The WA Media Awards are presented annually by the Western Australian Journalists Association.
The awards recognise outstanding work by Western Australian reporters, photographers, graphic designers, cartoonists, sub-editors, television camera people and other media workers.
The awards are generally judged by senior media workers, as well as academics, former media workers, judges, businesspeople and others. The qualifying period is usually the 12 months from the beginning of September to the end of August. The 2012 awards were presented at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on 3 November 2012 by Craig Smart from Channel 10 and Emmy Kubainski from Channel 7. The 2012 awards were hosted by The West Australian media workers Kate Ferguson and Daniel Hatch. The 2011 awards were presented by Matt Tinney and Narelda Jacobs at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth on 5 November 2011.
The most prestigious individual awards are the Daily News Centenary Prize (informally known as the Gold Award or the WA Journalist of the Year), which, like the Gold Walkley, is presented to the stand-out winner of all the awards; the Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism; and the Clarion Prize, which is awarded for outstanding achievement by a member of the Australian Journalists Section of the WA Branch of the MEAA.
Journalists to have been highly successful have been Steve Pennells (19 awards), Gary Adshead (19), Paige Taylor (17), John Flint (17), Sean Cowan (14), and Colleen Egan (9). Pennells, Egan and Flint have also won Walkley Awards.
Adshead has won four WA Journalist of the Year awards and Cowan three, though they shared two of those, while Egan and Victoria Laurie have each won two, one of which was shared.
1987 winners Centenary Prize: Martin Saxon, Sydney Morning Herald PPC Prize: Mark Thornton, The West Australian. PPC Suburban: Cathy Munro, Post Newspapers Radio: Guy Houston, ABC Sports/Gilmour: Robert Messenger, Daily News Eaves (best cadet): too few entries Beck prize for government reporting: too few entries TV Prize: too few entries Clarion Prize: Robert Millhouse
1988 winners Daily News Centenary Prize: Vicki Laurie, ABC TV's 7.30 Report Print Prize: Martin Saxon, Daily News TV Prize: Vicki Laurie, ABC TV's 7.30 Report Television Journalism Prize Beck Prize: Alan Atkinson, ABC TV's 7.30 Report Gilmour Prize: John McGrath, The West Australian Eaves-Prior Prize: Mara Pritchard, The West Australian PPC Prize: Alan Atkinson, ABC TV's 7.30 Report PPC Country: Anne Osbourne, Sound Telegraph Lovekin Prize: Martin Saxon Clarion Prize: Bob Duffield
1989 winners TV Prize: Alison Fan, Channel 7 Radio Prize: Katy Cronin, ABC Print Prize: Cyril Ayris, The West Australian Eaves Prior: Jody Lennon, Post Newspapers Beck Prize: Alan Atkinson, ABC Gilmour Prize: Robbie Burns, Daily News Daily News Centenary Prize: Alison Fan, Channel 7 Lovekin Prize: Robyn Cash. PPC Prize: Cyril Ayris PPC Country: Phil Clayton, Geraldton Guardian PPC Suburban: Maureen Eppen, Sound Telegraph Clarion: Jenni Garrigan, The Sunday Times
1990 winners TV Prize: Rex Haw, Channel 9 TV Camera Prize: Not awarded Radio Prize: Not awarded Print Prize: Cyril Ayris and Steven Loxley, The West Australian Photographic Prize: Ross Swanborough, Daily News Art Prize: Don Lindsay, The West Australian Eaves Prior: Jos Valdman, The West Australian Beck Prize: Steven Loxley Gilmour Prize: Kim Hagdorn Daily News Centenary Prize: Cyril Ayris and Steven Loxley, The West Australian Lovekin Prize: Cyril Ayris. PPC Prize: Duncan Graham, freelance PPC Country: Patricia Fraser, Great Southern Herald PPC Suburban: Wendy Evans, Canning-Melville Times Clarion: Jim Magnus
1991 winners Beck Prize for government reporting: Martin Saxon Best news photograph: Neil Eliot Best print report: John McGlue Best radio report: Andrew Porter Best news item by a cadet: Wendy Pryer Arts Prize: Victoria Laurie Daily News Centenary Prize: John McGlue PPC Prize: Martin Saxon PPC Suburban: George Williams Lovekin Award: Mike van Niekirk Clarion Prize: Anne Merkel
