Our people up front in national awards

New Zealand Herald journalists won top honours at the annual Qantas media awards held in Auckland last night.

Tony Wall was judged Reporter of the Year and took the highest individual honour, named Qantas Fellow to Wolfson College, Cambridge.

Derek Flynn was named Photographer of the Year for a portfolio that included pictures of the funeral of Timor victim Private Leonard Manning. He wins the Nikon Missouri Photo workshop of one week's training in the United States.

Assistant Editor John Roughan was a dual winner, being named best editorial writer and best political columnist.

Best columnist overall was Joe Bennett, who writes for the Herald on Fridays.

In all, the Herald won 13 awards, including that for Best Front Page, and had 14 other finalists in categories of the nationally contested competition.

The Wellington newspaper the Post and its staff won seven awards, the national weekly Sunday Star-Times took six, and the Press, of Christchurch, five.

Wellington's morning paper, the Dominion, won four major prizes and Dunedin's Otago Daily Times one.

The Post was Newspaper of the Year, and business journal the Independent was best weekly paper. Best newspaper feature writer was Donna Chisholm, of the Sunday Star-Times; best magazine feature writer North & South's Lauren Quaintance.

The Herald was strongly represented in the overall awards for reporting. As well as Wall, reporter Scott MacLeod was a finalist in the senior award and two young reporters, Patrick Gower and Paul Yandall, were finalists for junior reporter of the year.

Herald writers won three awards for news articles - for crime, information technology and business and finance - and honours for best features on crime, science, information technology and travel. Peter Sinclair, who writes for the Weekend Herald, was among those honoured.

The newspaper's extensive campaign in 2000 for "The Public's Right to Know" - including coverage of the cannabis-smuggling American billionaire and the Waitara police shooting - was a finalist in the award for best editorial project.

THE WINNERS:

Qantas fellow to Wolfson College, Cambridge: Tony Wall, NZ Herald.

The Nikon Missouri Photo Workshop Prize: Derek Flynn, NZ Herald.

Print industry award for outstanding achievement: Michael Forbes.

Best Editorial project with significant impact upon the community. Judge, Peter Scherer, former editor, NZ Herald.

Winner: Daily Post (Christmas appeal). Finalists: Daily News (Race relations in Taranaki); NZ Herald & Weekend Herald (Public's right to know); Waikato Times (Stop thief).

REPORTERS

Judge of Seniors: Greg Taylor, former editor The Age, Melbourne

Judge of Juniors: Mike Rosel, freelance writer and journalist, Melbourne

Senior Overall Winner: Tony Wall, NZ Herald. Finalist: Laura Basham, Nelson Mail; Philip Kitchin, Dominion; Scott MacLeod, NZ Herald/Weekend Herald; Seth Robson, The Press.

Junior Overall Winner: Jon Stephenson, Independent/Sunday Star-Times. Finalists: Nicholas Bryant, NBR; Patrick Gower, NZ Herald; Paul Yandall, NZ Herald.

General category. Winner: Jock Anderson, NBR (Smelly socks).

Government, Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs. Winner: Matthew Brockett, Dominion (State-owned enterprises raid). Finalist: Geoff Taylor, Waikato Times (Mayoral manoeuvres in Hamilton).

Business, Finance, Consumer Affairs - ASB Bank award. Winner: Paula Oliver, NZ Herald (Fletcher forests). Finalist: Jenny Ruth, Independent (Property Syndicator).

Crime and Justice. Winner: Monique Devereux, NZ Herald (Six-year-old girl killed by mother).

Health and Medicine - Merck, Sharp & Dohme award. Winner: Philip Kitchin, Dominion (Botched cancer tests at Gisborne Hospital). Finalist: Anna Luxton, Hawke's Bay Today (No drugs for cancer patients).

Social Issues. Winner: Rachel Grunwell, Sunday Star-Times (Female teacher's sexual relationship with pupil).

Science and Technology. Winner: Alan Samson, Dominion (NZ scientists discover the gene responsible for twinning).

Environment and Conservation - Shell New Zealand Award. Winner: David Williams, Otago Daily Times (Sam Neill and the Queenstown environment and development debate).

The Arts - Creative New Zealand Award. Winner: Tom Cardy, Evening Post (Bizarre events on film set).

Sport & Racing - Steinlager Award Winner: Chris Mirams, Evening Post (Surgery for Sarah Ulmer before Olympics).

