Fairfax Reporter Wins for Excellence in Insurance Journalism

9 July 2014

Fairfax Reporter Wins Inaugural Excellence in Insurance Journalism Award

Fairfax reporter Eloise Gibson has won the inaugural Excellence in Insurance Journalism Award and Radio New Zealand journalist Eric Frykberg the Highly Commended prize.

The award, which is jointly sponsored by the Insurance Council of New Zealand and the New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation (now Competenz), was established to foster better understanding of insurance issues in New Zealand.

The Excellence in Insurance Journalism Award is one of a number of initiatives the general insurance industry has established to help improve insurance literacy and encourage better public understanding of the vital role that insurance plays.

Eloise Gibson was presented the $4000 prize by ICNZ President Jacki Johnson in Auckland this evening.

“Journalists play an important role in helping the public to understand insurance, as well as the industry’s contribution to the economy and society as a whole,” says ICNZ Chief Executive Tim Grafton.

“The entrants for the inaugural award demonstrated a high standard in their coverage of often very complex insurance issues with Eloise Gibson showing a depth of creativity and clarity in her reporting that stood out,” he says.

Eloise Gibson won the award for a body of work that included stories on sum insured, consumer contracts and financial adviser commissions.

Radio New Zealand journalist Eric Frykberg won the Highly Commended prize of $1000 for his June 2013 radio documentary “Can NZ Afford Another Big Quake?” which the judges described as a compelling piece of insurance-related journalism.

The judges were representatives of the Competenz, ICNZ and independent financial education and enterprise specialists the Young Enterprise Trust.

“As a judge, it was great to see so many different and well-crafted articles designed to inform and educate the public about insurance. I applaud all the journalists who submitted an entry, and the Insurance Council of New Zealand and the New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation for establishing this award,” says Young Enterprise Trust Chief Executive Terry Shubkin.

The Award is open to all journalists, including student journalists, commentators and educators who have been considered by the judging panel to have demonstrated Excellence In Insurance Journalism through work that has been published or broadcast in New Zealand between 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014. To be eligible for the award the journalist must have produced at least three stories on insurance that have been published or broadcast during the relevant 12-month period.

The body of work offered for consideration was judged on the following criteria:
• that it demonstrably helps to foster a better understanding of the general insurance industry, its products and services
• that it contributes constructively towards improving insurance-related financial literacy in New Zealand
• that it enhances the understanding of the role insurance plays in helping individuals and businesses to manage risk and its contribution to the New Zealand economy
• that it demonstrates appropriate use of analysis, research and/or data
• the quality of writing, success at communicating complex issues, balance and accuracy

The judging panel includes the Insurance Council of New Zealand, the New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation (Competenz) and the Young Enterprise Trust.

ENDS

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