ABC journalist Eva Blandis was named Best Young Journalist, Bill Ormonde was named Best Rural/Regional Journalist and the ABC won eight awards overall at the 2025 South Australian Media Awards in Adelaide last night.
Blandis received the Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist for reporters aged 25 or under whose work displays creativity, research, technical skills, newsworthiness, writing flair and impact.
The judges said: “Eva’s entry displayed the work of a journalist, mastering their craft, well beyond her years.
“The ability to gain trust of contacts, secure exclusive content, and give in depth analysis of highly complex and sensitive issues, required a mature approach, usually associated with experienced reporters.”
ABC video journalist Bill Ormonde was named Best Rural/Regional Journalist for his body of work and also won Visual Storytelling for Out of the Darkness, an interactive online story exploring mental health in remote Australia.
The judges said: “Bill’s entry epitomises what a rural journalist should strive to achieve.
“Shining a light on the mental health stigma, that burdens regional Australia, is vital. This body of work is a fine example of gaining trust, to tell brave and personal stories, respectfully. Coupled with stunning imagery, this makes for a captivating and compelling entry.”
Other ABC winners included Che Chorley, Lincoln Rothall and Daniel Keane in the Text Formats – News category for ‘Surface Tension’ and Briana Fiore in Radio/Audio Journalism – News Reporting for ‘Losing Ashleigh – Asthma in SA’.
Nicholas Maher won the Multimedia News or Feature category for ‘International Law & Democracy Explained’, Jack Evans won Culture and Arts Report for ‘BTN High – Class of Cabaret’ and Stephanie Richards won Social Equity Report for ‘Uncovering SA’s Baby Removal Practices’. ’
Full list of ABC winners and finalists at the MEAA SA Media Awards:
Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist
- Eva Blandis, ABC, ‘Body of Work’ – WINNER
Text Formats – News
- Isabella Carbone, Sophie Landau & Josephine Lim, ABC, ‘Global Shortage of Saline Solution Affecting Australian Healthcare System’
Text Formats – Feature
- Che Chorley, Lincoln Rothall & Daniel Keane, ABC, ‘Surface Tension’ – WINNER
- Bill Ormonde, ABC, ‘Out of the Darkness’
Television/Video Journalism – Feature
- Amelia Moseley, ABC, ‘What to Do if You’ve Been Doxxed’
- James Wakelin, ABC, ‘Snowtown Stories’
Radio/Audio Journalism – News Reporting,
- Briana Fiore, ABC, ‘Losing Ashleigh – Asthma in SA’ – WINNER
- Angus Randall, ABC, ‘Community Grapples with Snowtown Accomplice Parole’
Visual Storytelling
- Bill Ormonde, ABC, ‘Out of the Darkness’ – WINNER
- Lincoln Rothall, Che Chorley, Jody Kestle & Michael Clements, ABC, ‘Protecting a Predator’
Multimedia News or Feature
- Briana Fiore, ABC, ‘Ex-Brethrens on Breaking Free’
- Nicholas Maher, ABC, ‘International Law & Democracy Explained’ – WINNER
- Bill Ormonde, ABC, ‘Broken Hill High School Mould Outbreak’
Best Rural/Regional Journalist
- Eugene Boisvert, ABC, ‘South East SA Stories’
- Bill Ormonde, ABC, ‘Body of Work’ – WINNER
- Amelia Walters, ABC, ‘A Voice for Victims, Placement Poverty Burning Out Medical Students and Love that Defied the Odds’
Business, Economics or Finance Report
- ABC News South Australia, ABC, ‘Whyalla Woes’
Culture and Arts Report
- Jack Evans, ABC, ‘BTN High – Class of Cabaret’ – WINNER
- Sarah McLean, ABC, ‘South Korean Recluses’
Political Report
- Stephanie Richards, ABC, ‘One of ‘Fewer than Five’’
Social Equity Report
- Cale Matthews, ABC, ‘South Australia’s Accessibility Problem’
- Stephanie Richards, ABC, ‘Uncovering SA’s Baby Removal Practices’ – WINNER
Sports Report
- Eugene Boisvert, ABC, ‘Inclusive Sport in South East’
- Neil Cross, ABC, ‘In the Pool, in the Game, in the Saddle’