The finalists for this year’s WA media awards have just been announced, with WAtoday and its colleagues at 9 News Perth and Radio 6PR nominated across 10 categories.
Journalist Emma Young has received two nods for her investigative reporting into the plight of WA’s dwindling black cockatoo population as it teeters on the brink of extinction.
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Her work highlighting the impacts of mining and land clearing on the native bird numbers has earned her a finalist spot in the Science and Environment category, as well as the coveted Arthur Lovekin Prize for Excellence in Journalism.
Reporter Jesinta Burton has been nominated for the Culture and Arts A.H. Kornweibel Arts Prize for her articles on Hancock Prospecting’s fight to build a new $240 million headquarters in West Perth, which would mean bulldozing a 100-year-old Federation home which was excluded from the City of Perth’s heritage list by former Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas’ casting vote in 2023.
Meanwhile, our 9 News Perth colleague, Connor McGoverne has been recognised for his contributions to WAtoday, with his columns earning him a chance to takeaway the Matt Price Prize at the November 8 awards ceremony.
McGoverne is also a finalist in the Health and Medical category for his investigation into how buying nangs was ‘as easy as ordering UberEats’ in Western Australia, despite tough new laws.
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9 News Perth sports reporter Paddy Sweeney has been nominated for his sensitive reporting over the tragic deaths of former AFL players and twin brothers, Adam and Troy Selwood, who both died by suicide within months of one another.
9 News Perth reporter Jamie Freestone is a finalist in the Television News Reporting category for his exclusive coverage of a series of school-related assaults in Ellenbrook, which led to the state government holding a round table meeting to address communication gaps between police and the education department.
In a group entry, a number of the 9 News Perth’s team, including producers, journalists and camera operators, have been recognised in the TV Video Feature category for a three-day feature highlighting the lessons learnt from a double-shooting in Floreat in 2024 which led to significant gun reforms.
And lastly, our colleague at Radio 6PR, Oliver Peterson, has been nominated as a finalist in the Audio Feature category for his interview with former Nedlands Mayor Fiona Argyle over her opposition to a children’s hospice being built in her electorate.
9 News Perth news director Michael Genovese said the Perth division’s hard work was being noticed by the broader industry.
“That’s more than I’ve ever seen from Nine in one year,” he said.
“It’s an acknowledgement that our original and exclusive stories are having high impact and I couldn’t be more proud of our newsroom.”
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