Information Technology - Microsoft Award Winner: Michael Foreman, NZ Herald (Plan to tax trade on the internet).

NEWSPAPER FEATURE WRITER

Judge: Gail Sedorkin, Journalism tutor, Deakin University, Geelong

Assisted by Barbara Alysen, Deakin University.

Senior Overall Winner: Donna Chisholm, Sunday Star-Times. Finalists: Guyon Espiner, Sunday Star-Times; Cate Brett, The Press.

Junior Overall Winner: Richard Baker, Sunday News. Finalists: Nicholas Bryant, NBR; Sarah Prestwood, Dominion.

Government, Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Winner: Phil Taylor, Sunday Star-Times (Paradise lost: Coup in Fiji). Finalists: John Armstrong, New Zealand Herald (Helen Clark); Helen Tunnah, NZPA (Whose coup is it anyway?).

Business, Finance, Consumer Affairs - ASB Bank award Winner: David Burton, Evening Post (Simply Red). Finalists: Daniel Riordan, NZ Herald (Dennis Chapman); Nicholas Bryant, NBR.

Affco Social Issues (includes education). Gina, the brackets were already around (includes education)nte Winner: Mary Longmore, Evening Post (Between the cracks). Finalists: Sarah Prestwood, Dominion (Teenage drinking); Hugh Barlow, Wairarapa Times-Age (Paedophiles are just a click away).

Human Relations Winner: Cate Brett, The Press (Sex in the city). Finalists: Susan Pepperell, Waikato Times (Looking for Cameron); Chris Lonsdale, Daily News (Once a fighter, always a fighter).

Crime & Justice Winner: Carroll du Chateau, NZ Herald (Naughty boy died of 100 vicious blows). Finalists: Alan Samson, Dominion (Peter Ellis); Donna Chisholm, Sunday Star-Times (Presumed guilty).

Health & Medicine - Merck, Sharp & Dohme award. Winner: Diana McCurdy, The Press (Brett's world). Finalists: Diane Keenan, The Press (Dementia); Jan Corbett, NZ Herald (A sick system).

Science & Technology Winner: Gilbert Wong, NZ Herald (Quantum Physics). Finalists: Fiona Cassie, NZ Education Review (Gene research).

Carroll du Chateau, NZ Herald (Genetic modification).

Environment & Conservation - Shell New Zealand Award Winner: Tim Pankhurst, The Press (Unlikely heroes). Finalists: Rob Maetzig, Daily News (Trophy trout); Eugene Bingham, NZ Herald (Native forest logging).

The Arts - Creative New Zealand Award. Winner: Ewan Sargent, Manawatu Evening Standard (Woodville meets Hollywood). Finalists: Deborah La Hatte, NBR (Great poets don't make great playwrights); Linda Herrick, Sunday Star-Times (Eddie Izzard).

Sport & Racing - Steinlager Award. Winner: Anthony Hubbard, Sunday Star-Times (Sydney Olympics); Finalists: Geoff Cumming, NZ Herald (Grant Waite); Richard Baker, Sunday News (Carlos the Jackal).

Information Technology - Microsoft Award Winner: Peter Sinclair, NZ Herald (Over 50s join the internet revolution). finalists: Chris Barton, NZ Herald (Bill Gates); Mark Broatch, Independent/Computerworld (Wireless tech blazes new trail).

Tourism & Travel. Winner: Peter Calder, NZ Herald (Buenos Aires). Finalists: Robin Charteris, Otago Daily Times (Turkish delights and a nightmare border crossing); Audrey Young, NZ Herald (Marlon Brando's South Pacific atoll).

MAGAZINE FEATURE WRITER

Senior Overall Winner: Lauren Quaintance, North & South. Finalists: Deborah Coddington, North & South; Philip Matthews, NZ Listener Pamela Stirling, NZ Listener.

Junior Overall Winner: Frances Walsh, Grace. Finalists: Malcolm Burgess, NZPC World/Art New Zealand; Veronica Schmidt; Metro, Bianca Zander, NZ Listener.

Government, Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Winner: Yvonne Van Dongen, Freelance (Hillary on trial).

Business, Finance, Consumer Affairs - ASB Bank Award. Winner: Pamela Stirling, NZ Listener (I see red).

Human Relations Winner: Vicky Tyler, New Idea (My real life Titanic terror).

Crime and Justice Winner: Lauren Quaintance, North & South (Rough justice).

Health and Medicine - Merck, Sharp & Dohme Award. Winner: Lauren Quaintance (Is our health system safe?).

