Media Awards for 2022
Sport Australia is determined to have more Australians participating and excelling in sport, from grass-roots right up to the pinnacle of elite competition.
The Australian Sports Commission Media Awards for 2022 were presented at the MCG on Wednesday 15 March, 2023.
Award-winning journalist and ABC presenter Tracey Holmes was announced as the latest recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
View each category below for more information on the categories, 2022 finalists and winners.
- Qualifying dates: 12 October 2021 and 31 October 2022
- Winners announced: 15 March 2023
- 2023 Entries open: September 2023
Winners and Finalists
Best coverage of a sporting event
This award recognises an organisation across any media platform that has delivered exceptional coverage of a sporting event during the nomination period. Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage and provide a detailed and innovative insight into the sport and the event. Use of resourcing and media platforms will be considered.
2022 Winner
News Corp, Birmingham Commonwealth Games
News Corp Australia set up a Birmingham newsroom with 17 reporters, photographers, a digital editor and a graphic designer to deliver comprehensive and engaging Games coverage that reached 11.8 million people, opens in a new tab. This included live blogs, breaking news, gold medal alerts, a daily electronic newsletter and eight-page print lift out for national metro mastheads, and a 20-plus page digital-only magazine.
Finalists
Seven Network, Birmingham Commonwealth Games
Across 11 days, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games captivated the nation’s attention with the Seven Network featuring Australia’s most loved medal events in prime time on up to 30 dedicated free-to-air, live and replay channels across Seven and 7plus, opens in a new tab. Seven’s coverage of the most inclusive and diverse Games in the event’s history reached 15 million people nationally across metro, regional and digital platforms.
Fox Sports, The Ashes
Broadcast in 4K Ultra High Definition, Fox Cricket delivered the highest quality cricket footage ever seen in Australia, opens in a new tab. Innovations such as the Fox Rover and Flying Fox along with unrivalled player access contributed to the world-class broadcast while the Kayo streaming service offered fans Live Multi-View of additional cameras including the Flying Fox Spider Cam and Stump Cam. The Ashes was the most-watched Test series on subscription television.
SBS, Tour de France (Femmes and Hommes)
Back on the ground for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, the SBS multiplatform coverage, opens in a new tab of the Tour de France, and the first broadcast of the Tour de France Femmes, expanded on decades of cycling coverage excellence. The SBS coverage was produced for the first time with a dedicated outside broadcast unit on location at the stage finish positions. Internationally, SBS was recognised for dedicating equal resources to broadcast the women’s event as the men’s.
Seven Network, Beijing Winter Olympic Games
The Seven Network assembled a world-class Olympic Winter Games commentary team that anchored an exhilarating 17 days of astonishing sporting feats on snow and ice. Up to 20 dedicated live channels across Seven and 7plus, opens in a new tab, the coverage delivered record-breaking digital audiences on 7plus and reached a national audience of 12.5 million viewers for its linear broadcast on Channel 7, 7mate and 7two.
Best coverage of sport for people with disability
This award recognises the best coverage of sport for people with disability. Entries can focus on the participation of people with disability in sport, including as grassroots participants, volunteers, elite athletes, officials, coaches and administrators.The intent of this award is to recognise the overall promotion of sport for people with disability and is not restricted to profile stories on individuals. Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage and provide detailed and innovative insight into people with disability participating in sport.
2022 Winner
Matthew Carmichael, Seven Network
Matthew Carmichael integrates Paralympic sport into Seven’s regular news coverage in the national and 6pm news bulletins. His coverage included being on the ground for the Beijing Winter Paralympics to showcase the small yet determined team to highlight their incredible achievement's and celebrate Ben Tudhope's first Paralympic medal.
Finalists
Amanda Shalala, ABC
Amanda Shalala’s series of Para sport stories, opens in a new tab explored a range of important themes affecting athletes with disability in the lead up to and during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Her coverage combined analysing complex issues, in-depth athlete profiles helping them share their own passions, and coverage of their performance during the games.
Kieran Pender, The Guardian
Too often, history forgets the stories of trail-blazing Australian Paralympians, and documenting Paralympic achievements has been inconsistent or omitted entirely. Kieran Pender shared the story about a small team of inspirational volunteers working to remember and record Australia’s Paralympic achievements, opens in a new tab. Their work has made a huge difference, leading to half a million words and 20 million page views, and helped rectify some long-held historic misconceptions.
