Award Categories

The EVAs awarded media across eleven distinct categories that reflect the diversity of reporting in various media platforms.

 

The Gold EVA Award honoured the best reporting across all categories. Each individual category winner was eligible to win the Gold EVA Award.

 

Gold

• Best Media Across Categories

       

Print/Online

• Best News Report in Print

• Best Feature in Print (Newspaper)

• Best Opinion/Commentary in Print

• Best Suburban Report in Print

• Best Regional/Rural Report in Print

• Best Magazine Report/Article in Print

• Best Photograph/Cartoon/Illustration in any Medium

• Best Use of the Online Medium

 

* NB:  Best Suburban and Best Regional/Rural categories are restricted to items published in suburban/regional/rural forums.

 

 

Radio

• Best Radio News
• Best Radio Feature/Current Affairs
• Best Talkback Segment

 

 

Television

• Best Television News

• Best Television Current Affairs/Feature (Less Than 15 Minutes)

• Best Television Current Affairs/Feature (More Than 15 Minutes)

 

 

Judging Criteria

The EVAs were judged by an expert panel with representatives from the media industry as well as violence against women, family violence and sexual assault sectors. The awards were judged based on the important criteria listed below to illustrate quality of reporting.

 

1. Promotes public awareness and understanding of violence against women* and/or

 

Violence against women is a prevalent and serious issue. Its impact to the Victorian community is profound, it is the primary cause of death, disability and illness for women ages 15 to 44₁, and costs the Victorian economy an estimated $3.4 billion each year². 

 

Despite its commonality, violence against women is not well understood by the wider community. There is misconception about the causes of violence against women, and the social dynamics that allow it to occur.

The media plays a powerful and important role in improving community perceptions of the social reality of violence against women. Insightful and accurate reporting is essential to creating a community where violence against women does not occur.

 

Excellent reporting that promotes awareness of violence against women demonstrates the following qualities:

• Promotes gender equality and respectful relationships 

• Challenges common stereotypes about violence against women 

• Gives voice to those experiencing violence against women 

• Provides information about how friends and family can support those affected by violence against women

• Provides information about resources and services available to those who are affected by violence against women

• Draws attention to the relationship between community attitudes and violence against women

• Describes the effects of violence against women including its effects on the community as a whole

• Reflects on the impact of unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women

• Encourages men to take responsibility for their use of violent or abusive behaviour and the prevention of violence against women

• Draws on current research on violence against women

• Explores  key social and economic determinants of violence against women such as gender roles and relations, and social norms and practices relating to violence against women

• Raises awareness of successes of community projects that seek to reduce violence against women

 

2. Promotes public awareness and understanding of the links between violence against women and violence against children.

 

Research shows strong links between violence again women and violence against children. Most violence against women is perpetrated by men known to the victim³ and it often occurs in the home. Children are therefore very likely to be exposed to violence against women, and can be directly harmed in instances where they try to intervene^4,5.

 

In 2007/8 children were identified as aggrieved family members in 7.5% of all reported family violence incidents in Victoria⁶. One quarter of children and/or young people aged 12 to 20 years are said to have witnessed an act of physical violence against their mother or step mother⁴.

 

It is crucial that reporting on the issue of violence against women highlights its connection with violence against children and considers the subsequent impact on the wider community. Excellent reporting on this issue:

 

• Challenges stereotypes about violence against children and violence against women

• Draws attention to the relationship between violence against women and violence against children

• Draws on evidence of the links between violence against women and children

• Acknowledges the ways in which children are impacted by violence against women

• Acknowledges the ways in which children are used in acts of violence against women

 

3. Contributes to public benefit such as influencing policy or legislative change.

 

Media hold an important responsibility in gathering and disseminating news. Their role in informing the public of prevalent issues such as violence against women encourages community awareness and interest in these issues.  Community influence can play a significant role in improving policy and legislation such as the abolition of the provocation defence in Victoria  and the Brodie’s Law campaign.  Accurate and diligent reporting makes an essential contribution to the preservation of community focused legislature.

