Nominations for the First Nations Media Awards 2021 are open!
Entries close: 22nd October.
Below is the list of award categories, including their purpose and eligibility.
Please note: You may submit nominations in as many different categories as you like, but you may only make 2 submissions for each of those categories.
To be eligible for these awards, either you or the person you are nominating must be a member with First Nations Media Australia. If neither you nor the person you are nominating is a member, don’t worry! You can easily sign up here https://firstnationsmedia.org.au/about/membership or contact us if you’d prefer on (08) 8952 6465 to become a member before submitting your nomination.
If you have any questions or get stuck with the nomination process at any point, contact [email protected] or call 08 8952 6465 and she'll talk you through it.
MAJOR AWARDS
First Nations Outstanding Contributor Award
Purpose and eligibility: The Outstanding Contributor Award is presented annually to an active media practitioner who, through their work, has made a significant contribution to their organisation, community or to the development of the national First Nations media industry. Their contribution can be in one or more fields - broadcasting, production, leadership, management, training, technical innovation or other activities relating to the First Nations media industry. This is to recognise the unsung heroes working in our industry. The nominee is an individual who is currently working in the First Nations media Industry.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Purpose and eligibility: The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually in recognition of lifetime achievement and dedication to the development of the national First Nations media industry. It recognises an individual who has played, or continues to play, a significant leadership and/or development role.
First Nations Media Legend Award
Purpose and eligibility: This award acknowledges a pioneer who contributed to the development of the national First Nations media industry. It differs from the Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Contributor Award by acknowledging someone, either living or passed, who played an important role in the formation and growth of the industry but is no longer actively involved. Nominations may include people who have passed.
CONTENT AWARDS
Best Short Radio Documentary
Purpose and eligibility: This award acknowledges excellence in radio documentary production for projects 30 minutes or less, including low budget and community productions. It recognises the importance of the story selection and development, community involvement and local relevance, and the effective use of production
Best Feature Radio Documentary or Series
Purpose and eligibility: This award acknowledges excellence in radio production for a piece over 30 minutes, podcast or series. It recognises the story selection, research, story development, interview and/or narrative techniques, and post production that goes in to making an effective documentary.
Best Feature Television Documentary
Purpose and eligibility: This award acknowledges excellence in television documentary production, produced with a budget over $10,000. It recognises the research, story development, production, interview techniques, and post production that go into making an effective documentary.
Best Community Television Documentary
Purpose and eligibility: This award acknowledges excellence in community television production for projects produced with a total budget under $10,000. It recognises the importance of the quality of the story, community involvement and local relevance and use of production elements.
Best Language/Culture Production Award
Purpose and eligibility: This award recognises the use of media to convey language or cultural content for knowledge transfer, education, awareness raising and storytelling. It is for content produced across any genre or media type – radio, TV, print, online, multi-media. It recognises the approach, selection of appropriate speakers/ custodians/ sites, abidance by cultural protocols, creative techniques and learning outcomes.
Best Sports Coverage Award
Purpose and eligibility: This Award recognises excellence in sports coverage and commentary across any media. It is for a regular sports program or coverage of a one-off sports event across any genre or media type – radio, TV, print, online, multi-media.
Best Drama or Comedy Award
Purpose and eligibility: This Award recognises the use of drama or comedy to convey a story or message in a creative and engaging way. It is open to drama or comedy production, animation or fiction storytelling across all genres and media forms - radio, TV, print, online or multi-media. It recognises the scripting, characters, performance and production involved in creating drama or comedy.
Best Low Budget Music Video Award
Purpose and eligibility: This award acknowledges excellence in music video production for projects with a total budget under $5,000. It recognises the importance the quality of the story or visual interpretation of song, community involvement and local relevance, and the production elements. It is not awarded to the song or band, but to the producer/production team who created the video.
Best High Budget Music Video Award
Purpose and eligibility: This Award recognises the storytelling mode of music video production in re-interpreting a song or piece of music in a creative and engaging way. It is not awarded to the song or band, but to the producer/production team who created a video with a total budget of more than $5,000.
Best News or Current Affairs Program
Purpose and eligibility: This Award recognises excellence in news and/or current affair programming across any media format (radio, TV, print, online). It recognises the importance of research, story and talent selection, quality journalism, appropriateness of the format and content for the target audience, and effectiveness in informing and engaging the audience.
Best News or Current Affairs Story
Purpose and eligibility: This award acknowledges excellence in journalism and news or current affairs coverage of a specific story. The story can be in any media form- radio, TV, print, online. It recognises the interview techniques, production standards, appropriateness of the format and content for the target audience, and effectiveness of the story.
Best Photography Award
Purpose and eligibility: This award acknowledges excellence in photographic coverage of a news story or event, image of a person or team at work, or for promotion of a sector activity. It recognises the photographic and post-production techniques, appropriateness of the format and content for the target audience, and effectiveness of the story.
Best Interview or Oral History
Purpose and eligibility: This award recognises an outstanding interview, oral history or spoken word program. The content can be in any media form- radio, TV, print, online. It can be live or pre-produced and must have been produced in the last 12 months.
Best Promo or Station ID Award – Radio
Purpose and eligibility: This Award recognises excellence in writing and production of short information campaigns, promotions, station IDs, sponsorship messages or community service announcements for radio.
Best Promo or Campaign Award - TV, Print or Online
Purpose and eligibility: This Award recognises excellence in writing and production of short information campaigns, promotions, sponsorship messages or community service announcements on TV, print or online.
DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Best Training and Professional Development Award
Purpose and eligibility:This award recognises the planning and delivery of engaging, timely, appropriate training and professional development for media workers and staff. It can include formal and informal training and partnerships, provided the role of the nominating organisation is clearly outlined. It can also include professional development of a trainee or cadet.
Best Digital Product Award
Purpose and eligibility: This Award recognises excellence in digital products, projects or tools, including website design, apps, virtual or augmented reality, games, and interactive learning resources. It can also apply to innovative technical solutions in broadcasting, media and communications delivery. Organisations are invited to outline a digital product or project and its effectiveness in addressing an identified need.
Organisational Excellence Award
Purpose and eligibility: This Award recognises best practice in governance, leadership and organisational development. Organisations are invited to outline activities in the last year relating to governance development and training, leadership, strategic planning, community consultation and engagement, business development, fundraising or other activities that have improved organisational practices and outcomes. At least one reference from an external organisation/observer is required to validate the application and outcomes.