InDaily takes out top media awards
InDaily’s Helen Karakulak has won best politics story at the 2026 SA Media Awards, while InReview Editor Walter Marsh won best Culture and Arts report. See the winners list.
The state’s top journalists were named at the 2026 SA Media Awards on Friday night, with InDaily reporter Helen Karakulak winning best Political Report.
It followed Karakulak’s exclusive investigative work, revealing the controversial debates and lobbying over a new state abortion bill, including the extraordinary social media spend of one lobbyist.
“All stories maintain balance across both sides of the late abortion bill debate,” judges for the prestigious Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance awards said.
“It was a standout example of the fourth estate journalism in the face of personal attacks.”
InReview SA editor Walter Marsh won the best Culture and Arts report for a series of articles exploring how the conflict in Gaza has sown tension across Australia’s arts community.
His winning InReview piece from February 2025 explored the local fallout of Lebanese Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi’s controversial removal as Australia’s representative at the Venice Biennale, which was eventually reversed by Creative Australia.
7News reporter Hannah Foord won Journalist of the Year following her gripping exclusive on the death of notorious killer Bevan Spencer von Einem.
“Hannah provided closure to one of Australia’s darkest criminal chapters. Her relentless crime reporting cements her reputation as South Australia’s premier investigative broadcaster,” judges said.
InDaily columnist Mike Smithson was a finalist in the Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique category, while InReview and SALIFE reporter Genevieve Meegan was a finalist in the Arts and Culture category.
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Full list of 2026 winners
All Media
Journalist of the Year: Hannah Foord, 7NEWS
The Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist: Sophie Holder, ABC, “Body of Work”
Best Rural / Regional Journalist: Shannon Pearce, ABC, “Body of Work”
Political Report: Helen Karakulak, InDaily, “Abortion Debate ‘Game’ Investigated”
Business, Economics or Finance Report: Angelique Donnellan, ABC, “Whyalla: Close to the Brink”
Social Equity Report: Lauren Novak, The Advertiser, “Don’t Look Away”
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Sports Report: Will Crouch, Nine News: “Lightning Saved”
Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique: Thomas Kelsall, ABC, “State Political Analysis”
Culture and Arts Report: Walter Marsh, Guardian Australia and InReview, “Gaza and the Arts”
Freelance Journalist: Daniel Clarke, ABC, “Body of Work”
Investigative Journalism: Luke Williams, The Advertiser, “Inside South Australia’s Neo Nazi Network”
Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Student Journalism: Mia Handley (Highly Commended: Leia Vlahos)
Multimedia News or Feature: Nicholas Maher, ABC, “Misinformation & AI: Explained”
Visual Storytelling: Che Chorley, ABC, “Body of Work”
Categories
Text – News: Brad Crouch, The Advertiser, “MP Assault Charge”
Text – Feature: Jessica Haynes, Leah MacLennan, Caroline Horn, and Che Chorley, ABC, “Algal Bloom Disaster Revealed”
TV/Video – Feature: Leah MacLennan, ABC, “Body of Work”
TV/Video – News Reporting: Hannah Foord, 7NEWS, “Von Einem Dying”
Radio/Audio – Feature (Based on a Single Story): April McLennan, ABC triple j hack, “The Dry Season That Won’t Break”
Radio/Audio – News Reporting: April McLennan, ABC triple j hack, “Young Voters Have Their Say in SA”
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