 

4. Shows courage, originality and creativity in reporting of violence against women.

 

Violence against women is described as one of the least visible but most common forms of violence³. Improving community understanding of this issue is crucial to its ongoing reduction. It is therefore essential that violence against women remains at the forefront of newsworthy reporting and public dialogue is encouraged to continue. Reporters show courage in creating engaging and insightful coverage that explores various aspects of this significant issue.

 

5. Demonstrates accurate and balanced presentation of events / issues.

 

6. Demonstrates quality of research / writing / reporting.

   

7. Demonstrates the use of appropriate language.

 

Suggestive and inflammatory language in reporting on violence against women can greatly detriment community understanding of the issue and its wider implications. Great reporting uses language that indicates the significance of the issue without overemphasising dramatic details. It is respectful, thorough and aware of its own power.

 

 

ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR PHOTOGRAPH/ CARTOON/ ILLUSTRATION

• Newsworthiness

• Artistic flair

• Appropriate style and technique

• The power of the photograph/ cartoon /illustration to represent the story/ issue  

 

ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR BEST USE OF THE ONLINE MEDIUM

• Newsworthiness, professionalism

• Effective or innovative use of the medium, including  engagement with the online environment, use of multi-media

 

 

REFERENCES

 

1. VicHealth (2004) The health costs of violence: Measuring the burden of disease caused by intimate partner violence. Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Melbourne.

2. State Government of Victoria (2009) A Right to Respect: Victoria’s Plan to Prevent Violence against Women 2010-2020, Melbourne.

3. VicHealth (2007) Preventing violence before it occurs: A framework and background paper to guide the primary prevention of violence against women in Victoria.

4. Flood M &Fergus L (2008) An assault on our future: The impact of violence on young people and their relationships, White Ribbon Foundation, Sydney

5. National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and Children (2001) Young people and domestic violence: National research on young people’s attitudes and experiences of domestic violence, Crime Prevention Branch, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

6. Department of Justice (2009) Measuring Family Violence in Victoria: Victorian Family Violence Database 1999-2008

 

PAST JUDGES

Each year, The EVAs Judging Panels were selected to reflect the cross-section of community required to make real steps in the prevention of violence against women.They include professionals from the media, legal, community, health and academic fields. 

Agnes   Cusack	Director,   Multicultural Media Exchange
Amanda   Crane	Director,   Development and Training, Metro Media Publishing
Brett   Mcleod	Journalist,   Nine Network Australia
Clare   Arthurs	Independent Journalist and Trainer*
Danny   Blay	Executive   Officer, No To Violence Male Family Violence Prevention Association
Fiona   McCormack	Chief   Executive Officer, Domestic Violence Victoria
Jen   Hargrave	Policy   Officer, Women with Disabilities Victoria
Judge   Jennifer Coates	Chief   Judge, Coroner's Court of Victoria
Dr   Jennifer Morgan	Professor,   Melbourne University
Kathy   Bowlen	National   Media Manager, Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Kiri   Bear	Senior   Project Officer, VicHealth
Leanne   Miller	Executive   Director, Koorie Women Mean Business
Maya   Avdibegovic	Chief   Executive Officer, InTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence
Michelle   Edmunds	Regional   Manager Victoria, CPR Communications
Phil   Johnson	Journalist,   3AW
Sophie   Black	Journalist
Dr   Leigh Gassner		Partner,   Reos Partners
Margaret   Simons		Director,   Centre for Advanced Journalism, Melbourne University
Maya   Avdibegovic		Chief   Executive Officer, InTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence
Michelle   Edmunds		Regional   Manager Victoria, CPR Communications
Nick   Richardson		Learning   Delivery Lead, Editorial, News Ltd
Magistrate   Noreen Toohey		Magistrate,   Sunshine Magistrates’ Court
Pauline   Gilbert		CASA   Forum
Sarah   Capper		Policy,   Advocacy and Communications Officer, Victorian Women's Trust
Dr   Suellen Murray		Associate   Professor, RMIT University
Vicki   Lee Thomas		Quality   and Projects Manager, Pact Community Support
Vig   Geddes		Executive   Officer, Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria

*Please note that Clare Arthurs did not judge the Radio Category in 2013 due to a Radio National entry to the awards.