Tilly Werner, CODE Sports
Tilly Werner has dedicated herself to increasing coverage for disability sports, opens in a new tab, including spotlighting Goalball, CP Football and ParaTriathlon, helping disability sports to feature alongside major leagues on the newly launched CODE Sports website. Using CODE's longform style has given Werner the opportunity to delve deeper in these stories.
Best sports photography
This award recognises published images that capture the passion, drama and colour of sport. Entries may be either a single photograph or a series on the same subject.
2022 Winner
Quinn Rooney, Getty Images ‘Diving for gold’
Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown is captured diving into the water at the 2022 Commonwealth Games 200m Individual Medley. The image captures the precise moment her hands break the water, letting us see the great diving form above the surface in the split second before the water is churned into a mass of bubbles.
Finalists
Michael Willson, AFL Photos ‘Buddy beauty’
The AFL world had waited for this moment: Buddy Franklin’s 1000th goal. Michael Willson sprinted across the ground, almost falling amid a crush of supporters, and held the camera above his head to capture the Sydney Swans star celebrating the epic moment.
Mark Kolbe, Getty Images ‘Tszyu Strong’
Punches and sweat fly as Tim Tszyu takes on Takeshi Inoue during their WBO Global and Asia Pacific Super Welterweight title in Sydney in November 2021.
David Gray, AAP Photos ‘Leap of faith’
England’s Jos Buttler leaps high over Australia’s Steve Smith to avoid colliding with Smith as he attempts a runout during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Australia in Dubai in October 2021.
Best sport profile – broadcast
This award recognises the best example of responsible and well-researched profiling of an individual athlete, team or coach by broadcast media. This can include online audio/visual media, including podcasts. Entries may focus on a number of issues, including unique training regimes, personal obstacles and triumphs or inspirational features.
2022 Winner
Fearless – The Inside Story of the AFLW, JamTV / Disney+
Fearless took its audience into the inner sanctum of the AFLW, opens in a new tab to build an understanding of and connection to the challenges faced by its players. With unprecedented access to four AFLW clubs, Fearless provides an authentic and unmediated look at life inside the AFLW. The series also plays a significant role in redefining gender norms while demonstrating a pathway to elite female sport.
Highly Commended
RIDE, WildBear Entertainment / ABC
RIDE is the adrenaline-fuelled, tragedy-laced, inspiring journey of Sam and Alise Willoughby, opens in a new tab, two of the world’s top BMX riders who fall in love and conquer the world of BMX. When a training accident leaves Sam a tetraplegic, Sam and Alise must find strength and resilience. RIDE paints a bold picture of reinvention in the world of disability, and what makes true champions and astonishing human beings.
Finalists
Sidelined – the fight for equality in women’s basketball, Undefeater Films / Fox Sports / SBS
This independent four-part documentary series, opens in a new tab chronicles the Deakin Melbourne Boomers’ WNBL championship-winning season. It follows the Boomers as they attempt to overcome gender inequality, lower pay, racial discrimination, and the constant pressure to justify their experience as female athletes. Director Adam McKay had direct access to players and staff and captured insights into the commitment and sacrifice these sportswomen make to play at the highest level.
Shayna Jack battles back, Sam Squiers, LiSTNR
World champion swimmer Shayna Jack made a triumphant return to competitive swimming in 2022, after a well-publicised suspension. Beyond the headlines of positive drug tests and redemption in victory there was an extraordinary story waiting to be told. This in-depth profile interview saw Jack tell her side of the story, opens in a new tab, revealing her fighting character and the system she was up against.
Giddey and Gaze, ESPN
Fresh off his incredible rookie season in the NBA, Australian basketball sensation Josh Giddey returned home and made ESPN's Film Room his first stop, opens in a new tab with Boomers legend Andrew Gaze. The young Aussie phenomenon opened up about his journey, from growing up courtside with his NBL-playing father to his own NBL season, the experience being a top-10 draft pick, and proving the doubters wrong.
Best sport podcast
This award recognises an individual or organisation who has delivered exceptional audio coverage of sport via podcast media during the nomination period. Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage, provide a detailed and innovative insight into sport and showcase a high standard of audio and production quality.
