Reporter Kirsty Johnston, Stuff Circuit’s Paula Penfold, and The Press newspaper were celebrated among the big winners as Stuff claimed 21 prizes at the 2022 Voyager Media Awards.
“Its compelling sense of local connection and highly relevant robust journalism” helped earn The Press the top newspaper prize – Voyager Newspaper of the Year – as well as the Metropolitan Newspaper of the Year and Best Newspaper Front Page categories. A “proudly local paper” that also offered substantial national and world news, The Press boasted “impressive engagement with the local community and their issues,” judges said.
At a ceremony in Auckland on Saturday night, Johnston won Reporter of the Year for stories the judges said “stayed with you long after you put them down”, while Penfold was named Broadcast Reporter of the Year – Current Affairs for “investigative journalism at its best”.
TOM LEE/STUFF
Kirsty Johnston produces “impact journalism of the highest degree,” said the judges who named her Reporter of the Year.
JASON DORDAY/STUFF
Stuff Circuit journalist Paula Penfold “Paula Penfold demonstrates the highest level of tenacity and integrity,” judges said.
Stuff Head of News Mark Stevens said Johnston and Penfold had long been two of the country’s hardest-hitting journalists, “and the work they’ve done over the past year has been nothing short of outstanding.”
Stuff Chief Content Officer Joanna Norris applauded the tenacity and creativity of Stuff’s journalists.
“We are so proud of our award-winning colleagues who approach each day with the ambition to deliver high quality, impactful journalism that makes Aotearoa a better place. These awards show that we’re absolutely delivering on that promise.”
Documentary series This Is How It Ends was joint winner of Best Editorial Project. Judges praised senior journalists Andrea Vance and Iain McGregor for a “visually stunning and powerfully written project explaining why New Zealanders should care as much about biodiversity as climate change.”
IAIN MCGREGOR/Stuff
Human activities are destroying the natural world, leading to the annihilation of animal and plant species at a terrifying rate. Stuff’s This Is How It Ends is a documentary series investigating the critical decline of native species.
Video projects proved a strong suit for Stuff, with Circuit winning Best Innovation in Digital Storytelling for their documentary Deleted, about Kiwi connections to the persecution of Uyghurs in China, while Ross Giblin won Video Journalist of the Year, and Rosa Woods took out Best Feature Video – Single Journalist.
Rosa Woods/Stuff
Rosa Woods’ video about the Whaanga sisters “told an intimate and very personal story” with dignity and respect, judges said.
Stuff’s agenda-setting coverage of the Covid-19 Delta outbreak was recognised as Best Coverage of a Major News Event, and The Lake – created for Stuff by the Popsock Media team of Aaron Smale, Kirsten Johnstone and Melody Thomas – won both Best Team Investigation and Best Podcast – Narrative/Serial. Judges said the podcast was “as journalistically rigorous as it is emotionally impactful”.
Nikki Macdonald was named Business Journalist of the Year, climate editor Eloise Gibson won for Best Reporting – Environment, and Glenn McConnell was awarded the Best Reporting – Lifestyle prize.
Bess Manson won Best Feature Writing – General for her story on Jemima Gazley’s cancer journey legacy. “Some stories tug at your heart strings,” the judges wrote. “This nuanced and deeply moving celebration of an extraordinary young New Zealander rips them right out.”
Jeff Bell won Cartoonist of the Year, and Richard Ives claimed Best Headline or Hook.
In the Best Photography categories, Chris Skelton won for feature images, Ricky Wilson for news and John Cowpland for sport.
The judges hailed Skelton for “the sensitive nature in which he captured his subjects” and said Wilson’s portfolio was the “standout entry” in the new category, not just for his technical execution but also for his sense of humour.
Stevens said Stuff’s awards reflected the newsroom’s focus and investment in journalism that mattered to New Zealanders.
“Our reporting is laser focused on our communities and audiences and the judges have acknowledged that. We’ve got the best journalists and it’s fantastic to see their journalism celebrated in this way.”
Stuff’s winners
Voyager Newspaper of the Year: The Press
Metropolitan Newspaper of the Year: The Press
Best newspaper front page: The Press
Reporter of the Year: Kirsty Johnston
Best coverage of a major news event: Delta outbreak
Best editorial campaign or project (joint winner): This How it Ends – Andrea Vance and Iain McGregor
Best innovation in digital storytelling: Deleted – Stuff Circuit: Paula Penfold, Toby Longbottom, Louisa Cleave, Phil Johnson; Sungmi Kim, Main Reactor
Best team investigation: The Lake – Aaron Smale, Kirsten Johnstone, Melody Thomas (Popsock Media)
Best reporting – environment: Eloise Gibson
Best reporting – lifestyle: Glenn McConnell
Business Journalist of the Year: Nikki Macdonald
Cartoonist of the Year: Jeff Bell
Best feature video (single video journalist): The Whaanga Sisters – Rosa Woods
Best podcast – narrative/serial: The Lake – Aaron Smale, Kirsten Johnstone, Melody Thomas (Popsock Media)
Video Journalist of the Year: Ross Giblin
Broadcast Reporter of the Year – Current Affairs: Paula Penfold
Best photography – features: Chris Skelton
Best photography – news: Ricky Wilson
Best photography – sport: John Cowpland
Best headline or hook: Richard Ives
Best feature writing – general: Bess Manson
Stuff’s runners up
Regional Journalist of the Year: Sinead Gill
Best feature video (single video journalist): Ross Giblin
Best photography – features: David White
Photographer of the Year: Ross Giblin
Best newspaper front page: This Is How It Ends – Stuff daily newspapers
Best feature writing – crime and justice: Nadine Porter
Best feature writing – social issues, including health and education: Michelle Duff
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