Best coverage of sport for people with disability

This award recognises the best coverage of sport for people with disability. Entries can focus on the participation of people with disability in sport, including as grassroots participants, volunteers, elite athletes, officials, coaches and administrators.

2020 Winner

Matthew Carmichael, ‘Paralympic Presence’, 7 News

Matthew Carmichael is committed to ensuring Paralympic sport has a constant presence on mainstream commercial TV news. From Carmichael’s stories on how stars like Vanessa Low, Scott Reardon and Curtis McGrath, opens in a new tab remain focused during lockdown, to Ryley Batt being selected as Australian Paralympic Team Co-Captain for Tokyo, Carmichael ensures our Paralympic stars and their incredible feats stand alongside Olympic athletes.

Finalists

Daniela Intili, ‘Nine-year-old Brydi’, ABC

On Australia Day 2020, nine-year-old Brisbane schoolgirl Brydi Saul, opens in a new tab became the youngest person to complete Sydney’s Oz Day 10k Wheelchair race, despite crashing out in her first lap. Daniela Intili spoke to the determined young para-athlete and her mother over several weeks as they opened up about Brydi’s struggles with bullying, depression and suicidal ideation, and how sport has helped improve Brydi’s confidence and mental health.

Scott Spits, The Age

Scott Spits is a regular reporter on issues and challenges for disabled athletes, having covered the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Brazil and the 2018 Winter Paralympics in South Korea. Spits covers a range of ideas and issues helping athletes highlight their achievements. His recent work includes a profile on wheelchair racer Eliza Ault-Connell, opens in a new tab, wheelchair rugby player and now board member Jason Lees, opens in a new tab and Dylan Alcott’s convincing win over Andy Lapthorne, opens in a new tab in the Australian Open men’s quad wheelchair final.

Nas Campanella, Celina Edmonds, John Lang, ‘Sydney Paralympics 20th Anniversary’, ABC

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Paralympics, disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella and the Specialist Reporting Team’s Celina Edmonds, opens in a new tab spoke to some of the standout athletes from the time including former swimmer Siobhan Paton, athletes turned coaches Tim Matthews and Louise Sauvage and athletes Kelly Cartwright and Madison de Rosario. All agreed the Sydney Games had been a watershed moment for athletes with disability. Campanella, who is blind, also shared her own unique experience attending the swimming as a child.