Nominations are now open for the 2011 Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Media Awards which acknowledge excellence in sports journalism, broadcasting and photography within the Australian sports media industry. 

Now in their tenth year, the awards are Australia’s premier sports media celebration and the only awards dedicated to recognising excellence in sports media. They focus on analytical and insightful reporting and the presentation of sport and sporting issues, with the ultimate aim of fostering improved coverage of key issues within sport.

Caroline Wilson, first female recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Sports Journalism says:

'The Awards are a great way to recognise the commitment towards sports journalism within Australia. It is great to see the efforts and hard work within the sports media industry recognised with such a prestigious event’

‘Receiving the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the ASC was one of the proudest moments of my career.’

This year there are 13 award categories which recognise a variety of media from broadcast to print categories to recognising excellence within high profile media outlets to journalism within rural, regional and suburban areas:

Journalists can nominate for the following categories:

1. Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Sports Journalism
2. Best Reporting of an Issue in Sport
3. Best Coverage of Sport by an Organisation — Broadcast Media
4. Best Coverage of Sport by an Individual — Broadcast Media
5. Best Coverage of Sport by an Organisation — Print Media
6. Best Coverage of Sport by an Individual — Print Media
7. Best Profiling of an Athlete, Team or Coach — Broadcast Media
8. Best Profiling of an Athlete, Team or Coach — Print Media
9. Best Sports Journalism from Rural, Regional or Suburban Media
10. Best Sports Photography
11. Best Depiction of the Value of Sport to Australians in a Community Setting
12. Best Coverage of Women in Sport
13. Best Coverage of Sport for People with Disability.

Award nominations close on Thursday 6 October. Finalists will be notified by Monday 31 October.

Winners will be announced at the annual presentation gala dinner, which will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday 29 November.

This event brings together award finalists, sports media journalists, members of the ASC Board and Executive, national sporting organisation CEOs, and other representatives, to reward and celebrate the remarkable work created within the Australian sports media industry.

Journalists can nominate for the ASC Media Awards online or by post.

View more information about the 2011 Media Awards.