Westpac Business & Financial Journalism Awards

High Standard And Record Number Of Entries For 2005 Westpac Business & Financial Journalism Awards

Outstanding business and financial journalism has been recognised by Westpac New Zealand in its 42nd annual Business & Financial Journalism Awards.

This year’s supreme award, chosen from a record number of entries, goes to Matt Philp, for his “brave and well-crafted” feature on controversial developer Tim Manning, published in Metro magazine.

Other winners were Karen Arnold (Southland Times), Brian Fallow (New Zealand Herald), Colin Peacock (Radio New Zealand), and Mike Jaspers (TVNZ).

Westpac New Zealand chief executive Ann Sherry said the awards highlighted Westpac’s commitment to recognising and celebrating excellence in all areas.

“We sponsor a range of excellence awards, in areas as diverse as Business Excellence and Dairy Excellence. So it’s also appropriate to reward a similar focus on excellence and high standards in a field as important, and influential, as business-related journalism,” Ann Sherry said.

“The record number of entries - 50 in all - tells us that New Zealand business and finance journalists hold the awards in high regard.

“Our customers have told us they value high-quality information and advice when it comes to making business and financial decisions. This, together with providing vital scrutiny, is the important role that business journalism helps to fulfil,” Ann Sherry said.

The awards were judged by Jim Tully, head of Canterbury University’s Mass Communications and Journalism Department; and Phil O’Reilly, a former head of employment policy & communication at Westpac Australia, and now chief executive of Business New Zealand.

Jim Tully and Phil O’Reilly were quick to commend the very high standard of entries in the Print Feature and Print News categories. At the same time they expressed their surprise at the small number of entries in radio and television, given the number of specialist business programmes and attention to business news.

“Matt Philp’s story was brave and well-crafted,” said Jim Tully.

The judges praised Southland Times journalist Karen Arnold for her Print Award-winning news story on Bond Contracts Ltd, describing it “as a very strong news story demonstrably in the public interest.”

Jim Tully said that Brian Fallow, winner in the Print Columnist category, “was head and shoulders ahead of the other entrants”.

Of the Radio and Electronic Media category winner, Radio New Zealand’s Colin Peacock, the judges said, “His review of the kiwifruit industry was well-researched and thorough, providing an in-depth analysis of the issues facing growers.”

“TVNZ economics specialist Mike Jaspers faces the tight constraints of television news. His winning coverage of the flight of Kiwis across the Tasman was typically enlightening and accessible for a general audience,” Jim Tully said.

The winners of each category receive a $1,500 prize, while Matt Philp’s Supreme Winner prize earns him an additional $1,500.

The Westpac Business & Financial Journalism Awards will be presented to the winners by Ann Sherry on 30 November.

Westpac Business & Financial Journalism Award Winners 2005

Supreme Winner

Matt Philp

Print News

Karen Arnold (Southland Times)

Print Feature

Matt Philp (Metro)

Print Columnist

Brian Fallow (New Zealand Herald)

Radio and Electronic Media

Colin Peacock (Radio New Zealand)

TV News Reporting

Mike Jaspers (TVNZ)

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