2022 Winner
Head Noise, The Australian
With journalists and producers from The Australian, NRL great James Graham set out to see what toll his football career had taken on his brain. The six-part series, opens in a new tab interviewed other players with similar experiences and Graham underwent testing which revealed the damage his brain had sustained. The series also looked into stand-down policies, tackling in children’s sport and discussed what sports can do for retired players who are suffering.
Finalists
The Ticket, Tracey Holmes, ABC
The Ticket, opens in a new tab has become a 'must listen' for those involved in all aspects of sport. Tracey Holmes researches, produces, edits and presents the series, taking an in-depth approach to covering sport issues from community through to elite and professional levels. It reveals how sport sits at the heart of all communities and tackles the big and often complex sporting issues.
Howie Games, Mark Howard, LiSTNR
With more than 70 million downloads, The Howie Games, opens in a new tab features interviews with the biggest names in sport. In 2022, guests included NRL immortal Andrew Johns, Essendon AFL great James Hird, Socceroos-turned-Celtic Football Manager Ange Postecoglou, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Jess Stenson, AFL legend Nick Riewoldt, jockey Jamie Kah and Aussie cricketer Usman Khawaja, who all shared their stories leading to entertaining and inspiring discussions.
Colours of Cricket, SBS
Colours of Cricket, opens in a new tab explores untold stories of South Asia’s connection with Australian cricket over the past 150 years and offers insight into how the South Asian diaspora is changing cricket in Australia today. The eight episodes took a year to develop and showcase perspectives from international stars, journalists, historians, fans and community players - exploring cricket’s role in breaking down social barriers.
Best reporting of an issue in sport
This award for journalistic excellence recognises a story, or series of stories, on a single issue in sport. It seeks to promote responsible, well-researched and analytical coverage of issues affecting sport.
2022 Winner
Julian Linden, News Corp ‘Swimming takes the plunge’
FINA’s decision to ban transgender women from elite female competition was one of the most significant policy changes in sporting history. Due to the sensitivity and legal implications surrounding the issue, only a handful of people in the world knew about FINA’s plan. Julian Linden travelled to Eastern Europe and broke the story the day before the official announcement and the successful vote from FINA’s Congress. Read more: Julian Linden - inside story, opens in a new tab
Finalists
Tracey Holmes, ABC ‘Australian sport and the legacy of Lang Hancock’
Netball Australia thought it had avoided a financial black-hole with a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with Hancock Prospecting. But the Diamond’s third-ever First Nations player expressed concern about wearing the name of a man who once advocated the genocide of her people. Teammates supported her. The fall out for Netball was swift and the issue sparked a nation-wide debate on potential conflict between athletes’ values and corporate sponsorship. Read more: The seven questions that preceded Hancock Prospecting’s decision to cut netball ties, opens in a new tab
Linda Pearce, CODE Sports ‘Investigation: Abuse in gymnastics’
A phone call to a contact led to a 7000-word investigation into abuse in Australian gymnastics. The report involved dozens of interviews over multiple weeks, gaining the trust of the families and their children, and scouring hundreds of pages confirming how vulnerable girls have been the subject of disturbing treatment and cover-ups from coaches, officials and others. Read more: Gymnastics can't silence disturbing questions, opens in a new tab
Matt Logue, News Corp ‘The Liz Cambage Australian Opals investigation’
This world exclusive, 12 months in the making, uncovered basketballer Liz Cambage’s abuse towards the Nigerian national team in a private scrimmage in Las Vegas in the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It took several months to corroborate the details of the incident in Las Vegas to be confident of its accuracy, requiring strong relationships with key Australian and Nigerian players and officials. Read more: The five minutes of mayhem that ended Liz Cambage’s Opals career, opens in a new tab
Best coverage of sport by a club or organisation
This award recognises the ability of sporting clubs and organisations to engage with members and supporters through their own media channels. A strong emphasis is on unique approaches that engage fans and encourage people to become more active in sport and volunteering. This can be via website articles, podcasts or video, and the use of social media channels.
2022 Winner
GWS GIANTS
The GIANTS connect with fans of their AFL, AFLW and Netball teams with engaging and innovative content. This included One-Eyed GIANT, opens in a new tab, a comedic video series splicing pop culture with the fandom of the AFL to connect with an ever-increasing younger audience, and a five-part podcast on the 10th anniversary of the club's first game, opens in a new tab. Their take on the 2022 netball fixture release also showcased their creativity, while the GIANT 5 series looked at leadership and legacy at the club.
