Regional Australia’s most excellent journalism has been celebrated on the 2025 ACM Excellence Awards, with The Canberra Occasions named masthead of the yr, Queensland Nation Life profitable greatest agricultural publication in its ninetieth yr and the Goulburn Publish profitable greatest group title.
Subscribe now for limitless entry.
or signup to proceed studying
Vacation Supply
All articles from our web site & app
The digital model of Right this moment’s Paper
Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia
All different in your space
The annual awards recognise the very best information and sport protection, commentary and industrial content material produced by the web sites and newspapers of the ACM community, Australia’s largest impartial writer of regional information.
Journalist Tim Piccione of The Canberra Occasions was introduced with the highest particular person honour, the Gold ACME for Journalist of the Yr, for his physique of labor over 2025, together with an investigation into policing within the ACT.
Crime reporter Anna Falkenmire of the Newcastle Herald was named Younger Journalist of the Yr and Emily Clooney of The Advocate in north-west Tasmania was named Sports activities Journalist of the Yr.
ACM editorial director Rod Quinn congratulated this yr’s winners.
“In as of late of robots and fakery, our journalists put themselves in locations the place our readers can’t go,” he stated.
“They bear witness to the triumphs and the tragedies, the happiness and the heartbreak, and so they convey these moments to our audiences. Our communities are higher for it.
“What our journalists do shouldn’t be optionally available in a democracy. And it’s extra necessary now than ever.”
Offered in Sydney on Tuesday, December 9, the awards are actually of their fifth yr.
ACM board member and Thorney Funding Group chief working officer Peter Landos, representing firm house owners Alex Waislitz and Antony Catalano, introduced the night time’s main prizes.
The judges stated Mr Piccione’s “quiet persistence” had helped The Canberra Occasions set the day by day information agenda within the nationwide capital.
Ms Falkenmire’s crime protection for the Newcastle Herald was praised for “compassionate, human-centred storytelling giving a voice to victims of crime”.
Managing editor John-Paul Moloney accepted the Regional Masthead of the Yr trophy on behalf of the The Canberra Occasions, which additionally gained Marketing campaign of the Yr for its unique sequence on Transurban’s Sydney toll errors stinging unsuspecting ACT drivers.
Queensland Nation Life, considered one of ACM’s specialist weekly titles serving Australia’s necessary rural and farm sector, was named Greatest Agricultural Masthead of 2025.
Celebrating its ninetieth yr of publishing this yr, Queensland Nation Life was represented on the awards by former editor Lucy Kinbacher and performing editor Sally Gall.
Editor Sally Foy, who oversees the Goulburn Publish on the NSW Southern Tablelands, accepted the award for Greatest Neighborhood Masthead, and in addition gained Commentary of the Yr for her personal writing.
Dane Wilson, of Dubbo’s Every day Liberal, was named Trainee of the Yr and Kim Chappell, who guides on-line publishing of native information protection as regional digital editor, was named Coach/Mentor of the Yr.
The Border Mail, which covers the Albury/Wodonga area on the NSW-Victorian border, was recognised for its rolling protection of a hospital rally led by native mayors and well being advocates that travelled by prepare to state parliament in Melbourne.
The newsrooms of The Advocate in north-west Tasmania and The Normal in Warrnambool, had been additionally recognised for his or her efforts this yr to serve their communities and develop digital subscriptions.
Journalists Ben Silvester and Anna Houlahan had been praised for his or her excellent journey writing and video protection for the ACM community’s well-liked Discover web site and Saturday print journal.
Full listing of 2024 ACM Excellence Awards winners
Gold ACME Journalist of the Yr
Younger Journalist of the Yr
Masthead of the Yr – Regional
Masthead of the Yr – Agricultural
Editorial Director’s Award
Sports activities Journalist of the Yr
Winner: Kim Chappell, Regional Digital Editor
Winner: The Border Mail Hospital Rally Goes to Parliament
Extremely recommended: Sophia Baker, The Normal
Winner: The Canberra Occasions Transurban Toll Errors Revealed
Extremely recommended: Alise McIntosh, Western Advocate
Discover Journey Story of the Yr
Extremely recommended: Anna Houlahan
Characteristic Story of the Yr
Winner: Beau Greenway, The Border Mail
Extremely recommended: Sage Swinton, Newcastle Herald
Winner: Breanna Chillingworth, The Northern Every day Chief
Extremely recommended: The Advocate
Information Story of the Yr – Regional
Winner: Gabriel Fowler, Newcastle Herald
Extremely recommended: Ciara Bastow, Every day Liberal
Extremely recommended: Samantha Townsend, The Land
Winner: James Parker, Bega District Information
Extremely recommended: Tim Gray, Bay Publish
Story of the Yr – Agricultural
Property Story of the Yr
Winner: Gwen Liu, The Courier
Extremely recommended: Jade Lazarevic, Newcastle Herald
Manufacturing/presentation of the Yr
Extremely recommended: Josh Corridor
Digital Execution of the Yr
Information Picture of the Yr – Regional
Winner: Peter Lorimer, Newcastle Herald
Sport Picture of the Yr – Regional
Winner: Anna Warr, Illawarra Mercury
Picture of the Yr – Agricultural
Winner: Simon Chamberlain, The Land
Winner: Ben Smyth, Bega District Information
Winner: Spring Angus 2025, ACM Agri
Extremely recommended: Maitland Flood seventieth Anniversary, The Maitland Mercury
Business Characteristic of the Yr
Regionals & Communities winner: Massive Steps, Little Toes, The Courier
Agricultural winner: FarmFest 50 Years Official Information
Winner: “Save Your Pores and skin” for the Most cancers Council
Extremely recommended: Tractor Video games, The Land
Your morning information
Right this moment’s prime tales curated by our information crew. Additionally contains night replace.
