18.05.2009

Athletics Australia awards top media honours

AAP senior sports journalist John Salvado and Getty Images photographer Mark Dadswell have taken out Athletics Australia’s media awards for 2009.
 
Athletics Australia presented two media awards - ‘Outstanding Media Coverage of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Photograph of the Year’ - aimed at recognising and rewarding the Australian media for their coverage and dedication to the sport for the period April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.
 
Outstanding Media Coverage of the Year
 
‘Outstanding Media Coverage of the Year’ award recipient John Salvado was selected by the judging panel for his outstanding contribution to the coverage of athletics.
 
Salvado has covered athletics for over a decade for Australia’s premier news agency, Australian Associated Press.
 
In 2008 and 2009 Salvado produced a brilliant portfolio of work which covered a broad array of Athletics Australia projects, reaching an extensive audience throughout the nation.
 
Throughout this period, Salvado delivered accurate and comprehensive  pieces, covering athlete news and performances both home and abroad including the Australian domestic season, Great Australian Run, Stawell Gift, European season and the Olympic Games in Beijing.
 
Throughout his 20-year career in journalism, Salvado has attended and covered numerous Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and world championships, noting Cathy Freeman’s performance in Sydney as “the most extraordinary athletics moment I’ve ever seen.”
 
Following in the footsteps of previous recipients Scott Gullan of the Herald Sun (2006) and The Australian’s Jenny McAsey (2007), Salvado edged out six other nominees to take out the 2009 award.
 
Also in contention for their excellent media coverage for 2008/09 were:
 
Ian Cohen (Network Ten)
Scott Gullan (Herald Sun)
Paul Malone (Courier Mail)
Harriet Morley (Runner’s World)
Jenny McAsey (The Australian)
Richard Welsh (Hobart Mercury/Run for Your Life)
 
In recognition of his award, Salvado receives a trophy, $1000 prize money and a $250 Asics pack.
 
The judging panel also acknowledged the efforts of emerging athletics writer Richard Welsh. Welsh’s endless enthusiasm and knowledge of athletics has seen the young man from Albury thrive in the media circles of Tasmania and Australia.
 
The last year has seen Welsh appointed athletics writer for the Hobart Mercury, head track and field writer for Run for Your Life magazine, main contributor to Athletics Australia’s website during the Beijing Olympics and Athletics Tasmania communications coordinator, as well as commencing his own weekly athletics-themed radio show.
 
In recognition of his enthusiasm and contribution to athletics, Welsh will receive a $250 2XU voucher.
 
Outstanding Photograph of the Year
 
The Australian athletics community had the deciding vote for the ‘Outstanding Photograph of the Year’ and the majority were in favour of Mark Dadswell’s image of pole vaulter Steve Hooker roaring in delight after securing the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
 
Three images vied for top honours this year with Dadswell’s snap of Western Australian pole vaulter Vicky Parnov in action at February’s Sydney Track Classic also in contention alongside Inside Athletics writer Tim McGrath's entry that captured young Victorian runner Jeff Riseley’s celebrations as he approached the finish line of the 1500m at the World Athletics Tour Melbourne in March.

In recognition of his award, Dadswell receives a trophy and a $500 2XU voucher.
 
Renowned Herald Sun sports photographer Michael Dodge claimed the award in 2008.

To view all nominations for Outstanding Photograph of the Year, click here.