Winners Announced | First Nations Media Awards 2020

The 2020 First Nations Media Australia Media Awards recognising excellence in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media sector were conducted virtually this year. First Nations media organisations and individuals continue to play a significant role in giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a voice to tell their own stories. First Nations media organisations focuses on telling authentic stories from our communities to the world and delivering pertinent and accurate information to our people.

2020 was a media centric year. It underlined the importance of media for all communities. It drove home that we need a healthy well-balanced and resourced media sector to keep our communities safe and informed particularly in the face of major challenges like bushfire season and the ever changing challenges of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

First Nations peoples provide reliable media for our wellbeing, social engagement and to pursue justice and equity in Australia. This year that role has been globally acknowledged by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. In Australia, our people have always highlighted the role media plays in perpetuating stereotypes particularly about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. In 2020 we can say proudly that our media sector have delivered amazing outcomes in the face of our global challenges.

First Nations Media Australia is proud to present this year’s major award winners. In a posthumous recognition for his dedication to his Kimberley people, Stephen Bamba Albert was awarded the Media Legend Award. At the WA Aboriginal Legal Service, Jodi Hoffman was recognised for her Outstanding Contribution in providing stories about the pursuit of justice and equity for Nyoongar people. Our third major prize winner is Valerie Martin of PAW Media and Communications for her Lifetime Achievement.

Other key winners include the TSIMA (Torres Strait Islanders Media Association) for Organisational Excellence, NITV’s Living Black program for Best News and Current Affairs program and Best Oral History or Interview story, Nyurpaya Kaika-Burton for Best Feature Radio Documentary Ngayulu manta pampura kulinu tjukurpa ngayuku tjiti munu tjamu kami/When I touched the ground a birthing story about women’s business in Central Australia.

First Nations Media Australia congratulates all the award nominees for their incredible work. In a particularly challenging year, the standard of content and commitment to community didn't drop one bit, showing once again the resilience of our sector and the essential nature of our media services.

First Nations Media Australia is honoured to posthumously acknowledge and recognise the work of Stephen Bamba Albert for the 2020 First Nations Media Legend Award. Mr Albert was instrumental in the Kimberley region in many facets of cultural life for First Nations people. His work spanned across many sectors, including being a founder of BAMA/Goolarri Media. He was Chair of BAMA and Director of Goolarri Media for a number of years. He was also an actor, musician, a writer, broadcaster and an advocate for furthering the interests of his people in the Kimberley. Mr Albert played an integral role with Bran Nue Day and Corrugation Road as an actor, working closely with his friend and associate now deceased playwright, Mr Jimmy Chi. Through his leadership Mr Albert played a role in promoting the music and culture of his people. Mr Albert leaves a strong legacy in media and the arts and we recognise his extraordinary contribution to our industry with this award.

Valerie Napaljarri Martin is one of PAW Media's life-long advocates, since the 1980s then known as the Warlpiri Media Association. She worked with Francis Jupurrurla Kelly, Mr Kumanjayi Japaljarri Spencer, Mr Kumanjayi Granites to start up television and radio broadcasting services. Napaljarri stood out as one of the founding voices for Warlpiri Women on the 8PAW airwaves. Napaljarri has contributed as an on-air presenter, as a translator, interviewer, cultural advisor, and a major fundraiser. Formerly a committee member of Warlpiri Media Association, she is now Chairperson of Warlpiri Media Aboriginal Corporation. Napaljarri has demonstrated courage and good governance to our Board, helping to steer the organisation through many difficulties over recent times. Today she is helping us reach out to the other Warlpiri, Anmatjere and Pintubi communities, by extending our archives and video activities to places where for years we've only been able to support radio broadcasts. Napaljarri stands strong in her culture and Warlpiri Media has benefitted enormously from her support for over thirty years.

ABC Radio in Perth. For the past fifteen years Jodi has been employed with the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA Limited (ALSWA) as ALSWA’s Media Officer where she has been instrumental in producing an outstanding body of work around justice and equity issues. Upon commencement at ALSWA Jodi produced a four volume set of CD’s called Law Matters which featured interviews with ALSWA staff, court officers and lawyers discussing some of the key areas of law. This CD set was distributed to many community legal centres, communities and agencies and also saw accompanying workshops held at ALSWA’s head office in Perth. She continues to produce Law Matters podcast, at 100.9FM Noongar Radio for the past 10 years.

BEST COMMUNITY TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY
Nevanka McKeon for Aunty Thelma

BEST FEATURE RADIO DOCUMENTARY OR SERIES
Nyurpaya Kaika-Burgon for Ngayulu manta papura kulinu tjukurpa ngayuku tjiti munu tjamu kami / When I Touched the Ground

BEST SHORT RADIO DOCUMENTARY
PAW Media for Tanami Football League Grand Final

BEST SPORTS COVERAGE
ICTV for CAFL 2020 Live Broadcast

BEST LOW BUDGET MUSIC VIDEO
Heath Baxter for Black Lives Matter 2020

BEST HIGH BUDGET MUSIC VIDEO
Max Walker for Water is Precious

BEST NEWS OR CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM
Karla Grant for Living Black, NITV

BEST NEWS OR CURRENT AFFAIRS STORY
Rachael Hocking for Remembering Kumanjayi Walker, NITV

FIRST NATIONS MEDIA LEGEND AWARD
Stephen Bamba Albert

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Goolarri Media for Kimberley and Pilbara Girl

BEST INTERVIEW OR ORAL HISTORY
Karla Grant for Living Black interview with Patrick Dodson - Father of Reconciliation, NITV

BEST PROMO OR CAMPAIGN
Bumma Bippera Media for Type 2 Diabetes campaign

BEST STATION ID
PAW Media for Washing Hands Jingle

BEST DIGITAL PRODUCT
Joel Liddle,, Kathleen Wallace, Veronica Dodson, Leigh Harris, Emma Stubbs, Graham Wilfred Jnr, Phillip McCorrmack for Indigemoji

BEST LANGUAGE/CULTURE PRODUCTION
ICTV for Our Bedtime Stories Series 2

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
3KND for Truth-telling Uncle's Way

ORGANISATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Torres Strait Islander Media Association (TSIMA)

FIRST NATIONS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTOR
Jodi Hoffman

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Valerie Napaljarri Martin