Finalists
Parramatta Eels
ROAD TO PARRAdise, opens in a new tab represents the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series and Grand Final, where the Parramatta Eels made the Grand Final for the first time in 13 years. The Eels provided fans with inner sanctum coverage and each piece of content had its own unique flair designed to target a particular audience – from creating player group chats and messenger threads to promote tickets, to video content that provided exclusive access to the team and their preparations.
Bowls Australia
Bowls Australia, opens in a new tab strives to give fans access to in-depth coverage across multiple formats. As well as up-close team coverage from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, it also live streamed more than 300 hours of national and international tournaments, published 260 news articles and televised Bowls Premier League broadcasts and the Australian Open's final two days. The Bowls Show on 7Two and Without Bias on 1116SEN radio and BA's official podcast The Right Line helped reach different audiences.
Snow Australia
Snow Australia, opens in a new tab focused its Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games coverage on sharing the remarkable stories of Australia’s Paralympic Team and informing audiences on the requirements of being a Paralympic athlete. A ‘get to know’ video series introduced the team before and during the Games. Snow Australia amplified the 7Plus digital coverage of the Games and provided live coverage across its social channels to connect fans with athletes.
Best coverage of community sport issue – rural & regional media
This award is for media based outside major metropolitan areas. It recognises the best example of responsible, well-researched and analytical coverage of issues affecting community sport in rural and regional Australia. Community impact will be considered. For the purposes of this award, ‘issues’ do not include match or event reports or previews.
2022 Winner
Zoe Keenan and Dinushi Dias, ABC South West WA ‘Racism and sexism in country football’
In this series by Zoe Keenan and Dinushi Dias, South Bunbury Football Club players shared their experiences of racial and sexual vilification, opens in a new tab which uncovered claims of a club culture where “toxic” behaviour was tolerated. The coverage triggered an investigation by the WA Football Commission with input from the AFL and an intervention by WA Sports Minister David Templeman.
Finalists
Steve Tervet, Border Mail ‘Behind the scenes’
Volunteers are the very lifeblood of regional football-netball clubs which keep people connected to their communities. Steve Tervet’s series looks into the Coreen Daysdale Hopefield Buraja United club and how its volunteer base, opens in a new tab is growing and thriving despite a steady population decrease as farms in the region grow larger.
Nicholas Wright, Townsville Bulletin ‘Fight from within’
In small communities where mental illness and suicide rates skyrocket, sport is often an outlet for many to fight off their inner demons. For the series 'Fight from within',, opens in a new tab athletes from grassroots to the top of their code shared their own struggles in the hope it would help others speak up about mental illness.
Chad Van Estrop, Geelong Advertiser ‘Setting new boundaries to stamp out abuse’
Months after reporting on sexist on-field abuse of female football umpire Molly McKenzie and AFL Victoria’s cover up of the penalties imposed on the perpetrator, Chad Van Estrop spoke to her for a powerful news feature, opens in a new tab. The story showed the other side of umpire abuse and challenged a norm that abusing umpires was part of spectators enjoying the game.
Best sport profile - written
This award recognises the best example of responsible and well-researched written profiling of an individual athlete, team or coach (can be print or online items). Entries may focus on a number of issues, including unique training regimes, personal obstacles and triumphs or inspirational features.
2022 Winner
Emma Kemp and Carly Earl, The Guardian ‘The Medal Maker’
In Australia, our most celebrated sailing coach Victor Kovalenko is known as The Medal Maker, opens in a new tab. In Soviet-era Ukraine he was an army and navy officer who excelled at Morse code, and a Moscow-based sailor prohibited from travelling in capitalist countries without a KGB chaperone. Forced to choose between coaching for Russia or Ukraine, he chose the latter, a journey which led to his eventual migration to Australia.
Finalists
Jeremy Story Carter, ABC ‘Death of a footy club’
‘Death of a footy club, opens in a new tab’ profiles the Quambatook Football Club informed by days spent researching the town’s history followed by on-the-ground reporting and photojournalism. The profile helped a broader audience understand how changing demographics and the modern, industrialised nature of farming can directly affect community sport.
