Stock Journal's Catherine Miller has been named rural journalist of 2023 at the Rural Media & Communicators SA/NT major awards.
She was joined in the major awards by-rural photographer of the year Che Chorley, from ABC News Adelaide.
The journalism award recognised Catherine's versatility in writing both hard news and feature stories.
Catherine's broad skillset was widely acknowledged and celebrated in this year's awards - she also was named best rural journalist - print, best rural/regional photojournalist and was a joint winner in the best Royal Show story category.
RMC SA/NT president Leigh Radford said Catherine's commitment to delving deep into an issue and exploring the context delivered to her readership "news with impact".
"Her footrot story sparked change from the government, and Catherine's dogged following of the sheep and goat electronic identification (eID) issue paid off in spades with a fantastic front page exclusive on government rebates," he said.
"Pulled together in minimal time, it also highlighted the perspectives of those calling for an exemption of vendor-bred lambs in the eID rollout."
Catherine last month marked 20 years in working for Stock Journal.
Prior to being named rural photographer of the year, Che won two rural photography awards - for nature/landscape/scenes and production. He was also highly commended in the people category.
RMC SA/NT vice president Prue Adams said Che's portfolio of diverse subject matter was a "standout".
"Technically, Che's photographs were very hard to beat; they showcase rural and regional South Australia very, very well," she said.
The high standard of entries in this year's journalism and photography awards was noted by the judging panels who were not only impressed by the quality of submissions but were also encouraged by the range of entrants' experience, their backgrounds and the media and communications platforms they represented.
The winners of the main categories are eligible to progress to the national Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists Star Awards, and if successful, to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Star Awards at the next IFAJ Conference, where the RMC winners have regularly excelled in the past.
For the first time ever, the award for Best Royal Adelaide Show Story was jointly won - by Catherine Miller from and Ethan Rix from the ABC.
The judges could not split Catherine's article about the Show's voluntary stalwarts and Ethan's colourful television report which celebrated the Show's young competitors - both entries encapsulating the spirit of SA's iconic event.
Best Royal Adelaide Show Photo, also sponsored by the Show Society Foundation, was awarded to Stock Journal freelance photographer Jacqui Bateman for her lively, stand-out image captured in the sheep pavilion at the Showgrounds, which featured on the front page of Stock Journal's show coverage.
Reflecting the ever-evolving media and communications landscape, awards were also presented for Rural Social Media Influencer of the Year and Rural Communicator of the Year.
Penny Reidy from the SA Produce Market was named Rural Social Media Influencer of the Year for her innovative approaches to encouraging consumers to buy local, seasonal produce. Emma Gilbert from The Farm Clarendon was commended in this category.
AgCommunicators, in conjunction with Primary Producers SA, took out the Best Rural Communicator award for its cleverly designed and executed Farm Safety for Kids Project, while Grace Moloney from the Ag Institute was highly commended in this category for her Student Compendium initiative.
Stock Journal's Kiara Stacey was named highly commended in the best rural journalist - print category.
In the best rural journalist - regional print, Charlotte Varcoe, The Border Watch, was the winner with Joseph Moore, The Courier, highly commended.
In the other journalism awards, audio/radio went to Matt Brann, ABC NT, with Annabelle Homer, Voice It, highly commended; the video/television journalism award went to Landline's Kerry Staight, with Luke Radford, ABC, highly commended; Eliza Burlage, ABC Riverland, won the digital/online category.
In the photography awards, Che Chorley won nature/landscape/rural scenes as well as production, with Matt Turner highly commended in both categories. Matt also won the people category with Che highly commended.
Best photojournalist went to Catherine Miller, with Brian Littlely, SA Today, highly commended.
