2025 NT Media Awards winners announced
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance congratulates the winners of the 2025 Northern Territory Media Awards, unveiled at a cocktail reception in Darwin on Saturday night.
This year’s winners demonstrated fearless, deeply researched and empathetic journalism, marked by original storytelling, technical excellence, and an unwavering commitment to giving voice to the unheard across the Territory.
Winners include ABC’s Charmayne Allison and Xavier Martin, who were crowned 2025 Journalists of the Year for their powerful multimedia feature “The Pintupi Nine.”
“Charmayne and Xavier brought a new, intimate and creative lens to a remarkable story of significance in Australian and First Nations history,” the judges said.
“The trust they earned gave them rare and extended access to one of the most remote communities in the country, and allowed them to share the extraordinary stories and insights of people rarely given a voice.”
Judges also made special mention of Jack Hislop and David O’Shea for their “outstanding and original” investigation into the “Darwin fuel tank fiasco,” which won both Best News Coverage and Best Online Coverage.
“In a high-quality field, this was outstanding news-breaking journalism,” the judges said.
“These stories demonstrate a genuine commitment to public interest journalism. For those in the NT who try to cut corners or keep poor practice secret, these stories act as a warning – journalists will hold them to account.”
Other winners included ABC’s Matilda Colling, who was awarded Marchbanks Young Journalist of the Year. Judges praised her “emotionally striking and well-executed” stories, noting her ability to “tell stories across social barriers and mediums” with the poise of a far more experienced journalist.
Zizi Averill of NT News won the Pete Davies Memorial Campaigning Journalism Award for a compelling series on failures in the Northern Territory justice system.
“Using a rich mix of primary observation, data analysis and case studies, Averill’s reporting reveals the deep human cost of justice policies. Each story has been carefully crafted to add nuance and balance to dominant narratives around crime, looking beyond symptoms to highlight root causes,” the judges said.
Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Chips Mackinolty was recognised for almost five decades of journalism, cartooning, graphic design, activism and research, holding the powerful to account. He is renowned for his work on the land rights campaign and is a fierce advocate of First Nations communities. Described as a “political animal,” his cheeky commentary on successive NT governments adorns gallery and museum walls across the country.
“He has mentored young journalists across the Northern Territory and his infamous pasta nights provide refuge for underpaid and overworked media workers as they navigate the nuanced political and linguistic minefields of the NT. He’s had an undeniable impact on the Australian media landscape.,” the judges said.
The awards, which celebrate the outstanding achievements of journalists, photographers, and media professionals across the Northern Territory, attracted more than 100 entries, a 19 per cent increase from the previous year.
Full list of 2025 winners:
Print/Text – Best News Coverage, proudly sponsored by Media Super
Jack Hislop & David O’Shea, ABC – Darwin’s Fuel Tank Fiasco
Print/Text – Best Feature Writing
Charmayne Allison & Xavier Martin, ABC – The Pintupi Nine
Television/Radio – Best News Coverage, proudly sponsored by ABC
Liz Trevaskis, ABC – PM Grilled on Surprise Port of Darwin Announcement
Television/Radio – Best Current Affairs or Feature, proudly sponsored by ABC
Matt Garrick, ABC – Breaking Out of the NT’s Prison Crisis
Excellence in Radio Broadcasting, proudly sponsored by Media Super
Meredith Lake & Rohan Salmond, ABC – Soul Search: Becoming Spiritually Strong in Central Australia
Best Online Coverage
Jack Hislop & David O’Shea, ABC – Darwin’s Fuel Tank Fiasco
Best Sports Journalism
Nathaniel Chambers, NT News – Body of Work
Best Crime / Court Reporting, proudly sponsored by Maurice Blackburn
Christopher Walsh & David Wood, NT Independent – Deception in the NT Police Ranks
Pete Davies Memorial Campaigning Journalism Award, proudly sponsored by NT News
Zizi Averill, NT News – Justice on the Brink
Indigenous Affairs Reporting
Matt Garrick, ABC – Breaking Out of the NT’s Prison Crisis
Visual Storytelling
Jayden O’Neill, ABC – Timor’s Crocodile Problem
Marchbanks Young Journalist of the Year
Matilda Colling, ABC – Body of Work
(Highly Commended: Lara Stimpson and Grace Atta, ABC)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Chips Mackinolty
Journalists of the Year
Charmayne Allison & Xavier Martin, ABC
Contact details:
Tim O’Halloran - 0409 059 617