One News Takes Top Award For Third Year In A Row

Best News Hat-Trick – One News Takes Top Award For Third Year In A Row

Paul Henry Takes Inaugural People’s Choice Award

19 September 2010

ONE News has won the Qantas Award for Best News for the third year in a row – the hat-trick is thought to be the first one in NZ television media awards history.

“We’re absolutely rapt. We strive to bring our viewers journalism excellence every day and winning Best News three times in a row really demonstrates our commitment to that," says TVNZ’s Head of News, Current Affairs and Sport, Anthony Flannery.

To recognise 50 years of television, former TVNZ newsreader Jennie Goodwin was asked to present Best News tonight.

"It was extra special for the ONE News team to go up on stage and pick up the award from one of New Zealand television's greats and such a class act," says Flannery.

It was the first time Jennie Goodwin had presented a Qantas Film & Television Award.

"I was honoured to be asked and then delighted to find out TVNZ won, One News has done a superb job and their win tonight is well deserved”, she said.

Across the Qantas Award weekend, TVNZ won 8 of the 11 News & Current Affairs Awards.

ONE News reporter Paul Hobbs won Best News Reporting and Journalist of the Year for his coverage of the Samoan Tsunami including his unforgettable story of the Taufua family funeral and interview with Sinafea Ale Taufua as she buried all of 3 of her children.

Sunday’s Janet McIntyre and Joanne Mitchell won Best Current Affairs Reporting (Weekly Programme) for Janet’s probing interview with Fijian Dictator, Frank Bainimarama and Sunday won Best Current Affairs Series.

“I’m very proud of them all, it was world class work - quality current affairs at its best," says Anthony Flannery.

“We are all very grateful for the peer acknowledgement and it gives us the opportunity to thank the judges who sit in their lounges and vote for us every night – thank you for choosing to watch us again”.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

The other big award TVNZ NCAS picked up tonight was the inaugural ‘New Idea People’s Choice Award’.

"Breakfast" host Paul Henry was voted the most popular person on television, beating 9 other finalists including Shortland Street actresses Beth Allen and Kimberly Crossman, TV3’s Mike McRoberts & Jaquie Brown, Outrageous Fortune’s Robyn Malcolm, TVNZ’s Kevin Milne, Pippa Wetzell, Jason Gunn and Bernadine Oliver-Kerby.

“Paul is one of the most outstanding broadcasters in world television," says Flannery.

"He may be polarising, at times he may be controversial, but ever increasing numbers of viewers love watching him.

"It is no surprise to me at all that he’s won the inaugural people’s choice award when you consider Breakfast’s audience has doubled in the last 18 months.

“I was also pleased to see that we had so many finalists with Paul, Kevin, Pippa and Bernie – to be honest it’s not often journalists make the most popular list."

New Idea magazine conducted the text and postal vote. Editor in Chief, Hayley McLarin says Paul Henry won the ballot by a “huge margin”. Voters weren’t asked why they chose their preferred candidate.
"I personally think it came down to how the voters relate to those shortlisted," says McLarin.

"They know Paul not only as a presenter but as a father, son and someone who stands up for what he believes in and I think New Zealanders admire that."

QANTAS FILM & TELEVISION AWARDS WON BY TVNZ NCAS:

QANTAS BEST NEWS – ONE NEWS, TV ONE

BEST NEWS REPORTING – PAUL HOBBS, ONE NEWS

Paul won this award for his coverage of the Samoan Tsunami and the unforgettable story of the mother who had to bury all 3 of her children.

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PAUL HOBBS, ONE NEWS

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS REPORTING (WEEKLY PROGRAMME) – JANET MCINTYRE & JOANNE MITCHELL, SUNDAY

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS SERIES – SUNDAY, TV ONE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – PAUL HENRY*

At the Qantas Craft Awards yesterday TVNZ News, Current Affairs and Sport won:

BEST NEWS CAMERA – STEVE LAWTON, ONE NEWS (Auckland)

Steve won this award for a portfolio of beautiful and diverse camera work from filming nesting Fairy Terns through to high speed tennis balls during a training session for the Ball Kids working the Heineken Tennis Open.

BEST NEWS EDITING – ANDREW GIBB, BREAKFAST (Wellington)

Andrew won this for “Spelling Bee”, a story he edited for Breakfast that humorously documented reporter, Matt McLean’s failed attempt to take the NZ Spelling Bee title.

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS CAMERA – MARTIN ANDERSON, 20/20

Martin won this award for “Lost and Found”, a story based on a John Doe – a body with no name, a story with few pictures. The outcome of this carefully shot and constructed piece resulted in the body being reunited with and closure for his family. Martin described the story as ‘very rewarding’.

BEST MULTI-CAMERA DIRECTION – STEVE JAMIESON, ONE SPORT*

Steve is one of the best and most experienced live sport directors in the world and won this award for his work directing the Heineken Open Tennis Final from Auckland in January.

ENDS

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