Australian Sports Commission Media Awards


The Australian Sports Commission Media Awards were established in 2002 to recognise excellence in Australian sports journalism and broadcasting. The awards focus on analytical and insightful reporting and the presentation of sport and sporting issues. The awards are the only dedicated sports media awards in Australia. The Walkley Awards do have several sports categories.
The most prestigious award is the Lifetime Achievement Award that recognises exceptional service to sports journalism over an extended period of time. This award is determined by the Sport Australia Board.

Best Reporting of an Issue in Australian Sport

YearJournalistsComments
2002Kate McClymont and Anne Davies Bulldogs salary cap scandal
2003Kyle Patterson Soccer's Crawford Reform Process.
2004Michael Davis His Fragile Brilliance
2005Neil Jameson ‘Professional Foul’
2006Nick McCallum 'Blowing the whistle'
2007Robert Drane and Ian Kennins Goodbye Grassroots
2008Gerard Ryle and Jacquelin Magnay Firepower
2009Mike Hurst Caster Semenya
2010Adrian Proszenko, Brad Walter, Greg Prichard and others Thunderstruck
2011Greg Prichard and Chris Barrett Want a Bet?
2012Daniel Lane 'For 30 years, they had a monster in their midst'
2013Andrew Holden Essendon FC drug scandal
2014Michael Warner, Mark Robinson and Chip Le Grand Essendon drugs scandal
2015Caro Meldrum-Hanna, Sam Clark and Max Murch ‘Making a killing’
2016Nick Tabakoff Gotcha: The Parramatta Eels Salary Cap Scandal
2017Louise Milligan, Lisa McGregor and Trish Drum ‘After the Game’,
2018Leo Schlink 'The big fix'
2019Shark Island ProductionsThe Final Quarter
2020Jessica Halloran and Julian Linden, The Australian and The Daily Telegraph'On Thin Ice: Katia's Story'
2021Selina Steele, Michael Cain, Julian Linden
Adrian Arciuli, Anna Henderson, Abdullah Alikhil
Tackling abuse in football, The Daily Telegraph
The Taliban Takeover, SBS
2022Julian Linden News CorpSwimming takes the plunge
2023David Mark, ABC News
Scott Gullan, Herald Sun
The investigation into paedophile rock climbing coach Stephen Mitchell
Peter Bol drugs scandal
2024Julian Linden, News Corp‘China's secret doping cover-up’

Best Sport Podcast

Best Depiction of Inclusive Sport

From 2009 to 2017 called Best Coverage of Women in Sport.
YearJournalistsCoverage title
2009Merryn Sherwood 'Canberra United - Making a Difference for Women's Sport'
2010Raelee Tuckerman -
2011Luke Waters ‘A Belt that Fits’
2012Canberra Times‘A capital season for women in Canberra’
2013Warren Partland Raising Netball's Status
2014Matt Weiss, Denise Reardon and Kelli Underwood ‘Breaking Ground’
2015SBSThe 2015 women's FIFA World Cup
2016Network Ten2015-16 Women's Big Bash League
2017Fox FootyAFL Women's coverage
2018Australian Broadcasting CorporationThe Outer Sanctum Podcast
2019Media Stockade‘Power Meri’
2020Amanda Shalala, ABC'In Her Words'
2021Peter DicksonThe Ripple Effect, Dickson Films
2022Johnny TarantoI’m Not a Runner, Adventure Time Films
2023Konrad Marshall, Good Weekend MagazineLife changes tomorrow and I’m just being me
2024That Pacific Sports Show, ABC-

Discontinued Awards

Best Depiction of the Value of Sport to Australians in a Community Setting

Up until 2009 named Community Sports Award
YearJournalistsStory Title
2002David Pearson and Brian Webb of 104.1FM, Darwin-
2003Nick McCallum 'Manangatang Horse story'
2004Mark Howard 'Footy From the Hearts'
2005Brad McEwan ‘Local Hero’ series
2006Nick McCallum Footy Fanatics
2007Travis Cranley 'Disabling sports'
2008Paul Kennedy'Drug Game'
2009Travis Cranley 'Kiddie Wars'
2010Mary Gearin – ‘Majak Daw’
2011Grantlee Kieza ‘Million Dollar Noby’
2012Luke Waters ‘Race Game’
2013Will Swanton 'Life saver'
2014McGuire Media ‘The Recruit — Indigenous Carnival episode’
2015Dan Goldberg, Adam Kay and Anthony De Sylva ‘Pitch battle’
2016Tim Sheridan and Matt Weiss 'From Little Things'
2017Allyson Horn ‘Afghan AFL’