1992 winners
TV Prize: Not awarded TV Camera Prize: Not awarded Radio Prize: Not awarded Print Prize: Martin Saxon, The Sunday Times Best News Picture: Mirek Zabiello, Community Newspaper Group Graphics Award: Dean Alston, The West Australian Feature Prize: Duncan Graham, The West Australian Premier's Art Prize: Victoria Laurie, The Bulletin. Eaves Prior Prize: Michael Casey, The West Australian Beck Prize: Brendan Nicholson, The West Australian Gilmour Prize: Ken Casellas, The West Australian Daily News Centenary Prize: Brendan Nicholson, The West Australian Lovekin Prize: Mark Thornton, The West Australian PPC Prize: Margot Lang, The West Australian PPC Country: Patricia Fraser, Great Southern Herald PPC Suburban: Kaye Hawley, Comment News Clarion Prize: Mark Thornton
1993 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Roger Martin, The West Australian Clarion Award: Michael Sinclair-Jones, The West Australian Daily News Centenary Prize: Frazer Guild, The Sunday Times Feature Prize: Victoria Laurie, freelance Photographic Prize: Stephen Ferrier, The West Australian Print News Prize: Frazer Guild, The Sunday Times Sports Prize: Paul Haynes, Albany Advertiser TV Camera Prize: Alan Griffiths, GWN Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: Brendan Nicholson, The West Australian
1994 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Alva McNicol, Post Newspapers Clarion Award: Tony Ashby, The West Australian Daily News Centenary Prize: Carole Kerr and team, Channel 9 Feature Prize: Tom Salom, The West Australian Photographic Prize: Tony Ashby, The West Australian Print News Prize: Judy Hughes, AAP Sports Prize: Steve Butler, South Western Times TV Camera Prize: Barry Dux, Channel 9 TV Prize: Carole Kerr and team, Channel 9 Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: Marnie McKimmie, The West Australian
1995 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Peter Klinger, Kalgoorlie Miner Clarion Award: Peter Kennedy, ABC Daily News Centenary Prize: Luke Morfesse, The West Australian Feature Prize: Tony Barrass, The West Australian Print Graphics Prize: Gus Boyd, The West Australian Photographic Prize: Nic Ellis, The West Australian Print News Prize: Luke Morfesse, The West Australian Radio Prize: Liz Byrski, ABC Radio Sports Prize: Jim Gill, ABC Radio TV Camera Prize: Steve Bycroft, Channel 9 TV Prize: Geof Parry, Channel 9 Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: Margot Lang, The West Australian Perth Press Club Prize: Cyril Ayris, The West Australian
1996 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Paul Kadak, Channel 9 Clarion Award: David Cusworth, The West Australian Daily News Centenary Prize: Ron D'Raine, The West Australian Feature Prize: Victoria Laurie, freelance Print Graphics Prize: Don Lindsay, The West Australian Photographic Prize: Ron D'Raine, The West Australian Print News Prize: Luke Morfesse, The West Australian Radio Prize: Adrienne Lowth, ABC Radio Sports Prize: David Marsh, The West Australian TV Camera Prize: Stephen Bright, Channel 9 TV Prize: Carole Kerr, Channel 9 Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: Vanessa Gould, The West Australian Perth Press Club Country Prize: Jay Townsend, Kalgoorlie Miner Perth Press Club Suburban Prize: Hillary Arber, Community Newspaper Group Perth Press Club Prize: Ann Treweek, The Sunday Times
1997 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Tracey Searle, Westside Sport Clarion Award: Chris Smyth, Alliance Secretary Daily News Centenary Prize: Gary Adshead, Channel 9 Feature Prize: Colleen Egan, freelance Print Graphics Prize: Dean Alston, The West Australian Photographic Prize: Tony Ashby, The West Australian Print News Prize: Luke Morfesse, The West Australian Radio Prize: John McNamara, ABC Radio Sports Prize: Dave Hughes, The West Australian Sub-editing Prize: David Cusworth, The West Australian TV Camera Prize: Steve Bycroft, freelance TV Prize: Gary Adshead, Channel 9 Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: Michael Day, The West Australian Perth Press Club Country Prize: Gabrielle Adams, Augusta-Margaret River Mail Perth Press Club Suburban Prize: Linda Callaghan, Post Newspapers Perth Press Club Prize: Margot Lang, The West Australian
