Finalists for 30th Clarion awards announced

MEDIA STATEMENT

September 16, 2025 

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2025 Queensland Clarion Awards, celebrating journalistic excellence across the state. 

This year’s awards attracted more than 330 entries across 28 categories — a 16 per cent increase on 2024. 

Judges have commented on the high standard of entries in a year that marks the 30th anniversary of the awards.  

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on October 18 at the Sofitel Brisbane Central, with the milestone event honouring the state’s finest journalists — past and present. 

Tickets can be purchased here, with MEAA members able to purchase tickets at a discounted price. 

Finalists for the 2025 Queensland Clarion Awards 

All Media 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues Reporting proudly sponsored by Queensland Council of Unions 

• Ella Archibald-Binge, ABC, “Queensland’s Long Search for Truth” 

• Baz Ruddick, Kirstie Wellauer and Craig Dixon, ABC, “Australia’s Most Northern Frontier Faces Rising Seas” 

• Christopher Testa and Brendan Mounter, ABC, “Failing Health System in Torres Strait Prompts Call to Return to Old Model” 

Artwork, Cartoon, Illustration or Graphic 

• Mark Brown, Nine, “Griffith Sentence” 

• Mark Brown, Libby Hodges, Hannah Treloar and Rebecca McLean, Nine, “Pheobe Bishop” 

• Sharon Gordon, ABC, “Predator in Plain Sight” 

Broadcast Interview proudly sponsored by ABC 

• Pippa Bradshaw, Rob Barbir and Ben Stivala, Nine, “Cult Dad” 

• Sharyn Ghidella, Peter Tumini, Jade Richards, Taylor Suleau and Georgia Bakalich, Network 10, “Dawn Fraser: The Fall that Couldn’t Break a Legend” 

• Tom Hartley and Emily Jane Smith, ABC, “Exclusive Interview with Hadi Nazari: The man who survived 13 days lost in Kosciuszko National Park” 

Business Journalism 

• Rory Callinan and Liam Walsh, ABC, “Tobacco Cash – How Big Business Fuelled a Violent Trade” 

• James Hall, Zoe Samios, Jessica Sier, Amelia McGuire and Primrose Riordan, The Australian Financial Review, “On the Trail of Star Entertainment’s Mystery Macau Shareholder” 

• Lexy Hamilton-Smith, ABC, “Global Mining Companies Face Landmark Class Actions over Shocking Allegations of Sexual Abuse, including Rape, on Australian Mine Sites – Exclusive” 

Commentary, Analysis, Opinion or Critique 

• Kylie Lang, The Courier-Mail, “The Issues that Matter to Queenslanders” 

• Madura McCormack, Taylah Fellows and Hayden Johnson, The Courier-Mail, “George Street Beat” 

• Ben Smee, Guardian Australia, “Making Sense of Two Elections” 

Health and Science Reporting 

• Rory Callinan and Kirsten Robb, ABC, “Mental Health Inquiry Scandal Uncovered” 

• Tom Hartley, Rahni Sadler and Laura Kewley, ABC, “Toxic Truth: Exposing the Hidden Dangers of Vitamin B6” 

• Janelle Miles and Lexy Hamilton-Smith, ABC, “‘I Never Realised I Could Feel Grief So Deep’: Former Cabinet Minister Opens Up About Losing His Son” 

Innovation 

• Laura Lavelle, Claudia Williams and Bridget Walker, ABC, “A Nightmare on Wains Road” 

• Lia Walsh, ABC, “Inside the World of Australia’s Youngest Priests” 

• Lia Walsh, ABC, “Social Media Reporting at the US Election” 

Most Outstanding Final Year Journalism Student – Graduating 2025 

• Chloe Bell, The University of Queensland, “The Work in Progress Portfolio of a Student Journo” 

• Rose Innes, Queensland University of Technology and The Courier-Mail, “Body of Work” 

• Jiselle Manning, The University of Queensland and Nine, “Body of Work” 

Multicultural Reporting 

• Eden Gillespie, ABC, “Rehana Parvin: Not Forgotten” 

• Sophie Johnson, ABC, “Migrant Communities in Rural Australia” 

• Melissa Maykin, ABC, “Run It Straight Celebrates Toughness, but at What Cost?” 

New Journalist of the Year 

• Emma Cam, The Cairns Post, “Operation Safe Zone: Safety Solutions for Healthcare Workers” 

• Sophie Johnson, ABC, “2025 Ingham Flood Disaster” 

• Portia Large, Gold Coast Bulletin, “Alexa’s Story: The Exclusive Mini Documentary” 

Rural Journalism 

• Kallee Buchanan, ABC, “When Dams Fail, People Die: Finding the Flaw in Paradise that Puts Thousands at Risk” 

• Grace Nakamura, Hannah Walsh, Heidi Sheehan and Maddelin McCosker, ABC, “ABC Western Queensland Flood Coverage” 

• Liam Walsh, ABC, “Thirst Tragedy: How Hundreds of Cattle Died in a Heatwave” 

Social Issues Reporting proudly sponsored by the Independent Education Union 

• Tim Arvier and Brendan Hockings, Nine, “Police Release Victim Information” 

• Florence Leah Lowonbu and Stefan Armbruster, Radio Free Asia/BenarNews, “Breaking the Silence: Women’s Political Struggle in Vanuatu” 

• Ben Smee, Jennifer Luu, Jodie Noyce and Chloe Angelo, SBS and Guardian Australia, “In the Box: Inside the Isolation Cells where Australian Kids are Imprisoned” 

Sport Journalism 

• Peter Badel and Jacquelin Magnay, The Courier-Mail, “Paris Olympics: Boxing’s Gender War” 

• Pip Courtney, ABC, “For the Love of the Game” 

• James Hall and Zoe Samios, The Australian Financial Review, “How It All Went Wrong for Rocky Elsom” 

Three Headings 

• Baz McAlister, The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, “High Owe, Silver!” 

