Five Newcastle Herald reporters have won a prestigious journalism award for the newspaper's Power and the Passion series about the Hunter's transition from coal to renewable energy.
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Led by environment reporter Matthew Kelly, the newsroom embarked on the series in February and has produced more than 180 stories on a subject which will shape the region and nation.
For its efforts, the newspaper won the Kennedy Award's Chris Watson Award for Outstanding Regional Print and Online Journalism. The late Mr Watson was a former Herald editor.
Reporters Donna Page, Gabriel Fowler, Damon Cronshaw and Ethan Hamilton contributed to the series and shared in the award.
"Chris Watson was one of the Herald's great journalists, leaders and mentors so it's very special to bring this award back to Newcastle," Herald editor Heath Harrison said.
"I'm thrilled for Matthew, Donna, Gabriel, Damon and Ethan.
"This series was built on the seriously hard work of a group who understood how important this issue is to the region and who were committed to the cause."
Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
