Best reporting of an issue in sport

This award for journalistic excellence recognises a story, or series of stories, on a single issue in sport. It seeks to promote responsible, well-researched and analytical coverage of issues affecting sport.

2020 Winner

Jessica Halloran, Julian Linden, ‘On Thin Ice: Katia's Story’, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph

Katia Alexandrovskaya’s suicide in Moscow disturbingly was no surprise to ice skating insiders while officials who enabled her to switch allegiances to Australia saw no need for an inquiry. So Jessica Halloran and Julian Linden tracked down independent eyewitnesses and interviewed experts in Australia and abroad to uncover a troubling story, opens in a new tab. They revealed serious weaknesses of accountability in the regulations and protocols to safeguard athletes, leading to serious changes in sport around member protection.

Finalists

Caro Meldrum-Hanna, Amy Donaldson, Fred Shaw, Justin Stevens, ‘The Final Race’, 7.30, ABC TV

The Final Race is the ground-breaking, gritty investigation that sent shock waves around Australia and the world, heralded as a watershed moment for the sport of racing, sparking multiple inquiries and ushering in real reform. For years the thoroughbred racing industry’s promoters and regulators have publicly promised that its horses are humanely and safely retired. The Final Race revealed a very different story, opens in a new tab.

Jenny Sinclair, ‘Fertility and elite female athletes’, Netball Scoop

The window for conception coincides with that of peak athletic performance, and there are also multiple factors that negatively impact a female athlete's ability to conceive. Jenny Sinclair’s article discussed the barriers to fertility, opens in a new tab and how athletes can be better supported to become parents. Sinclair’s article included interviews with a leading fertility expert, scientists working in women's health, the Australian Netball Players Association and Netball Australia, as well as an extensive literature review.

Quentin McDermott, Angela Leonardi, Caitlin Shea, ‘Boots and All’, Australian Story, ABC TV

In November 2018 a fellow football international, Bahraini refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi, was arrested in Thailand and threatened with extradition back to the country where he had been imprisoned and tortured. Craig Foster led a global campaign to free him. In this unique Australian Story, Foster and Hakeem describe how that campaign unfolded, opens in a new tab, and how close it came to disaster. The film addresses the way some sportsmen and women are targeted by regimes when they speak up in support of human rights.

Andrew Probyn, Jack Snape, ‘Sports Rorts: from kick-off to cash splash and that colour-coded spreadsheet’, ABC News

Led by political editor Andrew Probyn and Jack Snape in Canberra, the ABC made the issue of grassroots sports funding relevant to millions through its reporting of the Community Sport Infrastructure, opens in a new tab and Female Facilities and Water Safety Stream, opens in a new tab programs. Using investigative data analysis and accessing confidential documents and emails, the ABC was able to highlight issues in the grant evaluation and approvals processes.