COMMUNITY News has claimed two top gongs at Saturday night’s WA Media Awards, the peak awards for WA journalism.
Community News’ high journalistic standards have again been recognised with reporter Gabrielle Jeffery and sub-editor Martin Turner both taking home awards on Saturday night.
Ms Jeffery won the Social Equity Report category for her outstanding series of articles ‘Til death do us part.
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The judges said her story was about a woman who was so close to death that she was unconscious when a celebrant performed a marriage ceremony that outraged the woman’s family, turned them against the groom/fiancé and ultimately saw the celebrant censured.
“This story is remarkable in the way that it brings all perspectives into the story with great sensitivity.
“This is community news reporting at its best. It goes to an issue of the exploitation and protection of the vulnerable.”
Mr Turner won his second consecutive award for headline writing.
His submitted headlines were:
- Arrest is history
- Best distill to come
- West Coast’s Darling buds in May
The judges said Mr Turner’s skill in conveying the core message of a story in so few words shone through in all his entries.
“Of particular merit was the headline accompanying the story of Mervyn Eades’ life, which said all it needed to in three words – allowing the front-page space which the powerful picture of Eades deserved.”
Reporter Sarah Brookes was also a finalist in the category best three stories or feature – suburban.