RNZ’s national crime correspondent Sam Sherwood has been awarded Best Specialist Reporting, News Journalist of the year and Reporter of the Year.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
RNZ’s national crime correspondent Sam Sherwood scooped three major awards at the Media Awards, including Best Specialist Reporting, News Journalist of the year and Reporter of the Year.
He was runner up in the Best Investigation category for his work on disgraced former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
Judges commented that Sherwood delivered a “masterclass in accountability journalism with his consistent exclusives on the alleged misconduct of Jevon McSkimming.
“But he didn’t stop there. He also delivered clear and compelling revelations about tragic health failures and wider police failings. For that, he is a well-deserved Reporter of the Year.”
Judges also said Sherwood’s “sheer hard graft, tenacious relationship building and shaping stories that not only matter but create long-lasting impact” are key traits of his portfolio.
“His entries broke new ground, effected significant change and continue to have enduring impacts as well as shining a light on subjects and issues that truly matter. A real masterclass.”
RNZ’s climate change correspondent Kate Newton won the award for Best Innovation in Digital Storytelling.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
RNZ’s climate change correspondent Kate Newton won the award for Best Innovation in Digital Storytelling for her entry Four phones, three weeks: Everything we saw on teen TikTok, done in collaboration with editorial designer Hingyi Khong.
About this entry judges said, “This worthy winner uses smart, immersive multimedia to place the audience inside a world familiar to many teenagers, but often less visible to adults. The approach deepens understanding and keeps the viewer engaged throughout. Underpinned by strong reporting and clear use of data, it delivers an important public-interest story with clarity, originality and impact. In a strong field, it stands out for using digital techniques with discipline and purpose, enhancing the storytelling while maintaining the integrity of the journalism.”
Te Tohu Kairangi Award went to Aaron Smale, and Best Up and Coming Journalist went to Emma Andrews.
In the photography category, Cole Eastham-Farrelly was runner up for the Best Photo Story for Feral. Nick Monro was runner up in the Video Journalist of the Year category and Guyon Espiner was runner up for Political Journalist of the Year. Runner up for Best Original Podcast or Series went to Aaron Smale, Ruth Korver and team for The Stolen Children of Aotearoa with Aaron Smale.
RNZ’s Guyon Espiner was runner up for Political Journalist of the Year.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
RNZ chief news officer Mark Stevens said he was delighted to see RNZ’s journalism recognised by Media Awards judges again.
RNZ chief news officer Mark Stevens.
Photo: JERICHO ROCK-ARCHER/STUFF
“To see Sam score the hat-trick of top reporting awards was especially great after a year of rolling out one scoop after another. He’s a masterclass in impactful journalism,” Stevens said.
“Reporter of the Year was also won by Sam in 2024 and RNZ journalist Anusha Bradley took the honour this time last year. It shows the calibre of our journalists.”
The Media Awards were held at the Grand Millenium in Auckland on Friday night. Formerly the Voyager Media Awards, Voyager was stripped of naming rights earlier this month after CEO Seeby Woodhouse retweeted a post the News Publishers Association considered “inconsistent with the values and standards” it upholds for New Zealand news publishing.
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