News Awards: James Weir wins top journalism award

JAMES Weir was recognised at the News Corp Australia 2018 News Awards for his incisive, funny, tongue-in-cheek reporting.

James Weir accepting his award for Achievements in Specialist Journalism at the 2018 News Awards in Sydney. Picture: Jonathan Ng

News.com.au senior journalist James Weir was a winner at News Corp Australia’s major awards ceremony on August 15.

Weir was recognised for Achievements in Specialist Journalism at the News Awards for his recaps of reality television.

James Weir has a legion of fans that can’t get enough of his witty recaps of reality TV. Picture: Richard Dobson

His incisive, funny, tongue-in-cheek recaps have gained news.com.au a loyal following who return week after week for his unique take on some of the most popular reality television programs on screen.

Like modern-day match reports, the recaps have tapped into the emerging two screen experience where viewers watch their favourite show but also follow the action on their device.

Weir’s clever take on these shows has helped build a new phenomenon in journalism, recaps of television shows that capture what fans are thinking and allow them to join in a conversation.

Over the past year Weir has elevated the genre, taking the recap format and applying it to national and global events such as the Commonwealth Games, the World Cup opening ceremony and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.

Weir is back recapping the latest season of The Bachelor with Honey Badger Nick Cummins (head here for all his hilarious observations).

Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch attended the 2018 News Awards. Picture: Richard Dobso

News.com.au senior journalist Candace Sutton was also a finalist on the night for Achievements in Human Interest Journalism. Sutton was in the running for her report on a vile and obscene campaign of bullying carried out by TV star Tim Ferguson.

Ferguson, along with Richard Fidler and Paul McDermott, were the original members of comedy group the Doug Anthony Allstars (DAAS) when vile letters and drawings were sent to Sutton. After Sutton’s report, Ferguson went on to issue an apology.

News.com.au was a finalist in the News Brand of the Year award which went to Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph on the night.