The Cairns Post’s Critical Condition campaign wins major News Corp award
The Cairns Post has won Best Regional Campaign at the News Corp Australia Awards for the second consecutive year, underscoring the power of regional journalism to deliver real change for communities.
The Cairns Post has won Best Regional Campaign at the News Corp Australia Awards for the second consecutive year, underscoring the power of regional journalism to deliver real change for communities.
This year it secured the major accolade for Critical Condition, a hard-hitting campaign that exposed life-threatening delays and workforce shortages in regional healthcare.
The coverage prompted a 73-year-old radiologist to return to Queensland X-Ray, pushed for reinstated breast cancer diagnostic services; helped to secure a $27.5 million bipartisan commitment for CQUniversity to launch a Bachelor of Medical Imaging by 2026; and revealed 18-month paediatric cardiology waits, which resulted in $1.45 million in funding for a second specialist.
Health reporter Emma Cam, who also hosted the awards, was the campaign’s lead journalist, working on the series in her first year at the masthead after graduating News Corp’s national cadet program.
“Regional journalism can drive meaningful change, and that’s why these campaigns matter,” Ms Cam said.
“Being a journalist is really an honour — you get to help fix problems and give people a voice, this campaign means a lot to me because, living with a chronic illness, I’ve seen first-hand how different access to healthcare is in regions compared to metro areas.”
In 2024 the masthead won the award for its investigative series Forgotten Voices, highlighting the shockingly inadequate outcomes Indigenous Australians face in Far North Queensland.
Editor Sian Jeffries said making a difference was at the heart of regional journalism.
“Our campaigns drive real change and serve our communities in the most meaningful way possible - making a difference in people’s lives.”
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Originally published as The Cairns Post’s Critical Condition campaign wins major News Corp award
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