2009 News Awards Launched
Friday, June 25, 2010
News Limited chairman and chief executive John Hartigan today launched the 2010 News Awards, which are open to entries for the next five weeks.
The Awards, in their sixth year, represent the pinnacle of editorial excellence at News with 20 categories and a prize pool of more than $100,000. The major award, The Sir Keith Murdoch Award, carries a prize of $15,000.
Mr Hartigan said he expected this year’s Awards to be one of the most exciting.
“As our journalists move towards producing more specialist paid content, and our newsrooms get into their stride breaking news on different platforms, this is a year when I think we’ll see some industry-changing work at the Awards,” he said.
“There has never been a more exciting time to be in our business. Whether you’re a reporter, artist, photographer, designer or sub-editor, we are all inventing new ways of doing things.
“As a result, we’re seeing some remarkable creativity throughout the group and the News Awards are an important celebration of this.”
One category has changed. The Website of the Year Award becomes Digital Journalism of the Year, in recognition of the vast expansion of the technologies, platforms and techniques we use to deliver content.
The criteria for the new award are also broader. It may recognise a website team covering a big story or campaign, but may also capture the work of a journalist’s live coverage on a website, or someone who creates the best interactive poll or graphic art.
Editorial director Campbell Reid said the new award also allowed scope for journalism that is published on newer platforms. “With iPads and smart phone apps being so much of our future, we can no longer confine this award to a website box,” he said.
“But the key focus, as ever, is great story telling and great connection to our audience.”
All categories remain open to entries published in any media. The innovative use of non-print will also be considered in the Newspaper of the Year, Regional Newspaper, Community Newspaper and Magazine categories.
The entries will be judged by more than 40 editors and former editors over three stages taking two months. A shortlist will be announced in September and finalists in early October.
The News Awards will be announced at a black-tie presentation in Sydney on October 29. All finalists and their partners will be invited to the event hosted by News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch.
For full details of the categories and criteria, and to enter an award, visit www.newsawards.com.au or click the link on your intranet home page.
If you have queries about submitting your online entry, or you would like help doing so, contact Les Hoffman on (02) 6680 2080 or hoffmanl@newsltd.com.au
If you have questions about the criteria, eligibility or rules, contact Lucinda Duckett on the numbers below.
Entries close in the first week of August, although some of the major categories are due earlier. Deadlines for each category are on the website.
Good luck
Released by News Limited Corporate Affairs
For further details contact:
Lucinda Duckett, Manager, Editorial Communication, Tel: 02 9288 3125