Andrew Jackson, Fox Sports ‘The making of Josh Giddey’
Australian basketball prodigy Josh Giddey is now a household name after his record-breaking rookie season with Oklahoma City Thunder. This four-part series takes readers through Giddey’s rise, opens in a new tab long before he was drafted to the NBA. Former teammates, coaches and mentors revealed a different side to Giddey, including the periods of self-doubt and the “chip on his shoulder” that put the teenager on the path to basketball’s biggest stage.
Iain Payten, Sydney Morning Herald ‘Deek’s miracle of Brisbane’
Robert de Castella's stirring victory in the 1982 Commonwealth Games marathon, opens in a new tab is one of the most famous moments in Australian sport. It was a thrilling race with a determined rival unwilling to yield to the status of runner-up behind the hometown hero. On the milestone of the 40th anniversary, Iain Payten re-lived the Miracle of Brisbane with an in-depth restrospective.
News Corp, ‘Shane Warne – Genius. Ratbag. Goat. A tribute to a legend’
Shane Warne’s sudden death touched millions of Australians and cricket fans around the world. To celebrate Warnie's amazing career and life, News Corp Australia's National Sports Newsroom created an unprecedented six-part profile series, opens in a new tab totalling 68 pages in major metropolitan print editions and online. Each edition had a different theme, looking at his cricketing skills, friendships, tactical ability, celebrity status and business dealings.
Best depiction of inclusive sport
This award recognises the best example of media that depicts the inclusiveness of sport and/or sporting communities. Entries may include stories or programs that promote participation and help break down social barriers. Issues covered may include gender equity, Indigenous Australians, multicultural groups, different age demographics or the role of volunteers in sport.
2022 Winner
Johnny Taranto, SBS ‘I’m Not a Runner’
When five 'ordinary' women aged 35-73 who hadn’t run in years decide to take on the world’s biggest marathon – they run head first into the rarely shown truth of confronting self-doubt and challenging social expectations. They discover the liberation that comes from exercise and striving for an unlikely goal in a documentary that is real, raw, funny and overwhelmingly inspiring, opens in a new tab.
Highly Commended
Jamie van Leeuwen and Joey Lynch, ESPN ‘Journey of the Afghanistan Women's Team’
Football and Freedom, opens in a new tab follows the remarkable journey of the Afghanistan Women's National Team after they fled the Taliban in 2021 and began rebuilding their lives with the support of the Australian football community. Comprising interviews with players, human rights advocates and former Australian athletes, this documentary and written series address themes of belonging, gender equality and social justice told through the lens of sport.
Finalists
Ben Dorries, News Corp ‘Becoming Tyler’
Tyler Leslight was born a girl but has transitioned to being a man, becoming Australia’s first transgender jockey. Ben Dorries gained Tyler’s trust to help him to tell his story, opens in a new tab during a time when transgender inclusion in sport was a topic of significant debate. Dorries travelled to outback Moranbah and spoke with Tyler and the horse trainers who have taken him under their wing.
Konrad Marshall, Good Weekend ‘Black Cowboys’
A local indigenous elder described the inaugural Mt Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo event - an historic night of song and dance, spills and thrills, as "a modern day corroboree". In writing an in-depth feature on the event, opens in a new tab, the experience in and around the arena, Konrad Marshall delves into the chequered history of Australia’s indigenous stockmen and how they have passed their skills down over generations.
Best sport coverage by an individual – broadcast
This award recognises an individual who has delivered exceptional coverage of sport on broadcast media during the nomination period. This can include radio, television and digital media across video and audio formats. Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage and provide a detailed and innovative insight into sport. Coverage could include interviews, live match commentary, analysis and other formats.
2022 Winner
Neroli Meadows, ESPN / Ordineroli Speaking
Neroli Meadows has travelled the globe to cover tennis, cricket, basketball, NFL, AFL and more. She fronted coverage for major events such as the NFL Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend, FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, and the 2021 and 2022 Indian Premier League seasons. She was a regular on Triple M’s 'Molloy', and produces and hosts her own podcast, Ordineroli Speaking, opens in a new tab.
Highly Commended
Matty Johns, Fox Sports
As the anchor of ‘Matty Johns Face-To-Face, opens in a new tab’, ‘Sunday night with Matty Johns, opens in a new tab’, ‘The Late Show with Matty Johns, opens in a new tab’ and ‘The Matty Johns Podcast, opens in a new tab’, Matty Johns covered rugby league from all angles in 2022. With in-depth interviews with the game’s biggest identities, detailed analysis and personal insights into teams and players, Johns provided fans with entertaining and detailed coverage into the game they love.
