the health implications of alcohol abuse, “What’s your poison”, brought fresh relevance to an old saying.

Photographer of the Year

Craig Borrow, Herald Sun, for his consistent and diverse portfolio, proving that sometimes a great picture requires extraordinary effort. His image of a workman replacing two light globes on top of a high-rise mast is inspiring – and terrifying.

Alex Coppel, Sunday Herald Sun whose sensitive handling of the grieving family of mobile phone retailer John Ilhan enabled him to capture a moving portrait as the children heard the pre-recorded voice of their father from a toy he had given them.

Craig Greenhill, The Daily Telegraph, who demonstrated initiative by securing the shot of Michael Clarke pushing his car after running out of petrol with Lara Bingle. His Mt Panorama shot is more than a crash picture, fully capturing the emotion of the incident.

Photo of the Year

Craig Greenhill, The Daily Telegraph, whose exclusive shot became one of the most published photographs of the year because it graphically answered the question on everyone’s lips: just how bad was swimmer Nick D’Arcy’s assault on Simon Cowley?

Michael Keating, Herald Sun, for his dramatic and telling news picture of the growing problem of violence on Melbourne’s streets. His persistence and effort in positioning himself in the right place at the right time paid off in spades.

Raoul Kochanowski, The Mercury, Whack! Raoul Kochanowski's picture of a man charged after a fatal car accident being confronted by the dead man’s daughter outside court was a talking point in Hobart for weeks.

Artist of the Year

Steven Grice, The Advertiser Adept at both hand-drawn illustrations and computer graphics, Grice’s work with Jos Valdman on the 3D HMAS Sydney model is excellent, and completed with a tight deadline, forming the basis of an excellent newspaper poster and animated online pages.

Mark Knight, Herald Sun At his best, Knight is what every cartoonist should be: lethal. His cartoon of Peter Costello abandoning the John Howard car crash is as current today as when it was first published, and just as funny.

Bill Leak, The Australian, whose work brings new meaning to the Australian art of bringing the pompous down to size. Leak’s portrayal of the “Howard tribe” as the possible subject of a Kevin Rudd apology and his depiction of delegates “seeing the light” at Rudd’s 2020 conference go the heart of Australian cartooning.

Designer of the Year

Rebecca Burrell, Sunday Magazine, for her ability to bring the design values of a glossy monthly to a weekly. Her work is clean, simple and modern, allowing the well art-directed images to speak for themselves. Judges commented on her ability to deliver impact with an upbeat, glamorous feel to her work.

Adam Lloyd, Sunday Times, for his ability to bring bold ideas alive and sell a story powerfully with the effective combination of type and image. His ‘Salute’ layout grabs the reader’s attention with an arm breaking through the typography to make a statement.

Anne-Maree Lyons, QWeekend, whose designs are forged by an understanding of the objectives and challenges in a piece of work and successfully resolved them by tying in all the elements of a page into a single entity, as illustrated in her use of a representation of a DNA strand in the science story, “A twist of fate”.