Stuff’s agenda-setting stories have swept the major journalism categories at the 2021 Voyager Media Awards.
The work of #MeTooNZ Editor Alison Mau and Pou Tiaki Editor Carmen Parahi earned special praise, with the judges saying their entries in the prestigious Reporter of the Year category “stood out for their contribution to New Zealand’s social improvement”.
At a ceremony in Auckland on Friday night, Stuff’s journalists and titles won 19 of the 66 categories  including a golden run for The Press newspaper and came runner-up in nine more.
Crowning Mau the Reporter of the Year, the judges described her stories about sexual harassment as “fearless, determined pursuits that deserve the highest commendation”.
Alison Mau’s MeToo stories earned her the Reporter of the Year gong.
Parahi was named Editorial Leader of the Year, and came runner-up in the top reporting category for her “groundbreaking” work.
The judges praised Parahi’s “extraordinary leadership” of Stuff’s T Mtou Pono/Our Truth project, and “a much wider impact on our industry that will change New Zealand journalism for ever for the better”.
“It is clear that Carmen is not only an exceptional editor but an extraordinary wahine toa.”
Awards judges described Carmen Parahi as an “extraordinary wahine toa”.
T Mtou Pono was also named Best Editorial Campaign or Project.
“Carmen Parahi and the Stuff team were already on our radar with the Matariki campaign that resulted in a new national holiday,” the judges wrote. “But Our Truth: T Mtou Pono eclipsed that and every other entry with the depth of its apology for racism against Mori in Aotearoa. A courageous campaign by Stuff, which included admitting unfair treatment by its own newspapers.”
Stuff’s T Mtou Pono/Our Truth won the Best Editorial Campaign or Project category.
The Press completed a grand slam of the newspaper categories, winning Newspaper, Weekly Newspaper and Metropolitan Newspaper of the Year, as well as Best Newspaper Front Page.
Judges called the Weekend Press “a cleverly designed and truly South Island newspaper whose impact and interest has at its foundations the carefully told stories of the people who live there”.
“The Weekend Press continues to walk with its communities, presenting their stories with empathy, authority and passion.”
The Press was the “clear winner” in the Metropolitan paper category. “Over the past decade, The Press has had to cover some of the biggest and toughest local stories in its history Those traumatic events have strengthened the paper and brought out the best in its staff.”
Stuff came runner-up in the News App of the Year category, and was a finalist for News Website of the Year.
In the reporting categories, skillful, well-researched coverage of complex issues earned Climate Editor Eloise Gibson the Environment prize. “It’s likely you will be thinking about Eloise’s stories long after you have read them, which is the hallmark of top class journalism,” the judges said.
National Correspondent Charlie Mitchell was named Science Journalist of the Year, with the comment that he managed to make even “the arcane details of nitrogen pollution entertaining”.
Lorna Thornber won Best Reporting Travel. “In a year when travel wasn’t even a thing, Lorna Thornber didn’t miss a beat,” the judges wrote. “The borders may have closed and the skies emptied, but this writer reminds us that creativity can prevail even during a pandemic.”
Mike White won Feature Writer of the Year Long-Form for his “masterclass in long-form storytelling”.
“He starts with topics of national significance, applies months and, in some cases, years of tireless in-depth reporting, and crafts it all into journalism which holds the reader’s attention right to the last word, and resonates long after.”
Florence Kerr was recognised for her feature story on Tame Iti.
Her “phenomenal” story about Tame Iti won National Correspondent Florence Kerr the Best Feature Writing Social Issues prize. “The human face of the toll of racism that can be perpetrated by our industry and the bravery in telling his story while taking a good, hard, look in the mirror was impressive, as was the standard and quality of the presentation and photography.”
Andrea Vance was runner-up for Political Journalist of the Year, Dana Johannsen was runner-up as Sports Journalist of the Year, and Ruby Heyward was runner-up for Student Journalist of the Year.
In the visual categories, Stuff Circuit’s “remarkable tear-jerker” Emma was the “runaway winner” in the best Best Documentary category. “Emma was nothing short of world class storytelling,” the judges said.
Emma Barrett was the central figure in Stuff Circuit’s documentary Emma.
Iain McGregor was named Video Journalist of the year, and Rosa Woods came runner-up. The judges said: “Every one of Iain’s stories were beautifully crafted, every frame intentional, and his storytelling ability had us hooked instantly. … Truly exceptional work.”
Abigail Dougherty won best Feature Video for The Mystery of Mrs Muir, “a story with a terrific and unexpected twist” that left the audience wanting more.
Netball historians uncover the incredible story of the woman behind a name on a team list.
Ricky Wilson won Best Photography Junior, with the judges saying his images “stood out for their strong impact and storytelling qualities”.
David White won Best Photography Features for his “compelling and evocative” portraits, and was runner-up in Best Photography News.
Bringing the viewer “into the midst” of a Black Lives Matter protest earned Lawrence Smith the Best Photo-Story/Essay prize, while Chris Skelton was runner-up for Best Photography Features.
Cecile Meier won the Health Journalism Scholarship with Hannah Martin named as runner-up which she will use to research the hidden cost of long delays in mental health treatment.
