Plenty of hard yards behind the awards

One of the things I love most about being editor of a Sunday newspaper is that we tell stories that take more time to research and write. Your time is precious, especially on a Sunday, and I know we have to work extra hard to earn your attention when there are so many other competing demands.

So I was thrilled to see so many of the writers who feature on our pages every week being recognised at the Voyager Media Awards on Friday night, either as winners or finalists.

To name a few: Columnists Alison Mau and Andrea Vance; Stuff writers Mike White, Rob Stock, Tony Wall, Blair Ensor, Kirsty Johnston, Hamish McNeilly and Lorna Thornber; environment editor Eloise Gibson, science writer Charlie Mitchell (his front-page Sunday StarTimes story ‘‘The liberator’’ is one of my favourite stories of 2020), sports writer Dana Johannsen, special contributor Jehan Casinader, and, of course, our amazing photographers – David White, Lawrence Smith and Ricky Wilson. Sharon Murdoch, whose cartoons have an almost cult-like following on social media, was a well-deserved finalist again this year, as well as our own news director Craig Hoyle, for his excellent writing. Our much-loved Sunday magazine was a finalist in its category again.

Also recognised was Stuff Circuit’s Emma, the moving story of a Russian adoptee and workmate of Stuff journalist Paula Penfold, who wrote about their journey for our feature pages.

It was fitting that Vance was a finalist in more than one category, including opinion writer of the year. The Sunday Star-Times has been fortunate to feature some of the award-winning projects by Vance and video journalist Iain McGregor that were recognised on Friday.

I was particularly proud of the recognition for Sunday Star-Times columnist and reporter Alison Mau, who was named reporter of the year. Here’s what the judges said about Mau’s portfolio: ‘‘Alison Mau is leading the exposure of sexual harassment. [Her] revelations concerning two well-known figures in New Zealand’s academic life were fearless, determined pursuits that deserve the highest commendation.’’

You would have read Mau’s investigations in the Sunday Star-Times. What you don’t see are the days and weeks of hard work, meticulous factchecking and exhaustive interviews that go into such pieces. Or the personal abuse that can accompany such stories.

So I can absolutely testify to Mau’s fearless, determined journalism – I’ve seen the hard yards she puts into every investigation and, above all, her compassion for the people whose stories she has been trusted with.

Mau’s rival for the award was Stuff’s Carmen Parahi; of Parahi’s groundbreaking leadership on Stuff’s Ta¯ Ma¯ tou Pono (Our Truth) project, the judges said it would change New Zealand journalism forever – and for the better. That’s quite an accolade. But it only tells part of the story; it takes true courage to speak out when the people you are challenging to do better are your own workmates and senior managers.

The judges described Parahi as an extraordinary wa¯ hine toa. I second that.

As Friday’s awards show, we seem to be blessed with an abundance of fierce wa¯ hine toa, in fact.

I can absolutely testify to Alison Mau’s fearless, determined journalism.