The 2022 Queensland Clarion Awards ceremony took place at a gala event in Brisbane on Saturday, October 8, with a raft of winners announced.
The Clarion Awards aim to recognise creative and courageous acts of journalism that seek out the truth and give new insight to an issue. The awards seek to recognise excellence, independence, innovation, and originality in storytelling and distinctive reporting.
Jointly winning Journalist of the Year award for their report, State Control, was the ABC Four Corners team of Anne Connolly, Ali Russell and Stephanie Zillman.
Judges acknowledged the work was rewarded not only for shining a light on the exploitation of vulnerable Queenslanders who placed their trust in a public institution, but also for the complexity and degree of difficulty in bringing the story to air.
The award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism was given to sports journalist and presenter, Pat Welsh from the Seven Network.
Recognised for more than 47 years in the industry, Welsh has covered numerous Olympics and Commonwealth Games, rugby to racing, the Golf Majors and every other type of sport in between. Welsh’s trackside interviews include the likes of Cathy Freeman and Sally Pearson, just after they won Olympic gold, as well as securing the first interview with Allan Border after he announced his retirement.
What a night! A big congratulations to all of the 2022 Queensland Clarion Award winners. #QLDclarions pic.twitter.com/afryg3Ms8k
— ClarionsQLD (@QldClarions) October 9, 2022
All Media categories
Rural Journalism supported by the Judith Neilson Institute
Nathan Morris, Baz Ruddick and Jeremy Story Carter, ABC, “Boom, Bust and Mistrust”
Health & Science Reporting supported by MEAA
Emily Sakzewski, Georgina Piper, Colin Gourlay and Matt Liddy, ABC News, “This is what long COVID feels like”
Business Journalism supported by O’Brien Accountants
Andrew Potts, Gold Coast Bulletin, “Fall of the House of Condev”
Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique supported by the Judith Neilson Institute
Cameron Atfield, Brisbane Times, “Body of Work”
Sports Journalism supported by QSport
Zach Hope, Brisbane Times, “The Top End’s bold bid for an AFL club”
Multicultural Reporting supported by MEAA
Stefan Armbruster, SBS, “Citizenship, an asylum boat tragedy and children in detention”
Social Issues Reporting supported by Independent Education Union
Ben Smee, Guardian Australia, “Crisis at Citipointe”
Indigenous Issues Reporting supported by Queensland Council of Unions
Michael Atkin, ABC, “A First Nations Family’s Desperate Plea for Answers – What Happened to Ms Bernard?”
Broadcast Interview supported by Queensland Police Union
Seven News Team, Seven Network, “Beach Rescue”
Innovation supported by Telstra
Colin Gourlay, Georgina Piper, Tim Leslie, Cristen Tilley and Matt Liddy, ABC News, “The Australian Election map has been lying to you”
Three Headings supported by Ten News First
Baz McAlister, The Courier-Mail & Sunday Mail
New Journalist of the Year supported by MEAA
Ellie Grounds, ABC, “Body of Work – ABC Western Queensland and triple j Hack”
Print/Text categories
Print/Text News Report supported by Nine News
Jessica Marszalek, The Courier-Mail/Sunday Mail, “Integrity in the Palaszczuk Government”
Print/Text Feature Article supported by Local Government Association of Queensland
Leisa Scott, QWeekend, The Courier-Mail, “Alyssa’s Story”
Radio/Audio categories
Radio News Current Affairs supported by MEAA
Rachel Riga and Kate McKenna, ABC News, “K’gari (Fraser Island) bushfire RTI”
Radio Documentary and podcast supported by Media Super
Hedley Thomas, Isaac Irons, David Murray, Slade Gibson and Lydia Lynch, The Australian, “Shandee’s Story”
Photography categories
Best Metropolitan News Photograph supported by MEAA
Lachie Millard, The Courier Mail, “Memphis Comes Home”
Photographic Essay supported by MEAA
Brian Cassey, freelance photojournalist, (for The Australian), “Covid Vax & Ice Cream”
Television/Audio Visual categories
TV News Report supported by MEAA
Seven News Team, “Flood Disaster”
TV Current Affairs, Feature, Documentary or Special Broadcast supported by Queensland Police Union
Anne Connolly, Ali Russell and Stephanie Zillman, Four Corners, ABC, “State Control”
The John Bean Memorial Award for Television Camerawork supported by ABC
Michael Lloyd, ABC, “Fighting for Equality”
Regional and Community categories
Regional And Community Feature Article or Opinion Piece supported by Serafino Wines
Harry Clarke, Country Caller, “Territory tale of trauma, tragedy, hope and adventure”
Regional And Community News Report – Print/Text supported by the Judith Neilson Institute
Shayla Bulloch, Townsville Bulletin, “Uncovering the North Queensland child safety system”
Regional and Community – Broadcast Report supported by MEAA
Nathan Morris, Baz Ruddick and Jeremy Story Carter, ABC, “Boom, Bust and Mistrust”
Regional and Community – News Photograph supported by Seven News
Caitlan Charles, Townsville Bulletin, “Blackened and Bruised”
Major Awards
Investigative Journalism supported by Brisbane Airport Corporation
Anne Connolly, Ali Russell and Stephanie Zillman, Four Corners, ABC, “State Control”
2022 Journalist of the Year supported by MEAA
Anne Connolly, Ali Russell and Stephanie Zillman, Four Corners, ABC, “State Control”
For all the information on the 2022 Clarion Awards head here.