SBS Journalist Peta Doherty has taken home four South Australian Media Awards, including the prestigious 2024 South Australian Journalist of the Year on Saturday night.
Doherty, the South Australian correspondent for SBS World News and NITV, won for her multiplatform story on an Adelaide housing development built on one of the state’s largest mass burial sites.
SBS / NITV revealed the Riverlea development was sitting on one of the state’s largest burial grounds, a rich archaeological site supported by oral histories – a rarity so close to a capital city.
The judges said of Doherty’s work, “The entry exposed an important matter of public interest in a sensitive and culturally-appropriate way. Peta Doherty took the time to fully explore and explain the complexities of the issue, and gave a voice to those most impacted. The story was presented in a way that compelled the government – and the public – to listen and act on the concerns of those involved. Peta’s entry highlighted the powerful impact that public interest journalism can have.”
Doherty also won the awards for best Text Format News Report, best Television/Video News Reporting, and best Social Equity Report.
TV and related categories (winners in bold):
Television/Video – News
Peta Doherty (SBS) “This Adelaide housing development is being built on one of the state’s largest mass burial sites”
Hannah Foord (Seven News) “Accused Killer Speaks”
Television/Video – Feature
Angelique Donnellan (ABC): “Call for Help”
Visual Storytelling
William Bailey (The Murray Valley Standard) “Body of Work”
Che Chorley (ABC) “Body of Work”
Justina Ward, Sam McKenzie (ABC) “The Science of Bushfires”
Multimedia News or Feature
Shari Hams (ABC) “Influencers on notice as consumer watchdog sets sights on undisclosed ads on social media”
Evelyn Leckie (ABC) “Woman sues Google twice”
Nicholas Maher (ABC) “International Crises: Explained”
Best Rural/Regional Journalist
Eliza Berlage (ABC) “Wine oversupply crisis”
Eugene Boisvert (ABC) “South East SA work”
Sophie Landau (ABC) “Connection, care, compassion”
Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique
Walter Marsh (Crikey!) “Rupert Murdoch: From rise to retirement”
Evelyn Leckie (ABC) “A drop in the ocean”
David Simmons (Solstice Media) “Banksy bungle”
Investigative Journalism
Leah MacLennan (ABC) “South Australian greyhounds captured on video apparently being kicked, punched”
Charlotte Varcoe (The Border Watch) “Mount Gambier Racetrack Troubles”
Riley Walter (The Advertiser) “Child protection failures”
Social Equity Report
Eugene Boisvert (ABC) “Maria Shipwreck Truth-telling”
Peta Doherty (SBS) “This Adelaide housing development is being built on one of the state’s largest mass burial sites”
Riley Walter (The Advertiser) “Flinders Ranges Sacred Site Destruction”
Sports Report
Cale Matthews (ABC) “Sport Burnout”
Michelle Wakim (ABC) “Menstruation and Sport”
The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist
Isabel McMillan (The Advertiser) “Body of Work”
Josh Brine (ABC) “Body of work”
Sophie Holder (ABC) “Body of work”
links to content on ABC
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