Finalists
Gerard Whateley, SEN / Fox Footy
Gerard Whateley is a voice of authority and passion in the coverage of Australian sport, setting the agenda on his morning SEN radio show 'Whateley', opens in a new tab and hosting AFL360 on Fox Footy, opens in a new tab. The programs debate the key issues in sport and interview key figures and decision makers. His calling puts him at the major events at home and abroad, with particular acclaim for his AFL, NFL Super Bowl and World Cup cricket coverage.
Alister Nicholson, Seven Network
Alister Nicholson’s versatility and skill as a broadcaster was evident in 2022. He added commentating winter sports to his ever-growing list during the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and called hockey at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. During a busy summer of cricket, he also expertly commentated iconic moments including Usman Khawaja's back-to-back hundreds on his return from Test exile and Glenn Maxwell's record-breaking BBL innings.
Best sport coverage by an individual – written
This award recognises an individual who has delivered exceptional written coverage of sport in print or online media during the nomination period. Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage and provide a detailed and innovative insight into sport.
2022 Winner
Peter Badel, News Corp
Peter Badel, opens in a new tab broke several exclusives and covered major events over the past year. They included the tragic death of NRL coach Paul Green where he secured an exclusive interview with Green's mother, NRL legend Ray Price's battle with dementia, boxer George Kambosos' stunning world-title win and the Dolphins winning the NRL's newest expansion license. Badel balances innovation with breaking news and insightful story telling.
Finalists
Emma Kemp, The Guardian
As Guardian Australia’s deputy sport editor and lead sports writer, Emma Kemp, opens in a new tab has spent the year interviewing, analysing and investigating a variety of sports, issues and athletes across feature writing, match reporting and news. Her stories included concussion in sport, features and news reporting from the Australian Open, the Socceroos’ path through FIFA World Cup qualification and profiles of people in sport from sailing to pigeon racing.
Amanda Shalala, ABC
Amanda Shalala’s written coverage for ABC Sport, opens in a new tab online is dedicated to elevating the voices of people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. In covering major events such as the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, she explored issues such as mental health and the challenges faced by para athletes, the push for LGBTQI+ inclusion, female athlete health and fertility issues and more.
Julian Linden, News Corp
Julian Linden, opens in a new tab's work shines a light on dark areas of sport and starts conversations on often uncomfortable and divisive issues. In 2022 he led coverage on topics including FINA’s changes to transgender rules in swimming, integrity issues, an exclusive interview with Greg Norman, Jovak Djokovic’s visa controversy, sponsorship and ‘sportswashing’.
Lifetime achievement award for sports journalism
This is awarded to an individual who has made a lengthy, significant and influential contribution to the reporting of Australian sport. Nominations are made by an ASC-appointed judging panel, with the award determined by the ASC Board.
Tracey Holmes
The recipient for 2022 was award-winning journalist and ABC presenter Tracey Holmes.
Holmes has worked in journalism and communications for more than 30 years having started her career at the national broadcaster in 1989, hosting Grandstand before going on to host radio and television programs around the world. She has covered 14 Olympic Games and is regarded as one of the most influential sports broadcasters in Australia.
Watch her acceptance speech from the night:
Previous recipients
- 2002 Harry Gordon
- 2003 Norman May
- 2004 Johnny Warren
- 2005 Alan Trengove
- 2006 Ian Heads
- 2007 Mike Gibson
- 2008 Bruce McAvaney
- 2009 Les Murray
- 2010 Caroline Wilson
- 2011 Roy Masters
- 2012 Peter Wilkins
- 2013 Ron Reed
- 2014 Ken Sutcliffe
- 2015 Mike Coward
- 2016 Rebecca Wilson
- 2017 Debbie Spillane
- 2018 Dennis Cometti
- 2019 Karen Tighe
- 2020 Jim Maxwell
- 2021 Mike Sheahan
- 2022 Tracey Holmes
ASC Media Awards judging panel
Note: Judges declared and managed any conflict or perceived conflict of interest prior to the panel deliberating over each award category.
