NEWCASTLE Herald reporters Donna Page and Nick Bielby have claimed one of Australian journalism's top honours for their coverage of a contamination scandal in Maitland.
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The pair were last night named winner of the 2019 Walkley Award for Coverage of Community and Regional Affairs after their Dirty Deeds series was shortlisted.
Their "Dirty Deeds" investigation revealed that millions of litres of toxic waste were being pumped into local waterways.
The work was previously shortlisted for the Kennedy awards, which recognise outstanding reporting in NSW.
Their win follows Herald photographer Max Mason-Hubers claiming the Nikon-Walkley Community/Regional Prize for photography announced in October.
Former Gold Walkley winner Joanne McCarthy had been co-nominated alongside Amanda Hootton in a feature writing category for their coverage of pelvic mesh.
It is the fourth Coverage of Community and Regional Affairs winner from Australian Community Media's Hunter newspapers in recent years after Belinda-Jane Davis' win for drought coverage last year, Carrie Fellner's Williamtown win in 2017 and Donna Page, Carrie Fellner, Gabriel Wingate-Pearse, Michelle Harris, Joanne McCarthy and Michael McGowan's win in 2016 for Williamtown coverage.
Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
