A Current Affair to sponsor Outstanding Television Current Affairs Reporting award
Nine’s A Current Affair has been announced as sponsor for the new award, Outstanding Television Current Affairs Reporting, at the NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism.
The announcement:
The NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism today welcomed the Nine Network’s A Current Affair as the sponsor of a new award for Outstanding Television Current Affairs Reporting, a category recognising excellence in weekly state and national reports.
The Kennedy Foundation which produces the annual NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism has decided to modify its recognition of outstanding television current affairs reporting in 2017 with an award for weekly reports and a separate award for nightly productions.
A Current Affair was the inaugural sponsor of the single Outstanding Current Affairs Reporting Award in 2015 and has agreed to sponsor the weekly category this year as current affairs continue to play a major role in television news coverage and analysis throughout Australia.
A Current Affair’s generous support of the new weekly award means that the Kennedy Foundation’s current affairs categories have again attracted a key media supporter, fittingly the respected show which has been a significant player in television current affairs for decades.
The prestigious new award for weekly current affairs reporting will be presented to the winner at the 6th NRMA Kennedy Awards gala event at the Australian Turf Club’s Royal Randwick Ballroom, Royal Randwick, on August 11.
Announcing A Current Affair’s sponsorship of the award, Kennedy Foundation chairman Simon Dulhunty thanked the long running show for its ongoing commitment to the NRMA Kennedy Awards and quality journalism.
“This year marks the sixth year of the Kennedy Awards and we are extremely grateful to again have the support of A Current Affair as sponsor of a new category of outstanding current affairs reporting,” Mr Dulhunty said.
“The current affairs category was first introduced at the inaugural 2012 Kennedy Awards by popular demand and we are confident that this new award recognizing outstanding current affairs reporting in a weekly program will be hotly contested.
“The new category will be a fitting acknowledgement of the superb work Australia’s current affairs teams do week in, week out, often in extremely difficult conditions and challenging circumstances.
“It is fitting that A Current Affair, which has enjoyed remarkable longevity in an extremely competitive market, is again sponsor of a new Kennedy Award for Outstanding Current Affairs Reporting.”
A Current Affair’s national executive producer Grant Williams acknowledged the work of the Kennedy Foundation and his own personal connection to Les Kennedy himself, the legendary Sydney crime reporter after whom the awards are named. Les died in 2011, aged just 53 years.
“I had a unique association with Les in that I worked with him for many years in my previous life as a detective with the NSW Police Force and then against him as a fellow journo competing for stories. He was one of the greatest characters I’ve ever met and I admired him greatly.
“I’m thrilled that the A Current Affair team is able to contribute to his legacy in such a major way by sponsoring this prestigious award.”
The NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism continue to recognise our finest media professionals and those who have put so much back into the industry. The awards are supported by the Kennedy Foundation, a registered charity to administer a benevolent fund for media professionals facing hardship as well as to other charitable organisations in Australia.
The presentation of 33 awards will culminate with the announcement of the Coca Cola Journalist of the Year, the richest prize in Australian journalism.
Source: Kennedy Awards
