Dan Nolan and Ben Stivala from A Current Affair were named joint Journalists of the Year at last night’s 2024 Queensland Clarion Awards, in recognition of their courageous and in-depth reporting on child care whistleblower Yolanda Borucki and the failures in the investigation into one of the country’s worst ever child abusers Ashley Griffith.

Their reporting uncovered systemic issues in handling this horrific case, sparking a national conversation and driving urgent calls for reform in the child care sector.

Alongside the prestigious joint Journalist of the Year title, Nolan and Stivala’s exceptional work garnered multiple awards, including the highly coveted all media award for Investigative Journalism and the Television Award for Current Affairs, Feature, Documentary, or Special Broadcast.

Nolan also received the Broadcast Interview Award, recognising his exceptional interviewing skills, sensitivity with interview subjects, and sharp news sense during a high-stakes interview that revealed shocking truths about the crisis.

In a joint statement, Nolan and Stivala said: “This was one of the hardest investigations we’ve ever undertaken. The trauma experienced by these families is beyond comprehension, but sharing the failures in the handling of this case is vital to drive change.

“While these awards are a tremendous honour, the real reward is knowing our work has sparked a national dialogue on the system’s failures and the urgent need for reform. The fight for justice and accountability must continue.”

Queensland Bureau Chief of A Current Affair, Kate Donnison, said: “Reporting on this story was incredibly difficult. The pain of these families has been gut-wrenching, and telling these stories has been one of our toughest challenges. But exceptional journalism deserves recognition, and this award reflects Dan and Ben and the team’s tireless commitment to driving important conversations on accountability and reform.”

The evening also saw 9News Queensland take home the prestigious TV News Report Award for its coverage of the Tara bushfires. The state’s leading and longest serving co-presenters Melissa Downes and Andrew Lofthouse, alongside the 9News Queensland team, delivered urgent, powerful storytelling that brought viewers into the heart of the disaster. With its sense of immediacy and compelling on-the-ground reporting, a piece-to-camera of burnt clothes on the line stood out as a striking symbol of how small details can tell a much bigger story.

Additionally, 9News Queensland cameraman Matt Billett was awarded the John Bean Memorial Award for Television Camerawork, for his raw and impactful footage that vividly conveyed the devastating scale of the bushfires.

These awards, coupled with A Current Affair and 9News Queensland winning their respective timeslots in the 2024 local ratings, firmly cement Nine Queensland’s dominance in the industry. The recognition underscores the network’s leadership and unwavering commitment to exceptional journalism, with A Current Affair and 9News Queensland continuing to set the standard for integrity, impact, and public service.

For further information, please contact:
Claudine Blondeau
Communications Manager, Nine Queensland
cblondeau@nine.com.au

Sunday, December 1, 2024