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APPLICATIONS FOR 2011 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASTSS MEDIA AWARD

 

 

 

The Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ASTSS) presents an annual Media Award that acknowledges and promotes sensitive and accurate reporting about victims and survivors of traumatic and highly stressful events.

 

The ASTSS Media Award is open to journalists, photographers and broadcasters who show responsible and credible coverage of crime, family violence, natural disasters, accidents, war and genocide.

 

The Media Award acknowledges both the journalistic work and the reporters who have brought the story to fruition.

 

The 2011 Media Award is open to journalists and broadcasters whose trauma-relevant work was in press between the dates January 1^st 2010 and December 31^st 2010.

 

Judging will be concluded and the Media Award presented in September 2011.

 

 

  Download the Media Award Showreel Document

PREVIOUS ASTSS MEDIA AWARD WINNERS

- 2009 -

ABC Senior Journalist, Jane Cowan for the  ‘Black Saturday Coverage’. 

View Jane Cowan's report from Marysville

View Jane Cowan's report from Kinglake.

View Jane Cowan's report from Healsville.

View Jane Cowan's coverage of PM Rudd's visit to bushfire areas.

View Jane Cowans coverage of the Royal Commission.

Her coverage comprised a series of evocative, yet measured items for

ABC TV News’ 7pm bulletin on the Black Saturday bushfire disaster and

its aftermath. 

Jane Cowan was the first television journalist to reach Marysville the

morning after the fires; she broke the news of the area’s devastation.

Highlighted by intuitive interviews, her successive presentations

covered the traumatic event with genuine sensitivity, yet maintained

critical accuracy.  ABC TV bulletins showed the reality of residents’

dilemmas and the tragedy of their loss, yet emphasised local

community strengths.

Her coverage continued with the work of the Royal Commission and its

impact on the devastated community.

Click on the links above to watch Jane Cowan's 2009 ASTSS Media

Award winning entry - 'Black Saturday Coverage'.

Jane Cowan writes in her submission: "I've felt privileged to give voice

to those who survived and to perhaps ask questions that those who

perished cannot". 

 - 2009 / 2010 - 

774 ABC Radio for its exemplary coverage of the ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires and its aftermath.

ASTSS notes the attention by the team to ensure individuals and

communities were approached compassionately, and that their stories

were genuinely given voluntarily. Whilst respectful of community

sensitivities, the 774 ABC Team provided practical support and links to

critical resources. 

In particular, we note the coverage of reports and the progression of the

fire while it occurred.

Confirming their outstanding commitment, ABC’s 774 Team provided an

exhaustive coverage during the initial stages of the disaster. We

believe this continual air coverage informed the Victorian regional

community and undoubtedly saved lives.  

Click here for 774

Patrick Emmett's story is about three sisters who endured sexual abuse by their father and others

throughout their childhood years. This was a compelling story, the subject was treated sensitively

while maintaining the impact of the insidious nature of sexual abuse occurring in a family environment.

The father was convicted, Patrick Emmett was introduced to the three sisters at the time of the trial. 



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Over a period of nine months I spoke to all the sisters and their mother and kept in close contact throughout their legal process. It was a very difficult and emotional journey, I developed a close relationship with all the women and they agreed to do a story when their court case was finalised. The interviews were difficult because of the sensitivity of thematerial, when it went to air the sisters were overwhelmed by how many people contacted them to offer support. They say doing the story was a positive experience for them that has changed their lives. One sister Maryanne has set upa website for sex abuse victims'. 

(Patrick Emmett, 2008)

- 2007 -  

Mark Forbes - Indonesian Correspondent with "The Age" newspaper - The Garuda Tragedy.

The Award was presented by ASTSS Immediate Past President, Lynda Matthews, Felicity May. 

DART Centre for Journalism Representative, Cait McMahon, accepted the Media Award on Mark Forbes' behalf. 

Mark Forbes video acceptance speech is in the video below. 

- 2006 - 

Ian Henschke - ABC Stateline South Australia, "Port Arthur Massacre"

Ian Henschke accepted the 2006 ASTSS Media Award at the annual conference of ASTSS and ACPMH Australasian Conference On Traumatic Stress - ACOTS).

Mr Henschke was recognised for his report on the memorial of the Port Arthur Massacre, ten years after the event.

With twenty years of experience in dealing with victims in the media, by nature Mr Henschke pursues stories with high ethical standards and in turn respects the victims’ wishes. 

His philosophy for being a journalist and reporting about victims and traumatic events is, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. 

The prized report shown in April of this year highlighted how the traumatic event of the massacre of 35 people affected two families.

 - 2005 -

 Paul McGeough - Sydney Morning Herald, Iraqi War

ASTSS is proud to present this annual Award to  for his work during and after the Iraqi war, particularly for his insightfulness into the terror, trauma and suffering of the Iraqi people.

Not since perhaps World War II, certainly the proxi-war dramas of the Cold War, has the world been in the mess in which it finds itself today. The immediate crisis might be in Iraq, but it extends much further. Like the elements that made up Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm, the human and security crisis in Baghdad pushes up against a crisis for democracy in Washington and London; and all of this unfolds in a greater crisis of terrorism for the whole world, in which smaller nations like Australia have great difficulty finding their feet.

- 2003 -

Peter Mares - Independent Journalist, "Borderline" 

Click on the image below to play Peter Mares ASTSS Media Award acceptance