News Corp Australia says its decision to bring its sports teams together nationally has been vindicated by standout successes in the federal sports commission’s media awards.

The media giant claimed several major categories in the Australian Sports Commission media awards in Melbourne, with national deputy sports editor Tim Morrissey saying their success was recognition of its strong journalism and editorial approach. “We have plans to build on this by working and collaborating even more closely with our regional sports teams and code sports.”

National news network veteran Olympic reporter Julian Linden was honoured for best reporting of an issue in sport for his exclusive on world swimming’s plans to ban transgender athletes from elite competition. Linden had revealed FINA’s plans for the transgender vote after months of secret talks, and then as the only Australian journalist on the ground in Budapest, led the way on detailing the key issues and roadblocks for all sports as they attempt to pass legislation on the divisive topic.

Fellow News Corp Australia journalist, basketball writer Matt Logue, and code sports senior writer Linda Pearce were among finalists – Logue for coverage of Liz Cambage’s Opals Olympic camp meltdown, and Pearce for her detailed expose on abuse in Australian gymnastics.

Brisbane-based chief rugby league reporter Peter Badel was honoured for the best written sport coverage by an individual, for his forensic coverage of major issues impacting Queensland’s NRL clubs.

Later News Corp Australia’s Commonwealth Games team – led by Morrissey and Sunday Telegraph editor Mick Carroll – was honoured for best coverage of a sporting event. The Birmingham coverage included daily eight-page liftouts in metro mastheads and a 20-page daily digital print edition produced overnight.

The Australian’s Head Noise podcast – featuring journalist Jess Halloran and former NRL hard man James Graham – won best sport podcast. Fox Sports’ Matty Johns was highly commended for broadcast sport coverage by an individual, which was won by ESPN’s Neroli Meadows for her Ordineroli Speaking podcast series.

Some 17 News Corp reporters, presenters or group entries featured as finalists in ten of the 12 categories.

Journalist and ABC presenter Tracey Holmes was announced as the latest recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her more than 30 years in journalism with the national broadcaster since starting in 1989.

Pictured (below from left) Matt Kitchin, Julian Linden, Tim Morrissey, Peter Badel, James Graham, The Australian multimedia editor Lia Tsamoglou, and Jessica Halloran.

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