PHOTOGRAPHER and reporter Cathy Adams from the Lismore City News has taken out the highest journalism award at the annual ACM editorial awards in Sydney.
Ms Adams won the Gold ACM Excellence gong for her outstanding coverage of one of Australia's worst flood disasters in early 2022 and her consistently tenacious reporting for the Lismore community in northern NSW.
She lost her own car in the flood event and was working without power or heating in the early days of the aftermath, but ventured into the disaster zone to share stories of heroism and heartache which were read across Australia.
The Standard, in Warrnambool in Victoria's south-west, was named the Daily Masthead of the Year at the black tie event. The paper marked its 150th anniversary in 2022.
The Lismore City News, launched just 12 months ago, was named Non-Daily Masthead of the Year, while Queensland Country Life took out the agricultural masthead title.
Why regional stories matter
In their second year, the ACM Excellence Awards recognise the highest calibre of regional and rural reportage in Australia, celebrating the stories that strengthen and serve communities across 140 mastheads around the country.
"Regional journalism is the glue that holds our towns together but is often overlooked by a city-focussed media industry when it comes to awards," ACM managing director Tony Kendall said.
"Our editorial staff are breaking news every day in every state and territory of Australia, keeping their communities informed and entertained.
"The local journalism of people like Cathy Adams, who stands shoulder to shoulder with her readers through highs and devastating lows, is vital to a healthy, strong regional Australia," he said.
Punching above their weight
The ACM Young Journalist of the Year Award went to Alanna Tomazin from the Port Stephens Examiner.
Ms Tomazin, 24, is a dedicated reporter who cares deeply about her readers and their stories. She was a key member of the team that produced the innovative Young and Regional: Find Me a Home series.
The Illawarra Mercury, led by editor Gayle Tomlinson, took out a special award for its leadership in the shift to digital news storytelling, while the news story of the year was scooped up by Canberra Times court reporter Blake Foden for his global exclusive on tennis star Nick Kyrgios being charged with assault.
The Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) comes to the rescue of campers stranded on their car by floodwaters at Newbridge near Bendigo in October, 2022. Picture by Darren Howe
A nail-biting image of a dramatic flood rescue from a car roof top handed Darren Howe from the Bendigo Advertiser the best daily news photo of 2022.
Full list of ACM Excellence Awards winners
Gold ACME
Winner: Cathy Adams
Young Journalist of the Year
Winner: Alanna Tomazin
Masthead of the Year - Daily
Winner: The Standard
Masthead of the Year - Non-Daily
Winner: Lismore City News
Masthead of the Year - Agricultural
Winner: Queensland Country Life
Editorial Director's Award for Digital Leadership
Winner: Gayle Tomlinson, Janine Graham and the Illawarra Mercury newsroom
Trainee of the Year
Winner: Rosie Bensley
Mentor of the Year
Winner: Samantha Townsend
Audience Engagement Award
Winner: Hayley Warden, Julia Wythes and Ashley Walmsley
Team Innovation and Collaboration
Winner: Illawarra Mercury
Highly Commended: Samantha Townsend & Stephen Burns
Best Use of Multimedia
Winner: Emma Horn
Highly Commended: Scott Calvin
Campaign of the Year
Winner: Newcastle Herald
Highly Commended: Billy Jupp
Comment Piece of the Year
Winner: Annie Hesse
Highly Commended: Rachael Houlihan
Feature Story of the Year
Winner: Nicholas McGrath
Highly Commended: Helen Gregory
Daily News Story of the Year
Winner: Blake Foden
Highly Commended: Matthew Kelly
Daily Sport Story of the Year
Winner: James Gardiner
Non-Daily News Story of the Year
Winner: Sarah Falson
Highly Commended: Amandine Ahrens
Non-Daily Sport Story of the Year
Winner: Lachlan Harper
Agricultural News Story of the Year
Winner: Quinton McCallum
Property Story of the Year
Winner: Brittney Levinson
Production of the Year
Winner: Josh Hall
Sell of the Year
Winner: Samantha Townsend
Daily News Photo of the Year
Winner: Darren Howe
Highly Commended: Peter Lorimer
Daily Sport Photo of the Year
Winner: Adam McLean
Highly Commended: Anna Warr
Non-Daily Photo of the Year
Winner: Scott Calvin
Highly Commended: Linda Muller
Agricultural News Photo of the Year
Winner: Kelly Butterworth
Magazine of the Year
Winner: Robyn Ainsworth
Highly Commended: Lydia Roberts and team
Commercial Feature of the Year
Winner: Linley Wilkie
Highly Commended: Andrew Lotherington
Paid Content Campaign
Winner: Rosie Ryan
