By 3 News online staff
3 News has been named Best Scheduled News Programme at the New Zealand Television Awards, at a ceremony held in Auckland tonight.
The network also took home awards for Best Current Affairs Series and Best News Reporting, among others.
“Winning an award that is judged by your peers is always a special and humbling experience,” says director of news and current affairs Mark Jennings. “The competition between the networks is extremely fierce and the quality of journalism, in my view, is very high.
“From Mike and Hilary to the journos, camera crews, editors and studio staff, 3 News has some of the very best in the business, and the Best News award recognises all their efforts. Our newsrooms around the country will have an extra spring in their step today.”
60 Minutes took home Best Current Affairs Series, with Melanie Reid and Eugene Bingham sharing the prestigious Investigation of the Year award for their work on Bronwyn Pullar and the ACC privacy breach, and Melanie Reid was named Journalist of the Year.
“60 Minutes has always prided itself on its investigative journalism and broke this year’s biggest story. Mel Reid and Eugene Bingham’s work on exposing the ACC debacle was world class. Not often do stories produce such significant consequences for a Government or organisation. We are very proud of Mel and Eugene,” says Mr Jennings.
Best News Reporting was shared by 3 News Political Editor Duncan Garner and his deputy (and replacement) Patrick Gower for their coverage of the ‘Teapot Tapes’. 3 News also took home Best News Camera (Phil Johnson), while 60 Minutes won Best Current Affairs Camera (Daniel Grade) and Best Current Affairs Editing (Bob Grieve).
“Duncan Garner and Paddy Gower are two of the country’s hardest working journalists,” says Mr Jennings. “They consistently break stories and ask the hard questions. MPs will attest to that. It is great to see their efforts recognised and rewarded.”
TV3’s run of comedy success continued, with critically acclaimed newcomer Hounds taking home the Best Comedy OR Comedy Series Award, while FOUR won two awards, Best Entertainment OR Event Programme and Best Multi-2 camera Direction, for the Vodafone NZ Music Awards 2011.
TV3’s documentary and factual programming strand was recognised with Julie Christie awarded Best Director – Entertainment/Factual for her work on The Block NZ, and the Paula McTaggart/Gaylene Preston documentary Strongman – The Tragedy named Best Feature OR Drama Documentary.
When a City Falls – The People’s Story, which documented the Christchurch Earthquakes took home the awards for Best Director Documentary (Gerald Smyth) and Best Editing Documentary/Factual (Ken Sparks, Richard Lord).
TVNZ picked up awards for their coverage of the Carterton ballooning tragedy, their Close Up show and their Breakfast show, among others.
All TV3 and FOUR winners were:
Best Scheduled News Programme: 3 NEWS
Best Current Affairs Series: 60 MINUTES
Journalist of the Year: MELANIE REID (60 MINUTES)
Investigation of the Year: MELANIE REID & EUGENE BINGHAM (60 MINUTES)
Best News Reporting: DUNCAN GARNER & PATRICK GOWER (3 NEWS)
Best News Camera: PHIL JOHNSON (3 NEWS)
Best Current Affairs Camera: DANIEL GRADE (60 MINUTES)
Best Current Affairs Editing: BOB GRIEVE (60 MINUTES)
Best Comedy OR Comedy Series: HOUNDS
Best Director – Entertainment/Factual: JULIE CHRISTIE (THE BLOCK NZ)
Best Entertainment OR Event Programme: VODAFONE NZ MUSIC AWARDS 2011
Best Multi-camera Direction MITCHELL HAWKES (VODAFONE NZ MUSIC AWARDS 2011)
Best Feature OR Drama Documentary: STRONGMAN – THE TRAGEDY
Best Director Documentary: GERALD SMYTH (WHEN A CITY FALLS – THE PEOPLE‟S STORY)
Best Editing Documentary/Factual: KEN SPARKS, RICHARD LORD (WHEN A CITY FALLS – THE
PEOPLE‟S STORY)
3 Newssource: newshub archive
