The 2012 EVAs
Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 EVA Media Awards for Excellence in the Reporting of Violence Against Women.
The 2012 EVAs Media Awards were held on the 26th July 2012 at the ANZ Pavillion. Nominees from print, television, radio and online media joined distinguished guests to honour journalists for their excellent reporting and celebrate media contributions to the prevention of violence against women.
Among the night’s winners:
- Inpress Magazine’s Clem Bastow won the Gold EVA for her review of Brian McFadden’s ‘Just The Way You Are’
- Jo Wiles, David Gubert, Julie Russell, Glen Williams and Jo Lamble from Woman’s Day won the EVA for Best Magazine Report/Article for their series on the White Ribbon Campaign
- Goya Dmytryshchak from Hobson’s Bay Weekly won the EVA for Best Online Journalism for Breaking the Cycle of Family Violence, a blend of
- Jo Wiles, David Gubert, Julie Russell, Glen Williams and Jo Lamble from Woman’s Day won the EVA for Best Magazine Report/Article for their series on the White Ribbon Campaign
- storytelling and factual information that allows readers to understand the personal experience of family violence and breaking its cycle.
- Jennifer Feller, Kent Gordon, Ian Harley and Roger Carter from Four Corners won the EVA for Best Television Current Affairs for their piece The Courage of her Convictions.
2012 Award Winners
Gold EVA
Best Media Across Categories
Clem Bastow
Brian McFadden - 'Just The Way You Are' (Singled Out)
Inpress Magazine
Congratulations on an excellent piece of journalism.
Judges' remarks:
This is a controversial music review that reaches in and rips the heart out of the social myths and behaviours that tolerate, excuse, minimise and romanticise violence against women. Clem’s piece pushes so many boundaries on this issue, saying something incredibly important in a popular culture medium which is too often viewed as safe from criticism. She surprises the reader with a total lack of acceptance for gender subtext that ‘boys will be boys’. She tackles multiple facets within the issue of sexual assault, in particular the disregard for consent, the attitude that rape is trivial or funny, and that men ‘don’t really mean it’. Clem contextualises her arguments by quoting current statistics, informing the public on the extent of the real problem.
She crushes the tacit belief that these kinds of recordings are somehow ok, and brings into question all those involved in the production of music like this.
Best News / Current Affairs Report (Item or Series)
Kath Gannaway, Mara Sowden Pattison, Casey Neill
Stop the Violence Campaign (Series)
Mail Newspaper Group
Judges' remarks
An exceptional series with great attention to the various dimensions of violence all while keeping it local. By spreading the series over six weeks, Gannaway, Sowden-Pattison & Neill were able to present fresh views each edition, as well as run a comprehensive list of resources. Readers were able to see the impact of violence on women and also on children. The series demonstrates why the system unfortunately doesn’t always work.
Best Feature in Print (Newspaper)
Natalie Craig
The Sunday Age
Judges' remarks
A confronting story of prostitution and slavery and how Australian laws do not protect and in some cases support the abuse of women as trade. Natalie’s feature article details the life-long ramifications on Ning, who is trafficked to Australia as a child and deported back to Thailand. The feature is written with sensitivity and without compromising its impact.
Best Opinion
Clem Bastow
Brian McFadden - 'Just The Way You Are' (Singled Out)
Inpress Magazine
Judges' remarks
Clem’s piece is not just a critique of music but a strong gender analysis, weaving factual information into a music review to make her point. She brings an angle to a free publication and specific audience that might not otherwise see its significance. Clem squarely focuses on the need to change community attitudes towards sexism, and her exasperation that little has changed after so many years is refreshingly honest.
Best Suburban / Regional Report
Vanessa Chircop & Laura Wakely
Stop the Violence (Series)
Star News Group
Judges' remarks
Laura and Vanessa have presented a comprehensive series of family violence articles over a three-month period. This sustained campaign raises awareness on a range of issues that are well-targeted and retain a local focus. They draw on the accounts of professionals from women’s services, police and courts as well as survivors to expose the unacceptably high rates of family violence and their impact on the community.
Best Magazine Report / Article
Joint Winners
Winner 1
Clair Weaver
Madison Magazine
Judges' remarks
Clair delivers close-grained coverage of a hidden issue crafted with impact. Her well-researched exposé of violence against female students examines consent, and the barriers to reporting rape. The piece challenges educational institutions that are failing to respond to sexual violence and their responsibility to educate young people on sexual rights and responsibilities. This is an important piece especially given the article’s statistic that 16% of female students are raped but only 2% report to police.
Winner 2
Jo Wiles, David Gubert, Julie Russell, Glen Williams, Jo Lamble
Woman's Day White Ribbon Campaign (Series)
Woman's Day
Judges' remarks
In this special edition, Woman’s Day engaged a number of well-known television personalities to speak out about violence against women and encourage women to seek help. Also included are stories of survivors of violence, offering hope to other women. The edition lists much needed practical advice about safety, and state and national referral information which is much needed but rarely offered in the media.
Best Photograph / Graphics / Illustration
Jeremy Bannister
The Courier
Judges' remarks
Jeremy’s photograph is a striking and poignant image of the realities of family violence. Jeremy delivers a key message on an issue that can be hard to illustrate creatively and effectively. The composition focuses on perpetrators and demonstrates the relentless task faced by police in confronting violence and aggression in the community.
