Photo by Stephen Jaquiery. Dunedin hospital march.
Otago Daily Times celebrates major wins at Voyager Media Awards
The Otago Daily Times has been named Metropolitan Newspaper of the Year at this year’s Voyager Media Awards; one of four major wins that also included Best Editorial Campaign for its coverage of the Dunedin Hospital project cuts.
The campaign, titled “Our Health is Priceless,” is a clear example of the power and importance of local journalism. It exposed proposed government cuts that would have significantly reduced hospital services for the lower South Island. Through months of persistent reporting, the Otago Daily Times uncovered secret documents and broke stories that would otherwise never have seen the light of day.
The result? A 35,000-strong protest through the streets of Dunedin, with people holding Otago Daily Times posters above their heads. This public outcry forced the government to walk back the most severe of the proposed cuts.
Editor Paul McIntyre said that he was “immensely proud” of the results.
“The day of the march against cuts to the new Dunedin hospital when 35,000 took to the streets was a reminder that the media has the power to move people and make a difference. Our coverage in the year prior to the march and online throughout the day ensured our readers were aware of the proposed cuts to the new hospital,” McIntyre said.
The judges agreed: “In a tightly-contested category, ‘Our Health is Priceless’ had the edge for its laser focus on holding the government to account over the future of Dunedin Hospital. Bold front page treatments and scoop after scoop kept locals informed, and the community was mobilised to march in the streets.”
Other wins at the Voyager Media Awards included:
- Best Photography – News – Stephen Jaquiery
- Local Journalist of the Year – Matthew Littlewood
The judges praised the Otago Daily Times for strong regional storytelling, extensive coverage of major local events, and its ability to break stories that had national impact.
“You can’t win these awards without the hard work from our team of dedicated journalists across the region – it’s a real team effort,” McIntyre said.
