Waikato Times your Newspaper of Year
‘‘Edgy, probing and irreverent’’ work has won the Waikato Times a Newspaper of the Year award.
The result was announced at the Voyager Media Awards in Auckland last night, along with individual wins for two Waikato Times’ reporters.
The Waikato Times was labelled the ‘‘stand-out’’ in the Newspaper of the Year (up to 30,000 circulation) category.
Judges praised the range and distinctiveness of local content and the sense of community connection ‘‘conveyed through a campaigning and confident editorial tone’’.
‘‘Also, its reporting was impressively edgy, probing and irreverent.’’
The Waikato Times entered a portfolio of agenda-setting stories, including its campaign for a Waikato medical school, an examination of DHB boss Nigel Murray’s spending and revelations including a Hamilton company breaching UN sanctions by exporting to North Korea and kitchen utensils being used in hospital surgeries.
The win showed a paper in fine fettle and driven by a reporting staff at the top of their game, editor Jonathan MacKenzie said.
‘‘This is a testament to the strength and quality of our reporters and photographers.
‘‘Beyond that we have a lot of fun in our newsroom and I think this award proves that having fun at work and being kind to each other really does pay off. I feel a party is needed.’’
Another win came from reporter Donna-Lee Biddle’s feature article The Priest with a Patch — ‘‘a well-crafted, uplifting piece from a reporter with perseverance and awareness’’.
Biddle won the Feature Writing — Crime, Justice and/or Social Issues section with the story about a Mongrel Mob member who was also a priest.
It gives hope that even hardened gang members can find a way to walk away from drink, drugs, violence and crime and lead their communities, judges said.
Reporter Ruby Nyika, who won Student Journalist of the Year, ‘‘has the right stuff in spades,’’ judges said. That was evident from her strong and neatly balanced portfolio, they said.
Editorial director Mark Stevens said Stuff journalists make the company’s products what they are.
‘‘It has been fantastic to see them recognised for their great work’’.
Stuff’s innovation, superb reporting, evocative and biting opinion writing, and breathtaking visuals have been recognised at the annual media awards.
Stuff was recognised as Website of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards in Auckland last night, an honour it shares with joint winner Newsroom.co.nz.
The judges applauded Stuff’s breaking news coverage, editorial campaigns, innovation and in-depth investigative reporting.
The Press won Newspaper of the Year (more than 30,000 circulation), and was described by the judges as ‘‘vital’’ and ‘‘very much alive and kicking, much like the city it serves’’.
The Waikato Times won the Newspaper of the Year (up to 30,000 circulation) category.
‘‘What set it apart was the range and distinctiveness of its local content and the strong sense of community connection it conveyed through a campaigning and confident editorial tone.
Nelson reporter Nina Hindmarsh was crowned Best Reporter – Junior for the quality of her writing and the breadth of her portfolio.
‘‘Her article about an unpopular community of squatters called The Tribe was a superb, colourful and finely-balanced piece of work. She also submitted a fine piece of investigative journalism on the scam known as ‘gift giving’ and an informative but moving spot news story about a whale stranding showing an ability to work well in a range of journalistic genres.’’
Waikato reporter Ruby Nyika won Student Journalist of the Year. ‘‘She has the right stuff in spades,’’ the judges said.
The Valley, Stuff Circuit’s ‘‘meticulous, detailed investigation into New Zealand’s military and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan’’ won Best Team Investigation. ‘‘Through persistent and courageous journalism, and using innovative story-telling techniques, the Stuff Circuit team has provided an unparalleled insight into the changing nature of the engagement, and in particular what happened at the battle of Baghak.’’
Stuff national correspondent Tony Wall claimed the Reporter – Health, Education and/or General category. His portfolio had three ‘‘very strong stories that were original, well-crafted and important’’.
Donna-Lee Biddle won the Feature Writing – Crime, Justice and/ or Social Issues section for The Priest with a Patch. Judges said her ‘‘ story about a Mongrel Mob member who is also a priest gave hope that even hardened gang members could find a way to walk away from drink, drugs, violence and crime and lead their communities.’’
For the third year in a row, Sharon Murdoch won Cartoonist of the Year. ‘‘We loved the wonderful expressions on the faces of Murdoch’s hapless subjects, her graphic skill, her use of line and colour, her wit, her seriousness, the intelligence of her ideas.’’
Leah McFall won the Opinion Writing – General and/or Sport category for her ‘‘evocative yet readable, personal yet universal’’ columns. Dave Armstrong won the Opinion Writing – Humour/Satire category, raising the bar with his ‘‘ability to cut to the core of a controversy with biting commentary and wit.’’
Stuff also featured heavily in the visual categories.
Photographer of the Year went to Iain McGregor.
George Heard won Best News Video and Joseph Johnson won Best Photography – News. Kavinda Herath won Best Photo – Junior.