Online
Best Online Journalism
Goya Dmytryshchak
Breaking the cycle of family violence
Hobsons Bay Weekly
Judges' remarks
Goya’s piece allows the reader to understand the personal experience of family violence and breaking its cycle. It is an excellent blend of storytelling and factual information, and offers an empowering example to others through the dignity and courage of Sahar. It is further strengthened by the inclusion of support numbers and photography.
Radio
Best Radio News / Current Affairs (Less than 20 minutes)
Kathy Bedford
Family Violence in Regional Victoria
ABC Victoria Statewide Drive
Judges' remarks
Kathy’s radio interview with the Victorian Minister for Crime Prevention reflects some of the key problems in community attitudes towards family violence. She addresses the common misplacement of family violence as solely a women’s issue, highlighting that it is a crime and impacts all of society. It is an authoritative piece, demonstrating the role of media in promoting social awareness, particularly that of local media in rural and regional communities.
Television
Best Television Current Affairs (Less than 20 minutes)
Kerri Ritchie
Funding row over domestic violence alarm
ABC TV
Judges' remarks
Kerri’s news piece is a powerful and personalised exploration. It details an important Victorian initiative which is helping prevent the isolation of women and children experiencing family violence, particularly in regional and rural areas. It combines strong interviewing and storytelling to highlight how an inexpensive piece of technology can change their lives.
Highly Commended
Josie Taylor
Victoria's Record levels of domestic violence/ The Police Minister defends crime strategy (Series)
ABC TV 7.30 Victoria
Judges' remarks
Josie’s two part series makes the critical connection between community attitudes and violence against women, in particular family violence. She questions key decision makers, asking them to account for the funding given to targeting these areas. She interviews a range of stakeholders and presents a balanced but cutting opinion on a crucial social issue.
Best Television Current Affairs (More than 20 minutes)
Jennifer Feller, Kent Gordon, Ian Harley, Roger Carter
The Courage of her Convictions
Australian Story
Judges' remarks
A compassionate piece of storytelling which depicts the broad impacts of experiencing family violence, the failure of institutions, and the impact of community support. Feller, Gordon, Harley & Carter successfully illustrate the legal challenges and changes which occurred as Catherine pursued justice. It gives a sophisticated view of the broader effects of family violence, including those on children.
Highly Commended
Sally Neighbour, Peter Cronau, Nick McKenzie (The Age), Anne Worthington
Sex Slavery
ABC Four Corners
Judges' remarks
Neighbour, Cronau, McKenzie and Worthington have created a significant piece which covers the rarely exposed issue of sexual violence and exploitation. Importantly, it focuses on women’s experiences. Presenting the facts it demonstrates the need to confront community attitudes that lead to or tolerate sexual violence.
Finalists
Best News/ Current Affairs Report
Kath Gannaway, Mara Sowden Pattison, Casey Neill
Stop the Violence Campaign (Series), Mail Newspaper Group
Samantha Lane
Eagle-Demon rape sledge (Series), The Age
Best Feature in Print (newspaper)
Goya Dmytryshchak
Fractured Families, Hobsons Bay Weekly
Natalie Craig
Avenging Angels, The Sunday Age
Best Opinion
Clem Bastow
Hey girls, we're all sluts now, The Age
Clem Bastow
Brian McFadden - 'Just The Way You Are' (Singled Out), Inpress Magazine
Debbie Kirkwood
Men's Murderous Revenge, The Age
Farrah Tomazin
Let's not forget about crime's other heartland: the home, The Sunday Age
Best Suburban/ Regional Report
Allyson Fonseca
Big Increase in sexual violence, Sunraysia Daily
Vanessa Chircop& Laura Wakely
Stop the Violence (Series), Star News Group
Best Magazine Report/ Article
Clair Weaver
500 Victims, 69 Charges, 1 Rogue Doctor, Madison Magazine
Clair Weaver
Halls of Shame, Madison Magazine
Jo Wiles, David Gubert, Julie Russell, Glen Williams, Jo Lamble
Woman's Day White Ribbon Campaign (Series), Woman's Day
Best Photograph/Graphics/ Illustration
Jeremy Bannister
On The Front Lines, The Courier
Paul Carracher
Awareness, Wimmera Mail-Times
Best Online Journalism
Goya Dmytryshchak
Breaking the cycle of family violence, Hobsons Bay Weekly
Best Radio News / Current Affairs (less than 20 minutes)
Kathy Bedford
Family Violence in Regional Victoria, ABC Victoria Statewide Drive
Best Television Current Affairs (less than 20 minutes)
Josie Taylor
Victoria's Record levels of domestic violence/ The Police Minister defends crime strategy (Series), ABC TV 7.30 Victoria
Kerri Ritchie
Funding row over domestic violence alarm, ABC TV
Best Television Current Affairs (more than 20 minutes)
Jennifer Feller, Kent Gordon, Ian Harley, Roger Carter
The Courage of her Convictions, Australian Story
Sally Neighbour, Peter Cronau, Nick McKenzie (The Age), Anne Worthington
Sex Slavery, ABC Four Corners