The winners of Queensland’s richest journalism awards have been announced, with first place going to a journalist who revealed the true cost renewables were having on regional areas and helped save an entire town.
The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) established the Bean Lockyer Ticehurst Award for Excellence in Regional Journalism to honour ABC cameraman John Bean, journalist Paul Lockyer and chopper pilot Gary Ticehurst, who tragically died in a helicopter crash while on assignment in 2011.
This year’s award has been split into a first, second and third place to allow the LGAQ to recognise the work of even more journalists in even more communities Queensland councils and encourage them to adopt the doggedness and professionalism for which John, Paul and Gary were renowned.
“The Bean Lockyer Ticehurst Award has drawn a pleasing 20 high quality entries reaching to the very borders of our state – Torres Strait in the north, Goondiwindi in the south and from the east to the west and from media organisations of all sizes,” LGAQ Chief Executive Officer Alison Smith said.
“Judging criteria includes newsworthiness, incisiveness, public benefit and impact on the understanding of the issues and challenges facing regional Queensland.”
The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail’s Michael Madigan has been named first place in this year’s awards for his coverage of the energy transition in regional Queensland.
“Michael Madigan’s work helped shine a stoplight on serious issues threatening regional communities,” Ms Smith said.
“His work on issues raised at the LGAQ’s Bush Councils convention on renewables and reporting Isaac Regional Council’s campaign to save the town of Glenden showed the seriousness of the energy transition in regional Queensland – that without real social licence, the transition could threaten the very existence of towns and the liveability of communities.
“Michael, a veteran journalist who grew up in Mackay and has covered Queensland and national politics, brought his experience to bear to make sure the message that regional communities – spearheaded by their councils - needed heard in the halls of power was received loud and clear.”
Second place went to Carli Willis and Jennifer Enosa from NITV/SBS and TSIMA - Torres Strait Islanders Media Association for their work revealing serious weaknesses in our northern border, Australia’s only international border.
“Carli and Jennifer reported that Border Force were relying on local fisherman – who they were paying in fuel – to find and capture suspected illegal immigrants and highlighting the serious gaps in our security – a significant concern of our Torres councils – and highlight it in Canberra.”
Third place went to Anne Miller and the late Dafyd Martindale and South Burnett Online.
“South Burnett Online is a small regional operation that does a big job keeping its community informed of everything happening in their backyard,” Ms Smith said.
“It covers everything from local arts and events to the crime, council and local impact of State political debate.”
For more information, please contact:
Dan Knowles, Media Advisor