ABC Victorian Country Hour, ABC Gippsland, the Warragul and Drouin Gazette, the Warrnambool Standard and The Weekly Times will vie for the prestigious Media Outlet of the Year title at this year’s Rural Press Club of Victoria Regional Journalism and Photography Awards.
The Rural Press Club of Victoria has announced the finalists in 16 categories ahead of the Rural and Regional Journalism and Photography Awards night to be held in Warragul on Friday, 31st October.
One of the highlights of the night will be the announcement of winners in the four major award categories – Journalist of the Year, Ray Frawley Young Journalist of the Year, Photographer of the Year and Media Outlet of the Year.
The awards night, at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, will recognise the best work of rural and regional Victorian journalists and photographers during 2024–25.
The dress code for this year’s event is “dress to impress”, so it’s time to dust off your finest in preparation for the gala.
Hurry, tickets are available until 5pm on Friday, 17th October.
Finalists – listed in alphabetical order
Media Outlet of the Year
- ABC Victorian Country Hour
- ABC Gippsland
- Warragul and Drouin Gazette
- The Standard, Warrnambool
- The Weekly Times
Journalist of the Year
- Chris Earl – Loddon Herald
- Tim Lee – ABC Landline
- Ben Silvester – Australian Community Media
- Harrison Tippet – ABC Geelong
- Angus Verley – ABC Rural
Young Journalist of the Year
- Sophia Baker – The Standard, Warrnambool
- Bonnie Collings – Warragul and Drouin Gazette
- Olivia Sanders – ABC South West Victoria
- Faith Tabalujan – ABC Rural
- Charlotte Wilkes – ABC Ballarat
Photographer of the Year
- Alan Barber – Geelong Advertiser
- Nicole Cleary – Freelance Photographer
- Kate Healy – The Courier, Ballarat
- Darren Howe – Bendigo Advertiser
- Paula Mastrippolito – Sunraysia Daily
Community Champion
- Emma Ballingall – Warragul and Drouin Gazette
- Chris Earl – Loddon Herald
- Jessica Greenan – The Standard, Warrnambool
- Danielle Kutchel – ABC Gippsland
- Harrison Tippet – ABC Geelong
Best News Story Written
- Julia Bergin – ABC Wimmera
- Darren Chaitman – Euroa Gazette
- Chris Earl – Loddon Herald
- Bec Symons and Harrison Tippet – ABC News
- Charlotte Wilkes – ABC Ballarat
Best News Breaking Story
- Chris Earl – Loddon Herald
- Lauren Henry and Paul Carracher – The Weekly Advertiser
- Warwick Long and Jane McNaughton – ABC Victorian Country Hour
- Tom O’Callaghan – Bendigo Advertiser
- Benjamin Silvester and Andrew Thomson – The Standard, Warrnambool
Best News Story Audio
- Emily Bissland – ABC South West Victoria
- Mim Hook – ABC Gippsland
- Danielle Pope – ABC Gippsland
- Harrison Tippet – ABC Geelong
Best News Story Visual
- Julia Bergin – ABC Horsham
- Andy Burns, Charlotte King, Jess Davis – ABC Landline
- Eden Hynninen – ABC Ballarat
- Tim Lee – ABC Landline
- Shannon Schubert – ABC Central Victoria
Best Feature Story
- Julia Bergin – ABC Wimmera
- Tim Lee – ABC Landline
- Daniel Miles and Eden Hynninen – ABC Ballarat and South West Victoria
- Andrew Mole – Riverine Herald
- Bec Symons – ABC Gippsland
Best On Farm Story
- Carlene Dowie – Australian Dairyfarmer
- Fiona Myers – The Weekly Times
- Jeanette Severs – Dairy News Australia
- Fiona Sheean – The Weekly Times
- Sue Smethurst – The Weekly Times
Best Agribusiness Story
- Annie Brown – ABC Rural
- Alistair Finlay – Sunraysia Daily
- Jonathon Kendall – ABC Geelong
- Tim Lee – ABC Landline
- Fiona Myers – The Weekly Times
Best Sports Story
- Dan Batten – Geelong Advertiser
- Jean Bell – ABC South West Victoria
- Tamara Clark – ABC Wimmera
- Shannon Schubert – ABC Central Victoria
- Dale Webster – The Regional
Best News Photograph
- Alan Barber – Geelong Advertiser
- Lachlan Bence – Ballarat Courier
- Nicole Cleary – The Age
- Bonnie Collings – Warragul and Drouin Gazette
- Darren Howe – Bendigo Advertiser
Best Local Photograph
- Annie Brown – ABC Rural
- Darren Howe – Bendigo Advertiser
- Paula Mastrippolito – Sunraysia Daily
- Barry Murphy – Stock and Land
- Zoe Phillips – The Weekly Times
Most Innovative Journalism
- Yvette Brand – Warragul and Drouin Gazette
- Mim Hook – ABC Gippsland
- Qiyun (Gwen) Liu – The Courier
- Tavleen Singh – ABC Gippsland
- Erin Somerville – ABC Goulburn Murray
