This is awarded to the best sports story (news or feature) based in rural or regional Victoria.

Eligibility

Open to all rural, regional and metropolitan print, online and broadcast media.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged on creativity, flair and research, taking into account the drama, colour and personality of the subject or event.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. A PDF of the page where the article was published or a link to online audio or video files.
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

This is awarded to the best agribusiness story (news or feature) impacting on rural or regional Victoria.

Eligibility

Open to all rural, regional and metropolitan print, online and broadcast media.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged according to its impact and presentation of facts, and how the subject affects rural or regional Victoria. Judges will look at how the entrant made their story different to other media outlets, and how it communicated the importance of the news to its target audience. Judges will also take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for. Judges will take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. A PDF of the page where the article was published and web links to online audio or video files (if applicable).
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

This award recognises the best story on a farming topic, including areas such as farming technology, agronomic practices, and farm management.

Eligibility

Open to all media platforms.

Judging Criteria

Judges will look for high-quality writing that presents a comprehensive analysis of the farm-related topic and how relevant and impactful it is to agriculturalists. Consideration will be given to the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Evidence

1. A PDF of the page where the article was published or web link to audio or video file.
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

This award recognises the journalist who crafts the most engaging in-depth story, exploring an issue or personal profile that is relevant to rural or regional Victorian audiences.

Eligibility

Open to all rural and regional, print, online and broadcast media platforms.

Judging criteria

It will be judged on creativity, flair and research, and how it is communicated to its target audience. Entrants are able to submit one article from a multi-part series. Judges will also take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. A PDF of the article or webpage link to audio or video file (if applicable).
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

This award recognises the journalist who produces the most compelling audio news story, on a topic that matters to regional and rural Victoria and its communities.

Eligibility

Open to all rural and regional journalists in Victoria.

Judging Criteria

This category will be judged according to its impact, urgency and presentation of facts. Entrants need to explain what made their story a genuine scoop, the level of investigation that was behind it and why it mattered and made a difference to their audience. Judges will also take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. Provide your article in a digital format that closely resembles how it was presented to your audience and is easily accessible to judges. Links to articles must not be blocked by a paywall. Please upload your audio file to SoundCloud or YouTube and provide links to them.
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

This award is presented to the journalist who has crafted the best video news story.

Eligibility

Open to all rural and regional journalists in Victoria.

Requirements: Stories important to regional and rural Victoria and its communities published, uploaded or broadcast during the previous financial year.

Judging Criteria

This category will be judged according to its impact, urgency and presentation of facts. Entrants need to explain what made their story a genuine scoop, the level of investigation that was behind it and why it mattered and made a difference to their audience. Judges will take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. Provide your article in a digital format that closely resembles how it was presented to your audience and is easily accessible to judges. Links to articles must not be blocked by a paywall. Please upload your video file to YouTube and provide links to them.
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

This award is given to the journalist that has crafted the best written news story.

Judging Criteria

This category will be judged according to its impact, urgency and presentation of facts. Entrants need to explain what made their story a genuine scoop, the level of investigation that was behind it and why it mattered and made a difference to their audience.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. The article in a digital format that closely resembles how it was presented to your audience and is easily accessible to judges. Links to online articles must not be blocked by a paywall. PDFs of written stories are allowed.
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

This is awarded to the best photograph or series of photographs taken and published in rural or regional Victoria that reflects life in the area where it was published. These can include sports photos.

Eligibility

Open to all media platforms.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged on technical excellence and the impact of the photograph, including the drama, mood, colour and personality conveyed. The winning entry will stand out for its ability to capture a slice of rural or regional life in the community where it was published. Judges will take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. A web link or PDF of the page that shows how the photograph was published and viewed by its audience.
2. A JPG of the photograph.
3. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

Eligibility

Open to all media platforms.

Requirements

A photograph or series of photographs taken and published in rural or regional Victoria that enhance the telling or explanation of a news story of importance to a regional/rural community. These can include sports photos.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged on the impact and technical skill of the photograph. The immediacy and newsworthiness of the photograph will also be considered. Judges will take into account how the photograph was used by the media outlet that published it and how it enhanced and helped explain a story of importance to that outlet’s audience.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. A webpage link or PDF of the page that shows how the photograph was published and viewed by its audience.
2. A JPG of the image.
3. A 200-word supporting statement outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.

This award is given to the media professional who demonstrates a true commitment to public interest journalism by informing and educating their community on diverse issues of specific local importance. They will have shown a willingness to delve deep into these issues, to look beyond the first headline and to follow-up on their reporting.

Eligibility

To qualify for this award, entrants must have been working at a media outlet based in rural or regional Victoria. They must present three separate examples of their work for that outlet on separate topics of importance to the local audience their outlet services (work examples can be entries from other categories).

Judging Criteria

Judges will look at examples of how the entrant’s work in the past year has had a positive impact on the community they serve. Judges will take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. 3 separate examples of your work as they were presented to their audience.
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your journalism served the public interest of that community/audience.
   • The diversity of your work.
   • Examples of the positive impact your work had on the community/audience.
3. A supporting statement (maximum 300 words) from your editor, news editor, executive producer or equivalent explaining how you have shown to be a champion for your community in the past year, why your work matters to your particular audience and how it has had a positive influence on the community you work in.

This award is given to the photographer who has made the greatest overall contribution to photographing rural and regional issues.

Judging Criteria

To qualify for this award, entrants must submit 3 photo entries across the Best News Photograph and Best Local Photograph award categories.

The strongest photos across these categories will be judged the Photographer of the Year. Judges will take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. 3 examples of your work shown in either PDFs and JPGs.
2. A 200-word statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.
3. A supporting statement (maximum 300 words) from your editor, news editor, executive producer or equivalent explaining the context and impact of the photographer’s work and its impact on the media outlet’s audience.

This category recognises the most promising young journalist in rural and regional journalism and is named in honour of the late Ray Frawley.

Ray Frawley was a long-serving vice-president of the club and fostering up-and-coming industry talent was one of his great passions.

Eligibility

Broadcast, print and online journalists aged 25 years or younger. The award can only be won once.

Judging Criteria

Judges will consider how the entrant has grasped the subject, their depth of knowledge and how they have crafted their content. Judges will also take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. 3 examples of your work shown in PDFs or webpage links.
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.
3. A supporting statement (maximum 300 words) from your editor, news editor, executive producer or equivalent explaining the context and impact of your work and its impact on the media outlet’s audience.

This category recognises the outstanding work of a media organisation, whether it be print, broadcast or online.

Eligibility

All media outlets that publish rural or regional news.

Judging Criteria

The judges will look for outlets that consistently inform, entertain and provoke their target audiences. Judges will also look at the innovation of the outlet, staff development and creativity in presenting its work. Judges will also take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Supporting Evidence Required

1. A portfolio of 5 pieces of work.
2. A 300-word statement from the editor, news editor, executive producer or equivalent.

This award is awarded to the journalist who has made the greatest overall contribution to reporting on rural and regional issues. Judges will take into account the resources available to the entrant and the media organisation they work for.

Eligibility

To qualify for this award, entrants must enter 3 separate pieces of work (these may be entries in the previous categories).

Evidence required

1. 3 examples of your work shown in PDFs or webpage links.
2. A 200-word supporting statement that outlines:
   • How your entry came about.
   • How it is relevant to the category you are entering.
   • What it contributes to rural and regional journalism.
3. A supporting statement (maximum 300 words) from your editor, news editor, executive producer or equivalent explaining the context and impact of your journalist’s work and its impact on the media outlet’s audience.