Student journalists recognised with Wallace Awards
A portfolio of four issues of Te Waha Nui, a newspaper produced by Auckland University of Technology students has been recognised with a Wallace Award in a competition for student journalists' published politics or election reportage.
Eight commendations were given to students for stories or portfolios, with five of these also going to AUT.
Wallace Award
Te Waha Nui, Auckland University of Technology students, a portfolio of four issues.
Highly Commended
In order of merit
Duncan Greive, AUT, portfolio of three stories (one with input from colleagues)
Britton Broun, AUT, portfolio of three stories (one with a co-author)
Lisa Thompson and Michael Wright,Canterbury University, story
Of equal merit
Hamish McNeilly, SIT, story
Megan Whelan, CPIT, story
Miles Erwin, AUT, story
Nicole Stanley, AUT, story
Rosie Cotter, AUT, story
Judges' comments
The judges were generally disappointed by the standard of writing evident in entries. Intros were particularly poor, with a plethora of clichés, irrelevant and unsubstantiated editorialising, irony, and other attempts by writers to insert themselves into the intro rather than correctly identify and put the real news there.
The judges were concerned at the paucity of entries that had been published in mainstream media, rather than self-published or quarantined as student work in a commercial publication. A lack of hard subbing was evident. Only one radio entry was received. No entry was in te reo Maori.
Many stories appeared to be simply “matchers” to what was appearing in the daily news media, there was little hard news, few fresh story ideas or innovative writing approaches. Factual and conceptual errors in some stories reinforced the need for more training in the machinery of government generally and political reporting specifically during pre-career education. Those with better content were generally “worthy but dull”, formulaic, and read like class assignments.
The standard of individual entries meant the judges were unable to make a Wallace Award to an individual, but were able to highly commend seven entries. The judges were pleased to be able to make a Wallace Award to one group entry - a portfolio of course-generated newspapers - for its breadth of coverage, effective choice and use of variety of writing styles, good design and an above-average standard of writing generally.
Forty-nine individual stories were received in a range of individual, individual portfolio and group entries. All entries, regardless of how entered, were judged against as many categories as possible. Judging criteria included: journalism craft, accuracy with respect to electoral matters, and the extent to which the entry assisted or encouraged its audience in their political or electoral decision making, participation or understanding.
The judges will not enter into discussion regarding individual entries, but Jim Tucker will discuss any of the general points made if approached by journalism education providers.
Judges
Jim Tucker, Executive Director, New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation
Marie McNicholas, Chair, Parliamentary Press Gallery (Political Correspondent, Newsroom)
Call for entries
The Electoral Commission is calling for entries of student journalists’ 2005 published reportage related to national or local politics (including the general election) for consideration for Wallace Awards.
The awards are named after Sir John Wallace, who was the commission’s inaugural president, as well as chair of the 1986 Royal Commission on the Electoral System.
With a prize pool of $3000, the commission hopes to award major prizes of $750, $500 and $250, and other prizes of $100 and $50 for meritorious stories. More than one major prize may be awarded at any level, in order to ensure different media are recognised, as well as use of te reo Māori, both individual and team efforts, features, single stories and packages, etc.
Judging criteria will include: journalism craft; accuracy with respect to electoral matters; extent to which the story assists or encourages its audience in their political or electoral decision making, participation or understanding. The judging panel will comprise Jim Tucker of the Journalists Training Organisation, senior journalists (including te reo speaker/s), and the commission's Peter Northcote.
Entries must be received by Monday, October 3, 2005 (later extended to Wednesday, October 12, 2005) by post or courier to PO Box 3050 / L6 Greenock House, 39 The Terrace, Wellington either direct from entrants or, preferably, in a course package. The entry should be a hardcopy clip or CD recording accompanied by a sheet containing the student’s name, private postal address, journalism training course name, and a statement signed by the student stating “This entry is my original work published where/when”. It is accepted that work may have been subbed or shortened for publication, and a copy of the story as submitted may be enclosed if desired for consideration.