The 2018 Voyager Media Awards (previously the Canon Media Awards) were presented on 11 May 2018 at the Cordis, Auckland hotel in New Zealand. Awards were made in the categories of digital, feature writing, general, magazines, newspapers, opinion writing, photography, reporting and videography.
Judges The judges for the 2018 awards were:
Allan Baddock Andrew Holden Ant Phillips Bernard Lagan Bill Ralston Bruce Davidson Bill Moore Cate Brett Catherine Smith Cathy Strong Cheryl Norrie Clive Lind Daron Parton David King Deborah Coddington Deborah Hill Cone Debra Miller Donna Chisholm Fay McAlpine Felicity Anderson Foster Niumata Fran Tyler Gilbert Wong Grant Dyson Greg Dixon Irene Chapple James Hollings Jane Ussher Jenny Nicholls Jim Tully Jim Eagles John Hudson Joseph Barratt Kate Coughlan Kerryanne Evans Lauren Quaintance Lorelei Mason Louise Matthews Lynda van Kempen Matthew Straker Michael Field Michael Donaldson Michele Hewitson Miguel D'Souza Mike Fletcher Mike Valentine Mike Bowers Nathan Burdon Ngahuia Wade Nick Brown Nick Venter Nikki Mandow Noelle McCarthy Owen Poland Paul Cutler Paul Mansfield Paul Thompson Peter Fray Richard Harman Rick Neville Rob Taggart Ross Land Shane Taurima Susan Wood Te Anga Nathan Wayne Thompson
Winners
Digital
Best Innovation in Digital Storytelling: rnz.co.nz/Great Southern TV and Animation Research, NZ Wars: The Stories of Ruapekapeka Best News Website or App: nzherald.co.nz Website of the Year (joint): Newsroom.co.nz and Stuff
Feature writing
Best first-person essay or feature: Peter Wells, The Spinoff Sport: Dana Johannsen NZ Herald Business and/or personal finance: Rebecca Macfie, New Zealand Listener Best feature writer – junior: Mirjam Guesgen, VetScript Magazine
Feature writing (long-form)
Arts, entertainment and lifestyle: Simon Wilson, The Spinoff Health, education and/or general: Kirsty Johnston, NZ Herald Crime, justice and / or social issues: Mike White, North & South Feature Writer of the Year: Kate Evans, New Zealand Geographic and North & South
Feature writing (short-form)
Arts, entertainment and lifestyle: Greg Bruce, NZ Herald Health, education and/or general: Greg Bruce, NZ Herald Crime, justice and / or social issues: Donna-Lee Biddle, Waikato Times Feature Writer of the Year: Tess McClure, VICE
General
Best Headline or hook: Taylor Sincock, Newshub Best artwork/graphics (including interactive/motion graphics): Toby Morris, The Spinoff and The Wireless Cartoonist of the Year: Sharon Murdoch, The Press, Sunday Star-Times and The Dominion Post Reviewer of the Year: Charlotte Grimshaw New Zealand Listener and The Spinoff Best trade/specialist publication and/or website: NZ Retail and theRegister.co.nz nib Health Journalism Scholarship – junior: Sasha Borissenko, Newsroom.co.nz General nib Health Journalism Scholarship – senior: Barbara Fountain, New Zealand Doctor Science and Technology Award (joint): Donna Chisholm North & South, NZ Listener and Kate Evans, New Zealand Geographic and North & South Environmental / Sustainability Award: Isobel Ewing, Newshub Best editorial campaign or project: nzherald.co.nz - Break The Silence Editorial Executive of the Year: Murray Kirkness, Editor, NZ Herald Wolfson Fellowship: Matt Nippert, NZ Herald
Magazines
Best magazine design: Metro magazine Magazine of the Year: New Zealand Geographic
Newspapers
Best newspaper-inserted magazine: The Weekend Mix (Otago Daily Times) Best newspaper front page: Hawke's Bay Today Community Newspaper of the Year: Mountain Scene Newspaper of the Year (up to 30,000 circulation): Waikato Times Newspaper of the Year (more than 30,000 circulation): The Press Weekly Newspaper of the Year: Weekend Herald Voyager Newspaper of the Year: Weekend Herald
Opinion writing
Opinion writing - general and/or sport: Leah McFall Sunday magazine, Sunday Star-Times Opinion writing - humour/satire: Dave Armstrong, The Dominion Post Opinion writing - business and/or personal finance: Duncan Greive, The Spinoff Opinion Writer of the Year: Steve Braunias, NZ Herald
Photography
Best feature/photographic essay: Kent Blechynden, scoop.co.nz Best photography – general: John Borren, Bay of Plenty Times Best photography – portrait: Chris Skelton, The Press Best photography – sport: Andrew Cornaga, www.photosport.nz Best photography – news: Joseph Johnson, The Press Best photo – junior: Kavinda Herath, The Southland Times Photographer of the Year: Iain McGregor, Stuff
Reporting
Reporter - arts, entertainment and lifestyle: Hikurangi Jackson, Marae Reporter - Health, education and/or general: Tony Wall, Stuff Reporter - crime, justice and/or social issues: Jared Savage, NZ Herald Reporter - Maori affairs: Oriini Kaipara, Maori Television Best (single) news story: Melanie Reid, Newsroom.co.nz - Politicians, police, and the payout Best investigation: Olivia Carville, NZ Herald - What becomes of the Broken Hearted Best team investigation: Stuff Circuit - The Valley, New Zealand's war in Afghanistan Best coverage of a major news event: rnz.co.nz - Election 2017 Best reporter – junior: Nina Hindmarsh, Nelson Mail Student Journalist of the Year: Ruby Nyika, Waikato Times Community Journalist of the Year: Rob Drent, The Devonport Flagstaff Regional Journalist of the Year: Carmen Hall, Bay of Plenty Times Sports Journalist of the Year: Dana Johannsen, NZ Herald Business Journalist of the Year: Matt Nippert, NZ Herald Political Journalist of the Year: Audrey Young, NZ Herald Reporter of the Year: Melanie Reid, Newsroom.co.nz
Videography
Best news video: George Heard, The Press Best feature video: Tasha Impey, Re:, TVNZ Best team video – news: 1 News Now - Edgecumbe's poor flood defenses Best team video – feature: The New Zealand Herald - Under The Bridge Best videographer – junior: Jaden McLeod, The New Zealand Herald Local Focus Videographer of the Year (joint): Alexander Robertson, NZME/Very Nice Productions and Mike Scott, The New Zealand Herald
References