1998 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Joanna Ball ABC and Natasha Harradine Mid West Times Clarion Award: George Williams, Post Newspapers Daily News Centenary Prize: Mairi Barton, The West Australian Feature Prize: Anne Burns, The West Australian Print Graphics Prize: Dean Alston, The West Australian Photographic Prize: Tony McDonough, freelance Print News Prize: Mairi Barton, The West Australian Sports Prize: Gary Stocks, The West Australian Sub-editing Prize: Robert Hunt, The West Australian TV Camera Prize: Steve Bycroft, freelance TV Prize: Graeme Butler, Channel 10 Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: Norm Aisbett, The West Australian Perth Press Club Country Prize: Sally Cox and Maria Ligerakis, Mandurah Mail Perth Press Club Suburban Prize: George Williams, Post Newspapers Perth Press Club Prize: Michael Day, The West Australian
1999 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Michael Tetlow, GWN Clarion Award: Estelle Blackburn, Freelance Daily News Centenary Prize: Robert Duncan, The West Australian Feature Prize: Victoria Laurie, freelance Print Graphics Prize: Dean Alston, The West Australian Photographic Prize: Robert Duncan, The West Australian Print News Prize: Gay McNamara, The West Australian Radio Prize: Liam Bartlett, ABC 720 Sports Prize: Bevan Eakins, The West Australian Sub-editing Prize: James Henderson, The Sunday Times TV Camera Prize: Wayne Waller, Channel 9 TV Prize: Graeme Butler, Channel 7 Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: Bevan Eakins, The West Australian Perth Press Club Country Prize: Melanie Van Helvort, South Western Times Perth Press Club Suburban Prize: Martin Turner, Community Newspaper Group Perth Press Club Prize: Estelle Blackburn, Freelance
2000 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Nicolette Casella, The Sunday Times, and Alison Carter, ABC TV Business Prize: Mark Drummond, AFR Clarion Award: Bev East, Branch Assistant Secretary Daily News Centenary Prize: Torrance Mendez, The West Australian Feature Prize: Liam Bartlett, ABC 720 Print Graphics Prize: Sean Leahy, The Sunday Times Photographic Prize: Nic Ellis, The West Australian Print News Prize: Torrance Mendez, The West Australian Radio Prize: Peter Kennedy, ABC Radio Sports Prize: Matt Price, The Australian Sub-editing Prize: David Cusworth, The West Australian TV Camera Prize: Darren Speedie, Channel 9 TV Prize: Simon Dowding, Channel 7 Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: Kim Macdonald, The Sunday Times Perth Press Club Country Prize: Robert Newton, Augusta-Margaret River Mail Perth Press Club Suburban Prize: Kerry Faulkner, Post Newspapers Perth Press Club Prize: Tony Ashby, The West Australian
2001 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Grant Taylor, Kalgoorlie Miner Broadcast Graphics Prize: Kym Cohen, ABC TV Business Prize: Mark Drummond, AFR Clarion Award: Martin Saxon, The Sunday Times Daily News Centenary Prize: Chris Johnston, Geraldton Guardian Feature Prize: Victoria Laurie, The Australian Print Graphics Prize: Dean Alston, The West Australian Photographic Prize: Michael O'Brien, The West Australian Print News Prize: Chris Johnston, Geraldton Guardian Radio Prize: Liam Bartlett, ABC 720 Sports Prize: Gary Adshead, The Sunday Times Sub-editing Prize: David Turnock, WA Business News TV Camera Prize: Tim Cohen, Channel 7 TV Prize: Paul Kadak, Channel 7 Arthur Lovekin Prize in Journalism: John Flint, The Sunday Times Perth Press Club Country Prize: Chris Johnston, Geraldton Guardian Perth Press Club Suburban Prize: Fiona Adolph, Perth Weekly Perth Press Club Prize: Carmelo Amalfi, The West Australian
2002 winners Best Newcomer Prize: Luke Eliot, Kalgoorlie Miner Broadcast Graphics Prize: Kym Cohen, ABC TV Business Prize: Peter Klinger, AFR