ASC Media Awards: Julian Linden, Mick Warner honoured; 2024 Paris Olympic Games coverage lauded

News Corp has taken out the major accolades at the Australian Sports Commission media awards including best coverage of a major event and the coveted best reporting of an issue in sport for 2024. See the major winners inside.

News Corp has taken out the major accolades at the Australian Sports Commission media awards including best coverage of a major event and the coveted best reporting of an issue in sport for 2024.

Julian Linden won the major individual prize for his world exclusive on China’s secret doping cover up in swimming where several athletes were cleared to compete at the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive to banned substances, narrowly edging out the highly commended work by colleague Mick Warner for his exclusive ‘White Line Fever’ in the AFL that exposed off-the-books drug testing of players to avoid match day positives.

The ASC media awards is one of the most respected annual awards in sports journalism and brought together over 200 industry professionals at the SCG for the awards that after the greatest Games in history for Australia in Paris had a distinctly Olympic flavour.

Julian Linden exposed China's secret doping cover up.

The biggest award for an organisation for major event coverage was shared between News Corp and the Nine Network - both for their 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics coverage.

The Nine Network made their return as the Games host broadcaster for the first time since London 2012 but judges could not separate it from the unprecedented whole-of-company approach from News Corp.

Led by News Corp Olympics editor Mick Carroll and Fox Sports managing director Steve Crawley, the Paris team featured 45 journalists on the ground in France to produce an innovative multi-platform coverage across every brand including metropolitan and regional newspapers, The Australian, Code Sports, News.com.au, Sky News, Fox Sports and prestige and lifestyle titles including Vogue Magazine.

The team expertly captured every gold medal, broken heart and off-field scandal as well as the glamour and culture Paris delivered.

An aerial view of the Olympic rings illuminated on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Games. Picture: AFP

News Corp set the agenda with exclusive information and insight into the political gender firestorm around an Algerian boxer. It broke the news of hockey player Tom Craig’s arrest. It utilised deep contacts within the Matildas team to report on the factors driving their disappointing performance. It offered unique and detailed analysis of the performances of Australia’s champion swimmers through former champions Dawn Fraser and James Magnussen.

#ASCMediaAwards Best reporting of an issue in sport

🏆 Julian Linden ‘China's secret doping cover-up’ - @newscorpaus

A world-exclusive story that made global headlines and was one of the biggest talking points in the lead up to and during the Paris Olympics. pic.twitter.com/n3hriA7aCM

— Australian Sports Commission (@ausport) February 19, 2025

The coverage was insightful and impactful and demonstrated an original and creative flair in showcasing the Games across multiple platforms simultaneously.

The multi-platform approach included traditional mastheads, online platforms, digital print editions, social media and the daily Matty & the Missile Podcast featuring Matty Johns and James Magnussen.

The Australian’s Will Swanton, who was a member of the News Corp Paris Olympic team, was also recognised as the winner of the best written sport coverage by an individual.

#ASCMediaAwards Best sport coverage by an individual – written 📝

🏆 Will Swanton | @australian

The reinvention of Mitch Marsh and the achingly sad story of the Fanning family, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan’s fairytale win and more. pic.twitter.com/LSDt3CTLtZ

— Australian Sports Commission (@ausport) February 19, 2025

Former News Corp journalist Margie McDonald received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her role as a trailblazer for women in sports media and her respected career as a great storyteller.

Margie McDonald at the 2013 News Awards. Picture: Mark Cranitch

McDonald, who started her career as a cadet reporter at the Townsville Bulletin in 1978, covered 13 summer and winter Paralympic Games, five Commonwealth Games, four Olympic Games and countless seasons on NRL during a career that included time with AAP, The Australian newspaper and NRL.com.

#ASCMediaAwards Lifetime Achievement Award

🏆 Margie McDonald @MadgetheBadge

One of sport's greatest storytellers + a trailblazer for females in sport, Margie covered 3 summer & winter Paralympic Games, 5 Commonwealth Games, 4 Olympic Games + thousands of rugby league matches. pic.twitter.com/8z4hepUcPW

— Australian Sports Commission (@ausport) February 19, 2025

“I love sport - it’s as simple as that,” McDonald said.

“I love the results, the people, the history, the stories. It’s always been an absolute privilege to watch it and write about it.

“I never set out to be in the spotlight. I like to beaver away in the background but to be recognised this way, for something I so enjoy doing, is very humbling.

“I am overwhelmed by this award. I am deeply grateful for the respect the ASC Board has shown me.”

Originally published as ASC Media Awards: Julian Linden, Mick Warner honoured; 2024 Paris Olympic Games coverage lauded