Awards Results 2026

Our eighteenth awards night was held on Friday November 6, 2026 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide.

See the winners and their entries below.

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News Corp Australia

Best News Report in Print or Online

Briana Fiore, ABC
"Unpacking the election blunder and finding the family of the other Stephen King"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Andrew Hough, News Corp
"Secret Agent Mali"

COMMENDED:

Brad Crouch, News Corp
"Calling Dr Love"

People First Bank

Best Feature in Print or Digital

Genevieve Meegan, Solstice Media
"Shining Luca's Light"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Jess Adamson, News Corp
"The Gift of Life"

COMMENDED

Daniel Keane, ABC
"Australia is breaking its carbon bond, but there’s a cost"

RAA

Best Sports Story in Any Medium

Matt Turner, News Corp
"Cocaine, booze and depression: Ryder’s hidden journey to addiction hell and back"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Will Crouch, Nine Network
"36ers secure Gleeson"

COMMENDED

Aaron Bryans, ABC
"SANFL Players consider industrial action"

Lion Australia

Best Photograph Print or Digital

Tim Joy, News Corp
"Annie"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Briana Fiore, ABC
"Ms Jones" 

COMMENDED

Michael Errey
"Anthony Kim Redemption"

Brett Hartwig, News Corp
"Taken to Task"

Seven Network

Best Television News Report

Hannah Foord, Seven Network
"Josie Speaks"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Angas MacDonals, Nine Network
"The return of David Speirs"

COMMENDED

Jase Kemp, Network Ten
"Riots Erupt"

HWLE Lawyers

Best Long Form Television Report or Extended Coverage

Hannah Foord, Travis Levi, Michael Usher & Phil Goyen
"Gus Lamont"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Mike Smithson, Rosanna Mangiarelli & Gertie Spurling
"7 SA Election Coverage"

 

COMMENDED

Rory McClaren, Emma Rebellato, Stephanie Richards,
Casey Briggs & Samuel Clark
"ABC News Election Night"

Nine Network

Best News Camera Coverage

Matt Bonser, Network 10
"Riots Erupt"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Matt Oborn, Nine Network
"Alice Springs Riots"

COMMENDED

Travis Levi, Seven Network
"Gus' Grandma"

Adelaide Economic Development Agency

Best Broadcaster Television, Radio or Online

Mike Smithson, Seven Network
"Election to Byner"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Angus MacDonald, Nine Network
"Gus MacDonald: News, Radio and Election Coverage"

COMMENDED

James Wakelin, ABC
"James Wakelin Broadcaster"

SAAB Australia

Best Radio Report or Coverage

Jonathan Edwards, Nova Entertainment
"Tobacco Wars"

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Shannon Pearce, ABC
"Social media ban impact on queer regional youth"

COMMENDED

Narelle Graham, ABC
"Calls to return Adelaide Remand Centre to State Government control following ongoing safety concerns"

Majella Wines

Best Podcast Series or Episode

Ben Hook & Sophie Hilditch
"Hooked on Sport"

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Hayley Pearson & Lauren De Cesare
"Adelady Unfiltered Podcast"

Mitsubishi Motors Australia

Best Coverage of an Issue or Event via Social Media

Chrystianna Konidis, Seven Network
"Corridor 'care' shame"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

April McLennan, ABC
"After Bondi: Australia’s Gun Reform"

 

COMMENDED

Michael Mkoka-Nicholson & Jess Renaglia, News Corp
"Tiser Hot Takes"

Santos

Best Community Report in Any Medium

Che Chorley, Stephanie Boltje & Rachel Kelly, ABC
"APY Lands"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Thomas Kelsall, ABC
"Indigenous voting rights"

James Wakelin, ABC
"Engie Overcharge"

 

COMMENDED

Sally Marshall, Nine Network
"Dashcam Spies"

Kelsian

Best Regional or Rural Report in Any Medium

Amelia Walters, ABC
"Cliff's Edge"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Shannon Pearce, ABC
"Safety issues delay the reopening of six regional South Australian hospital helipads"

 

Jeff Tims Jewellery

Best Graphics including Interactive, Illustration or Cartoon in Any Medium

Deanna Keogh, Nine Network
"Body of Work"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Zac Hamilton, Nine Network
"SA State Election 2026"

 

Hotel Grand Chancellor, Adelaide

Best Columnist/Blogger in Print or Online Digital

Thomas Kelsall, ABC
“State politics analysis"

Article 1 | Article 2 | Article 3

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Jess Adamson, News Corp
"The gift of life, My sister’s legacy, a miracle at Adelaide Oval"

COMMENDED

Mike Smithson, InDaily
"Dissecting Mali"

BHP

Best Investigative Coverage of an Issue or Event in Any Medium

Madison Stanley, Seven Network
“Developer's legal loophole"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Helen Karakulak, InDaily
"Shock Writer's Week call"

 

COMMENDED

Andrew Hough, News Corp
"Judge's data scandal"

BHP

Best Scoop of the Year

Briana Fiore, ABC
“Election eve blunder leaves dead cancer patient’s family traumatised"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Helen Karakulak, InDaily
"Shock Writer's Week call"

 

COMMENDED

Amelia Walters, ABC
"Cliff's Edge"

Sarah Constructions

Young Journalist of the Year

Madison Stanley, Seven Network
"Springwood Homes, Port MacDonnell Tragedy, Goolwa Plane Crash"

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Samantha Hogan, Nine Network
Monique Van der Heyden, News 24
Amelia Walters, ABC

COMMENDED

 Angus MacDonald, Nine Network
Dasha Havrilenko, News Corp
Wren Gillett, ABC
Jonathan Edwards, Seven Network

SA Press Club

Lifetime Achievement Award

Jane Reilly OAM

Adelaide University

Student Journalism Award

Olivia Gilmore-Rankine

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Mia Handley

 

SA Press Club

Gold Award

Hannah Foord, Travis Levi, Michael Usher &
Phil Goyen, Seven Network