• Damien Tomlinson, The Courier-Mail, “Straight Outta Customs, Cops Hurt by Sneaky Prick, Slip Slop Slap in the Face” 

• Keith Woods, Gold Coast Bulletin, “Law and Disorder” 

Photography 

Best Metropolitan News Photo 

• Brian Cassey, Freelance for The Courier-Mail, “Heart Attack – Millionaire Castaway David Glasheen” 

• Matt Dennien, Brisbane Times, “Not Part of Our Plan” 

• Adam Head, The Courier-Mail, “Ingham Floods” 

Photographic Essay 

• Brian Cassey, Freelance for The Courier-Mail, “Vale Millionaire Castaway – David Glasheen” 

• Adam Head, The Courier-Mail, “Cyclone Alfred” 

• Kenji Sato, ABC, “Moreton Bay Cracks Down on its Homeless Population” 

Print / Text 

Feature Article proudly sponsored by Local Government Association of Queensland 

• Elissa Lawrence, Freelance for Qweekend, “Ali France – He was Pure Sunshine” 

• Josh Roberston, ABC, “My Friend, the Killer” 

• Mark Willacy, Jonathan Miller and Ryan Sheridan, ABC, “Ukraine War” 

News Report proudly sponsored by 9News 

• Georgia Clelland and Ayla Connolly, The Courier-Mail, “Start Dressing Older: Child Rape Victim’s Chilling Grooming Account” 

• Lexy Hamilton-Smith, ABC, “Shocking Allegations of Sexual Abuse on Australia’s Biggest Mine Sites – Exclusive Class Action Revealed” 

• Liam Walsh, ABC, “The Premier’s Secret Payout” 

Radio / Audio 

Radio, Documentary and Podcast proudly sponsored by Media Super 

• Kallee Buchanan, ABC, “The Previously Untold Story of Paradise Dam” 

• Tara Cassidy and Romy Sher, Southern Cross Austereo / LiSTNR, “Killer Charm: Money, Men & Murder” 

• Jessica Lodge, Melissa Downes, Adam Buncher, Matty White and Sam Stove, Nine, “The Ultimate Sacrifice” 

Radio News and Current Affairs 

• Laura Lavelle, ABC, “Revenge Debt” 

• Kate McKenna, David Chen and Elizabeth Cramsie, ABC, “The Toddler Whose Disappearance Went Unnoticed for Two Years” 

• Antonia O’Flaherty, ABC, “Predator in Plain Slight” 

Television / Audio Visual 

Current Affairs, Feature, Documentary or Special Broadcast 

• Pippa Bradshaw, Miranda Eddy, Rob Barbir and Ben Stivala, Nine, “The Saints” 

• Ben Smee, Jennifer Luu, Jodie Noyce and Chloe Angelo, SBS and Guardian Australia, “In the Box: Inside the Isolation Cells where Australian Kids are Imprisoned” 

• Mark Willacy, Jonathan Miller and Ryan Sheridan, ABC, “Endurance” 

News Report 

• Tim Arvier and Brendan Hockings, Nine, “Police Release Victim Information” 

• Sharyn Ghidella, Peter Tumini, Jade Richards, Taylor Suleau and Josh Adsett, Network 10, “Dawn Fraser: The Fall that Couldn’t Break a Champion” 

• Bailey Kenzie and Emily Prain, Nine, “Ezra Mam” 

The John Bean Memorial Award for Television Camerawork proudly sponsored by ABC 

• Luke Dorrington, Seven Network, “Body of Work” 

• Brendan Mounter, ABC, “The Rare and Deadly Disease Killing Dozens in Far North Queensland” 

• Baz Ruddick, ABC, “Three Palm Island Generations Celebrate Songlines” 

Regional and Community Coverage 

Broadcast Report 

• Will Hunter and Peta McEachern, Toowoomba Chronicle, “Fight for the Forgotten” 

• Holly Richardson and Conor Byrne, ABC, “Yarrabah Housing Crisis” 

• Frank Russo, Seven Network, “A Family’s Heartbreak” 

Feature Article or Opinion Piece – Print/Text proudly sponsored by Media Super 

• Kallee Buchanan, ABC, “When Dams Fail, People Die: Finding the Flaw in Paradise that Puts Thousands at Risk” 

• Stuart Cumming, ABC, “Inside a Highway Town’s Transformation” 

• Janessa Ekert, Daily Mercury, “Unseen Wounds: A Doctor’s Battle with PTSD” 

News Photograph proudly sponsored by Seven News Brisbane 

• Annette Dew, Gold Coast Bulletin, “The Scars that Remind Me I’m Perfect” 

• Glenn Hampson, Gold Coast Bulletin, “Cyclone Alfred Visits Gold Coast” 

• Brendan Radke, Cairns Post, “The Euramo Yacht Club” 

News Report Print/Text 

• Michael Nolan, Toowoomba Chronicle, “No One Listened” 

• Shelley Strachan, Lexa Smith, Eden Regan, Carlie Walker and Phillip Fynes-Clinton, Bundaberg NewsMail and News Corp Australia, “The Death of Pheobe Bishop” 

• Paul Weston, Gold Coast Bulletin, “Tram Transport War” 

Major Awards 

Investigative Journalism proudly sponsored by Brisbane Airport 

• Michael McKenna and Sarah Elks, The Australian, “Running Hot” 

• Dan Nolan, Nine, “The Wreckage of a Predator” 

• Josh Robertson, ABC, “My Friend, the Killer”