The Examiner journalist Frances Vinall was announced as the winner of a record four Tasmanian Media Awards on Friday.
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Ms Vinall's body of work, most notably stories about forced adoption and lead contamination in drinking water, saw her named best new journalist. She also collected awards for arts reporting, feature writing and public service journalism.
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Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance Tasmania president Mark Thomas said judges recognised Ms Vinall's "original reporting style went further than facts and figures by introducing readers to the human faces behind the stories".
Acting editor of The Examiner Corey Martin described Ms Vinall as a "brilliant journalist with a hunger to get to the bottom of an issue and give communities a voice".
"Her persistence to tell the tale of a North-West woman who was forcefully adopted epitomise's Frances' endeavour," Mr Martin said.
"Due to state legislation, we were only able to deliver that article to our online subscribers and it took Frances months of hard work - gaining the trust of her subject and telling the tale in such a compassionate way.
"The Examiner is proud of its talented newsroom and the original content from deep within Northern Tasmania it delivers for its subscribers on a daily basis."
IN OTHER NEWS:
The ABC's Rhiana Whitson was named Journalist of the Year for her coverage of issues in Tasmania's health system, which judges said put a human face to the toll taken by surgical delays, budget cuts and mismanagement.
Veteran ABC camera operator Peter Curtis was awarded the 2020 Keith Welsh Award for outstanding contribution to journalism in Tasmania.
The judges said Mr Curtis has been one of the ABC and Australia's most outstanding camera operators, working in Tasmania and around the world - Moscow, the Middle East and Washington included - for the past four decades.
Tasmanian Media Awards 2020 winners
Best news image
- Mitchell Woolnough, ABC
Comment and analysis
- Simon Bevilacqua, The Mercury
Arts reporting
- Frances Vinall, The Examiner
Science, technology and environment
- Alexandra Humphries, ABC
Sports coverage
- Tom Johnson, 7 Tasmania
Health reporting
- Linda Smith, The Mercury
Public service journalism
- Frances Vinall, The Examiner
Excellence in legal reporting
- Loretta Lohberger, The Mercury
Feature, documentary or current affairs
- Frances Vinall, The Examiner
Best news story
- Sharon Webb, Meander Valley Gazette
Best new journalist
- Frances Vinall, The Examiner
Journalist of the Year
- Rhiana Whitson, ABC
Keith Welsh Award for outstanding contribution to journalism
- Peter Curtis, ABC