Herald Sun lauded in prestigious Quill journalism awards
The Herald Sun has been lauded for it’s premier journalism and leadership at the prestigious Melbourne Press Club Quill awards, with photographers, reporters and executives honoured.
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The Herald Sun has again been lauded for it’s premier journalism at the Melbourne Press Club’s annual Quill awards.
And legendary Herald Sun editor and News Corp editorial executive Peter Blunden was honoured with the MPC Lifetime Achievement Award for his sustained impact on the Victorian media, through his passion for journalism and outstanding news instincts.
The Herald Sun news team was awarded best coverage of an issue for reporting on the tragic drink spiking poisonings and deaths of Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones in Laos. The team, led by reporter Stephen Drill and photographer David Caird on the ground in Laos were commended by judges for the comprehensive and insightful retelling of the events leading up to, and the aftermath, of the tragedy, including a superb use of video which was utilised across multiple platforms.
In addition, other reporters in Melbourne provided extra detail and more background “to provide the extensive and engaged audience with a complete picture of the awful story as it unfolded”.
The Herald Sun’s Rebecca Borg won the Young Journalist of The Year award.
She was commended for her reporting on the VCE exam cover sheet scandal and the rise of anti-Semitism at Victorian universities, which judges said were “two examples of investigative excellence and agenda setting journalism”.
Photographer Mark Stewart won Sports Photograph of the Year for his pictures of George Russell’s spectacular crash in last year’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
“This is an excellent set of images that required discipline and forethought to be in the position where it unfolded,” said the judges.
“Great skill is needed to get these shots.”
A highlight of the awards night was the tribute to Blunden, who was Editor of the Herald Sun from 1996-2007, Editor-in-Chief of the Herald and Weekly Times from 2001-2007 and Managing Director of the Herald and Weekly Times from 2007-2012
In honouring Blunden, the Melbourne Press Club said he was a defining force in Melbourne media for decades as he developed the Herald Sun into one of the best tabloids in the country, displaying a deep passion for journalism and unparalleled instincts for what Victorians were interested in and what they cared about.
Among tributes paid to Blunden, former Herald Sun chief footy writer Mike Sheahan said Blunden was the consummate newspaper man, while former Prime Minister John Howard said he could not think of a figure “in the whole News Corp stable” who had achieved as much as Peter Blunden has.
“His drive and energy played a major role in the growth and continued influence after that growth, of the Herald and Weekly Times,” Mr Howard said.
Julian Clarke, a former News Corp CEO and HWT chairman, said Blunden was “probably the best mid-market editor of a generation”.
“It was intuitive with him, there was an instinct there,” Mr Clarke said. “You’ve either got it or you haven’t, and in the case of an editor, he had it.”
HWT chairman Penny Fowler said Blunden had a real connection with the community and society.
“It’s really quite incredible your contribution to journalism, but also to our company and the community.”
Originally published as Herald Sun lauded in prestigious Quill journalism awards
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