Social Issues Winner: Lauren Quaintance (The burden of history).

Science and Technology No award made.

Environment and Conservation - Shell NZ Award. Winner: Philip Matthews, NZ Listener (Valley of the Shadow).

The Arts - Creative New Zealand Award. Winner: Malcolm Burgess, Art New Zealand (Otira, postcards from the gorge).

Sport and Racing - Steinlager Award. Winner: Oscar Kightley, NZ Rugby World (You wanna piece of me?)

Motoring. Winner: Dave Moore, AA Directions (Driving to the Dead Sea hotel).

COLUMNIST

Overall Winner: Joe Bennett, The Press. Finalists: Jane Clifton, Dominion/NZ Listener; Paul Holmes, Sunday Star-Times; Rosemary McLeod, Dominion/ Sunday Star-Times.

Politics. Winner: John Roughan, NZ Herald (Getting to the heart of Maori angst).

Business, Finance & Consumer Affairs - ASB Bank Award.

Winner: Jake Pearce, Unlimited (Early warnings: A brand has 3Ds).

Humour. Winner: David McPhail, The Press (Mangled word, mangled thought).

The Arts - Creative New Zealand Award. Winner: Diana Wichtel, NZ Listener (Idol gossip).

Social Issues. Winner: Rosemary McLeod, Dominion (Fahey's band of sad apologists).

Sport and Racing - Steinlager Award. Winner: Joseph Romanos, NZ Listener (Sail away).

Motoring. Winner: Dave Moore, NZ Driver (Drunk driving).

Information Technology - Microsoft Award. Winner: Russell Brown, NZ Listener (Toy story).

Tourism and Travel. Winner: Susan Buckland, Sunday Star-Times (Rediscovering Umbria).

EDITORIAL WRITER

Winner: John Roughan, NZ Herald. Finalists: Chris Chilton, Waikato Times; Bob Edlin, Independent; Peter Jackson, Northland Age; Bill Moore, Nelson Mail.

CARTOONIST

Judge: Roger Alton, Editor, The Observer, London.

Winner: Mark Winter (Chicane), Freelance. Finalists: Al Nisbet, The Press; Chris Slane, Freelance.

EDITORIAL GRAPHIC ARTIST

Winner: Marcel Tromp, Freelance. Finalists: Rick Davidson, Waikato Times.

Zak Waipara, NZ Herald.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Judge: Robin Esser, Executive Managing Editor, Daily Mail, London. Senior Winner: Derek Flynn, NZ Herald. Finalists: Nicola Topping, NZ Herald; Tim Whittaker, Hawke's Bay Today.

Single Best Picture by a Senior: Tim Whittaker, Hawke's Bay Today (Boy in the mud pool).

Junior Winner: Jim Tannock, Marlborough Express/Nelson Mail. Finalists: Greg Bowker, Wanganui Chronicle; Darryl May, Oamaru Mail.

Single Best Picture by a Junior Winner: Jim Tannock, Marlborough Express (Gorse fire fight).

BEST NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE

Winner: NZ Herald. Finalists: Dominion; Hawke's Bay Today; Sunday Star-Times; Waikato Times.

BEST NEWSPAPER
Judges: John Tidey, Journalist and former president PANPA, Melbourne; John Stackhouse, journalist and publisher, Sydney.

Overall Winner: Evening Post. Finalists: Gisborne Herald; Independent Business Weekly.

Best Daily Newspaper over 25,000 circulation.

Winner: Evening Post. Finalists: Hawke's Bay Today; Otago Daily Times.

Best Daily Newspaper up to 25,000 circulation.

Winner: Gisborne Herald. Finalist: Nelson Mail.

Best Weekly Newspaper.

Winner: Independent Business Weekly. Finalist: ComputerWorld.

Best Suburban or Community Newspaper

Winner: Hauraki Herald. Finalists: Papatoetoe & Otahuhu Week; Hamilton Press; Taieri Herald.

BEST TRADE/PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE

Winner: Little Treasures. Finalists: New Zealand Farmer Unlimited.

BEST NEWS-STAND MAGAZINE

Winner: Home & Entertaining. Finalist: Investigate.

BEST MAGAZINE COVER

Winner: Little Treasures. Finalists: NZ Netguide

STUDENT JOURNALIST AWARD

nte Print Winner: Grant Fleming, Massey University at Wellington. Finalist: Gregg Wycherley, Auckland University of Technology.