The Sport Australia Media Awards recognise excellence in sports journalism, broadcasting and production.
The Australian Sports Commission Media Awards recognise excellence in sports journalism, broadcasting and production. 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.
The media awards are the only dedicated sports media awards in Australia. There are multiple categories that enable different media to compete on relative merits.
See below for information on the individual categories or read about the 2024 ASC Media Awards winners here.
Entries open: September 2025 Finalists announced: December 2025 Winners announced: February 2026
Contact: ASCmediaawards@ausport.gov.au
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.
For the purposes of this award, 'issues' do not include match or event reports or previews, or injuries to individuals. All other matters relating to sport will be considered, including topics relating to sport business, governance and administration.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
A maximum of two entries per person applies to this category.
Entrants should provide no more than six examples of their best work.
Long-form broadcasts are eligible in this category, but these entries must also include a highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes.
Please note the Australian Sports Commission cannot accept books as entries for these awards.
This award recognises the best example of responsible and well-researched written profiling of an individual athlete, team or coach (can be print or online items).
Entries may focus on a number of issues, including unique training regimes, personal obstacles and triumphs or inspirational features.
Where possible, entries should reflect the Win Well/Play Well ethos that underpins the Australian sporting sector.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
A series will be considered, but entrants should provide no more than six articles
A maximum of two entries per person applies to this category.
Please note the Australian Sports Commission cannot accept books as entries for these awards.
This award recognises the best example of responsible and well-researched documentary making. The focus may be profiling an individual athlete, sport, team, coach or issue.
Entries can be a standalone documentary or a series.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
All entries require a highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes.
A maximum of two entries per person, company or outlet applies to this category.
Please note that this category is limited to videos which have featured on any digital or broadcast platform. Audio documentaries should be entered under the Best Sport Podcast category.
This award recognises an individual who has delivered exceptional coverage of sport and/or sports news on broadcast media during the nomination period. This can include radio, television and digital media across video and audio formats.
Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage and provide a detailed and innovative insight into sport. Coverage could include interviews, live match commentary, analysis and other formats.
Long-form video and audio files are eligible in this category.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
Long form entries must also include a highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes
Entrants should provide no more than six examples of their best work.
This award recognises an individual or organisation who has delivered exceptional audio coverage of sport via podcast media during the nomination period. Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage, provide a detailed and innovative insight into sport and showcase a high standard of audio and production quality.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
Entries can include up to six episodes and should highlight a favourite episode. A highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes is encouraged.
This award recognises an individual who has delivered exceptional written coverage of sport in print or online media during the nomination period. Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage and provide a detailed and innovative insight into sport.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
Entrants should provide no more than six examples of their best work. Please note the Australian Sports Commission cannot accept books as entries for these awards.
This award recognises the best example of media that depicts the inclusiveness of sport and/or sporting communities. Entries may include stories or programs that promote participation and help break down social barriers. Issues covered may include gender equity, Indigenous Australians, multicultural groups, different age demographics or the role of volunteers in sport.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
Long-form broadcasts are eligible in this category, but these entries must also include a highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes. A package entry should provide no more than six examples of your best work.
This award is for media based outside major metropolitan areas and individuals that travel to cover sport in a rural and/or regional area.
It recognises exceptional coverage of sport in rural and regional Australia - this may include coverage of issues as well as match reports, match previews, profiles or any other well-researched coverage. Community impact will be considered.
Entries can be a single piece or a series of pieces (a maximum of 6) which best represent your coverage.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
Long-form broadcasts are eligible in this category, but these entries must also include a highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes.
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.The intent of this award is to recognise the overall promotion of sport for people with disability and is not restricted to profile stories on individuals. Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage and provide detailed and innovative insight into people with disability participating in sport.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
Long-form broadcasts are eligible in this category, but these entries must also include a highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes. A package entry should provide no more than six examples of your best work.
This award recognises the ability of sporting clubs and organisations to engage with members and fans through their own media channels.
A strong emphasis is on unique approaches that engage fans and encourage people to become more actively involved in sport. This can be via website articles, podcasts or video, and the use of social media channels.
Judges will be looking for innovative ways clubs and organisations engage with new audiences and members.
Long-form videos and audio files such as podcasts are eligible in this category.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
Videos and audio files such as podcasts are eligible in this category, but these entries must also include a highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes.
Entrants should provide no more than six examples of their best work.
This award recognises an organisation across any media platform that has delivered exceptional coverage of a sporting event during the nomination period.
Entries should demonstrate responsible and well-researched coverage and provide a detailed and innovative insight into the sport and the event. Use of resourcing and media platforms will be considered.
Coverage of Paris 2024 is encouraged to be entered as one entry, combining Olympic and Paralympic coverage rather than separate entries.
Entries will be assessed on the quality and comprehensiveness of coverage during the qualifying period and should include:
Long-form broadcasts are eligible in this category, but these entries must also include a highlights package of no longer than 10 minutes.
Entrants can also provide entire publications (no more than three issues), articles (no more than 10) or online links (no more than 10).
This award recognises published images that capture the passion, drama and colour of sport. Photographers must submit a single image per entry but can submit up to three separate entries.
All pictures must have been first published during the qualification period in a printed publication or third-party’s website/social media account.
Entries should include:
A maximum of three entries per person applies to this category. This category does not include books.
The image must not be digitally altered other than simple retouching that conforms to currently accepted industry standards. Cloning, montaging or digital special effects are not permitted.
For the first time, the 2024 ASC Media Awards acknowledged a rising star in the industry for their contribution to sports media.
Open to people 30 years and under, or who have been in the industry for five years or fewer, this person was selected from the pool of finalists for their contribution to sports media.
Congratulations to our 2024 winner Ellie Cole.
This award is for exceptional service to sports journalism over an extended period. The award is given by the Australian Sports Commission Board and is presented to an individual who has made a lengthy, significant and influential contribution to the reporting of Australian sport.
The 2024 ASC Media Awards were held in Sydney on 19 February 2025 with one of sports greatest storytellers and a trailblazer for females in sport, Margie McDonald, announced as the latest recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A panel comprising representatives from the media, sport and the Australian Sports Commission will judge the entries.
With the exception of the Lifetime achievement award for contribution to sports journalism, a minimum four finalists will be selected in each category. The winners will be announced in February 2024, and published on the Australian Sports Commission website. The lifetime achievement award winner is chosen by the Australian Sports Commission board.
Judges will make their decisions based solely on the material provided by entrants. Entrants should not expect feedback from the judging panel about their entry.
Terms and conditions of entry are available on the ASC website. Each category has different requirements, as listed within each category description.
Many factors are taken into account, such as (in no specific order):