NZ Herald the home of premium journalism

Voyager Media Award results confirm NZ Herald as the home of premium journalism

The New Zealand Herald has been named the best daily newspaper* in New Zealand, just weeks after the launch of NZHerald Premium, the newspaper’s digital subscription service.

The best daily newspaper award is the pinnacle in the Herald’s sweep of journalism awards, announced at the annual Voyager Media Awards held at Auckland’s Cordis Hotel tonight (17 May 2019).

“We're very proud of the work we do. These results reflect the professionalism and dedication the Herald team demonstrate day-in, day-out. To have 10 winners’ trophies for individual and team excellence is recognition of the hard work our talented people constantly put in for our readers,” NZ Herald Editor Murray Kirkness said.

Awarding the New Zealand Herald Newspaper of the Year (circulation 30,000+), judges commented the Herald displayed “a number of excellent news breaks, and a quality production across all sections. The standout edition celebrated 125 years of women's suffrage. A complete commitment to the project produced an outstanding edition”.

Herald investigative reporter Nicholas Jones won two major reporting awards - best scoop, and best individual investigation - and was runner up for the nib senior health scholarship.

Voyager judges commented Jones' scoop, into the quality of care in rest homes, was a "hard-edged investigation that was exhaustive and compelling with wide impact”. They said his investigative work "stood out for its excellent research and storytelling".

The New Zealand Herald is part of New Zealand Media and Entertainment’s group of digital, print and radio brands and tonight Chief Executive Michael Boggs paid tribute to the NZME winners.

“We are committed to providing Herald readers with the best journalism in New Zealand and to deliver on that promise we need premium talent. Given this, it’s very pleasing to see some of our great story tellers recognised tonight,” said Mr Boggs.

Other major individual winners for the Herald include:

- Michael Donaldson, for best headline

- Rod Emmerson, cartoonist of the year

- Kirsty Johnston, for crime and issues reporting

- Luke Kirkness, student journalist of the year

- Kim Knight, for feature writing

- Simon Wilson, opinion writer of the year

The NZHerald’s VIVA magazine won its category with judges commenting Viva is “an intelligent and professionally put-together magazine section that has its readers in sharp focus and keeps them engaged and entertained both on and off the printed page”.

The wide-ranging success at the Voyager Media Awards follows a hugely successful year for the Herald. It is currently rated the best daily news brand in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia, as judged at the internationally competitive News Media Awards in Sydney.

And in New York tonight, the Herald is up for two major international awards - for best video and best public campaign - for its #NotforSale campaign to end child exploitation in Asia. NZME is proud to represent the best of New Zealand journalism at the International News Media Associations ceremony.

New Zealand Herald Editor Murray Kirkness says “Awards are great recognition for our teams and our individual stars, but our newsrooms are universally thrilled with the successful launch of NZHerald Premium. That really shows just how much Kiwis trust us to deliver news, analysis and commentary across all our platforms every day”.

*circulation 30,000+

ENDS

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