Described as “attention-grabbing multi-sourced journalism… in tune with its student readers,” Salient was judged third Best Publication at the Fairfax Media Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA) Awards last weekend behind Otago University’s Critic and Auckland’s Craccum.
Held at Massey Wellington and hosted by radio personality Sean Plunket, judges included journalists from Fairfax, the Listener, the New Zealand Herald, Metro, as well as various journalism academics and past student-publication staff. The event, sponsored by Fairfax Media, brought together thirteen student magazines from around the country.
Despite the disappointing overall placing, Salient still enjoyed successes in a number of other categories, including first place in Best Feature Content, second place in Best Education Series and third place in Best Photography.
News Editor Laura McQuillan was judged Best News Writer (Paid), with NZPA editor Nick Brown describing McQuillan’s work as “clear, hard-hitting reporting, without fear or favour.”
McQuillan says, “I was pleasantly surprised with my win – I mean, I know I’m awesome, but I’ve never had a certificate to prove it until now.”
Attributing part of her success to the VUWSA exec for “ensuring there was never a slow news week,” she added, “I owe Clelia Opie [former Acting Women’s Right’s Officer] big time, too – without her, I couldn’t have won.”
Michael Oliver placed first-equal in the Best Sports Writer category, and Feature Writer Tristan Egarr was judged second in Best Humour Content.
Salient editor Steve Nicoll is delighted by the results of the ASPAs.
“Having both best feature content and news was a score. I’m incredibly thankful for all of the Salient posse who made it happen,” says Nicoll.