Older People Speak Out (OPSO) National Media Awards - 2007

The Department of Health and Ageing, through the Office For an Ageing Australia, and the Older People Speak Out (OPSO) organisation developed the OPSO People’s Choice Media Awards to empower Australians to critically evaluate the media and so help change negative media and public attitudes towards ageing and older people.

National Awards Media Awards Winners

Metropolitan daily, weekend newspaper and magazine articles
1st – Marissa Williams – The West Australian – “Wearing your children’s shoes”
2nd – Janet Hawley – Good Weekend – “Wendy’s secret garden”
3rd – Fiona Smith – The Australian Financial Review – “Retirement doesn’t come naturally” and “Retirement, new career break”

Regional and suburban newspapers – weekly, bi-weekly and daily
1st – Nadine Fisher – Daily News – APN – “Hawke, windsurfer, fitness, wheelchair”
1st – John Andersen – Townsville Bulletin – “A desperate battle”
2nd – Place and Special Mention to Phillipa Prior – Kalgoorlie Miner – “Looking after the people”
3rd – Ashley Walmsley – North Qld Register – “Man of a thousand campfires”

National magazine feature articles
1st – Andres Lomp – About the House – “Navigating the ageing minefield”
2nd – Kate Johnston – Your Life – “Noni Hazelhurst – what really matters”
3rd – Pamela Oddy and Di Websdale Morrisey – Your Life – “Jobs of the future”

Television News
1st – Kylie Hodge – Seven Local News – “Lollipop legend”
1st – Scott Beveridge – Channel Ten News – “Grandparents babysitting”
3rd – Alan Raskall – Network Ten – “Internet”
3rd – Jennifer Nichols – Seven News – “Golden wedding”

Television public affairs and interviews under 10 minutes
1st – Greg Hoy – ABC Melbourne – “Duigan Brothers”
2nd – Shane McLeod – ABC 7.30 Report Sydney – “Japanese doctors claim to know the secret of longevity”
3rd - Simon Royal - ABC TV Adelaide –“Matinee idols”

Television public affairs, documentaries and interviews
1st - Andrew Denton - ABC TV NSW - Enough Rope – “Mount Isa”
2nd - Ben Cheshire - ABC TV Sydney – “Down to earth”
3rd - Ges D'Souza - ABC TV Australian story – “Comes a time”

Photography-metropolitan newspapers and magazines
1st - Leila Amanpour - The Sydney Morning Herald –“The moment”
2nd - Place and special mention to Edwina Pickles - The Sydney Morning Herald –“If you feel buoyant, you play a buoyant way”
3rd - Barry Baker - The West Australian –“Highflyer”
3rd - Renee Nowytarger - The Australian –“Police and three indigenous lads”

Photography-regional and suburban newspapers
1st - Nat Thompson - Messenger Press –“Vintage veteran OAM”
2nd - Andrew Ritchie - Community Newspapers –“Swing into festivities”
3rd - Dominique Menegaldo - Community Newspapers –“Making the difference”

National radio, city and regional news, public affairs and interviews
1st - Annie Thompson - ABC Radio National –“Street stories”
2nd - Deb Welch - Radio Adelaide –“Five tables for five”
3rd - Steve Austin - ABC Radio Brisbane –“Aged care”

Advertising
1st - Annabelle Hayes - Hibiscus Gardens - “Buderim happiness is Hibiscus”
2nd - Andrology Australia –“Open to see something shocking”
3rd - Graphic by design -“Viceroy and Living Choice Retirement Villages”

Senior-specific newspaper articles
1st - Linda Muller - Senior Lifestyle –“Doris finds elixir of life at 93”
2nd - Don Simmons - Senior Newspaper –“not your average nan”
3rd – Leigh Pritchard – Coastal Views – “Never too old”

Intergenerational journalism-print, electronic or photo
1st - Natasha Johnson and team - ABC TV Melbourne –“Mangrove man”
1st - Katrina Germein - Sydney's Child –“Grand designs”
3rd - Allan Raskall - Network 10 Victoria –“Play”

Visit the Older People Speak Out website for more information about the national media awards.