The face of football (soccer) in Australia, Les Murray, has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Media Awards.

ASC CEO Matt Miller said popular SBS football authority Murray — who joins a select band of previous winners that includes Bruce McAvaney, Mike Gibson and Harry Gordon — was a very deserving recipient.

‘Les is synonymous with Australian sport and has made a significant and influential contribution to sports journalism for more than 30 years,’ Mr Miller said.

‘He is known as the face and voice of football and is credited with championing the great rise in popularity of the sport in this country.

‘It is fitting that the 2009 award has gone to someone so passionate about what they do, and who has done so much to shape sports journalism and broadcasting in Australia.’

Other major awards, presented at Melbourne’s Crown Casino on 3 December, went to ABC’s Gerard Whateley (best contribution by an individual), Inside Sport (best contribution by an organisation) and The Daily Telegraph’s Mike Hurst (best reporting of an issue).

Now in its eighth year, the event rewards excellence in sports journalism and is Australia’s only dedicated sports media awards.

‘Sport is integral to the Australian way of life and plays an important role in how we see ourselves and how we are seen internationally,’ Mr Miller said.

‘The continued promotion of Australian sport can only help encourage a new generation of young people to take up sport.

‘Our media performs an important role bringing sport to life, tackling the issues and making it accessible to the community. They deserve this recognition for their craft and I congratulate all winners and finalists for their outstanding work.’

2009 Australian Sports Commission Media Awards winners

• Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Sports Journalism: Les Murray (SBS Television)
• Best reporting of an issue in Australian sport: Mike Hurst — Caster Semenya (The Daily Telegraph)
• Best contribution to the coverage of sport by an organisation: Inside Sport
• Best contribution to the coverage of sport by an individual: Gerard Whateley (ABC)
• Best profiling of an athlete, team or coach, broadcast media: Roger Carter — ‘When We Were Racers — Sir Jack Brabham’ (Australian Story, ABC Television)
• Best profiling of an athlete, team or coach, print mdia: Jessica Halloran — Jelena Dokic (Fairfax)
• Best sports journalism from rural, regional or suburban media: Samantha Derrick — ‘Never Too Old: seniors in sport’ (WIN Television)
• Best journalism on community sport: Travis Cranley — ‘Kiddie Wars’ (Inside Sport)
• Best sports photography: Quinn Rooney — ‘Water Relief’ (Getty Images)
• Special commendation for best online contribution to sport: Finn Bradshaw, Ondrej Foltin, Matthew Kitchin and Matthew Pinkney (Herald Sun superfooty.com.au)
• Special commendation for  best journalism on women in sport: Merryn Sherwood (The Canberra Times)
• Special commendation for best sports journalism by a student: Elise Holman — Sky News Sport (Charles Sturt University)