Producer
Keeley Devery
Keeley Devery OAM is known as one of the greatest goalkeepers and goal defence players in the history of Australian netball, earning 69 Test caps with the Australian Netball Diamonds and a spot in the Netball NSW Hall of Fame.
In 1991, Keeley received an Order of Australia Medal following Australia’s World Cup win.
She worked as a producer for Fox Sports for 21 years overseeing production of the ANZ Netball Championship and producing Super Rugby, Test matches and Rugby World Cup broadcasts. In 2016 she joined Nine’s Wide World of Sports as head of netball.
Sports Communications, Public Relations and Corporate Affairs
Michael Earsman
Michael Earsman has served in the sports and entertainment sectors for more than 20 years working in senior communications, public relations and corporate affairs roles with some of Australia’s leading sport and media organisations.
Through these roles he has gained a 360-degree view of the sports industry and a true understanding of the value of powerful storytelling to fans and sporting organisations alike.
Sports commentator and media advisor
Tim Gavel
Tim Gavel commentated seven Olympic Games and seven Commonwealth Games for ABC Radio Sport. He started in commercial radio in 1982 and joined ABC Radio in 1988 until his retirement from the ABC in 2018.
He has extensive experience commentating rowing, NRL, international men’s and women’s cricket, football, basketball and netball, weightlifting, athletics, international rugby and Super Rugby matches.
Tim was named the ABC Sports Broadcaster of the Year three times. He is currently working as media advisor for Sport Integrity Australia.
Sports journalist, podcaster and women's sport advocate
Mary Konstantopoulos
Mary Konstantopoulos is an advocate for women in sport and is the founder of ‘Ladies who League’, a media company which encourages women to get involved in conversations about sport and promotes women involved in sport no matter their capacity.
Mary is an award-winning writer, with her work featured in several several major publications including NRL.com, Siren Sport, the Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph and the Roar. Mary’s work in this space has been recognised with awards from Sport Australia, Western Sydney Women and Women’s Agenda.
Mary also sits on the Board of Hockey Australia and the Parramatta Eels NRLW Advisory Committee and is also an ambassador for Full Stop Australia who raise awareness, educate, and support women and children impacted by family violence.
Sports journalist and consultant
Phil Lutton
Phil Lutton spent more than two decades in the media and has never been far away from sport. He has covered four Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games and a host of major events domestically and on the international stage.
He is a former finalist and winner at the Sport Australia Media Awards and now consults with sports and athletes to help them share their inspiring stories.
TV sports journalist and broadcaster
Phil Lynch
Phil Lynch is a veteran Canberra TV sports journalist and broadcaster.
A former national squad member, he became the voice of Australian basketball at four Olympic Games and four world championships. Phil was appointed Prime Television’s first sports editor and enjoyed freelance stints with Network 10, Seven Network, SBS and Fox Sports.
In more recent years he has been an international commentator on sports as diverse as World Snooker and the LPGA and in 2021 he was inducted into the ACT Sport Hall of Fame.
Sports journalist and media advisor
Margie McDonald
Margie McDonald started reporting at The Townsville Daily Bulletin, before working at the Australian Associated Press's Brisbane/Sydney and London bureaus, The Australian and NRL.com - giving her experience in regional/metropolitan media, wire service and website journalism. She currently works for the NSWRL (NSW Rugby League).
In between she was Media Manager at Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee for the 2000 Paralympic Games and has covered five Commonwealth Games, four Olympic Games, six Summer and six Winter Paralympics, plus multiple tennis Grand Slam, Davis and Fed cup events.
Sports journalist
Jim Tucker
Jim Tucker is a 44-year veteran of the sports media industry in Australia across News Corp titles, Inside Edge cricket magazine (1992-99) at ACP and freelance assignments.
His wide-ranging experience, at home and on tour, includes covering Olympic and Commonwealth Games, seven Rugby World Cups, Australian cricket, swimming, basketball, tenpin bowling and many sports in between.
Sports journalist
Roger Vaughan
Roger Vaughan joined The News in Adelaide in 1988 and worked there until its closure in 1992. He has been at Australian Associated Press since 1994, working mainly on sport, with a stint as Melbourne bureau chief in 2019-21.
He has covered six Olympic Games (Tokyo remotely), four Commonwealth Games, two editions of the Tour de France, eight Hawaiian Ironman World Championships and two decades of AFL grand finals.