7NEWS has been recognised with two awards for excellence in journalism at the ninth annual 2020 Kennedy Awards in Sydney on Friday night.
US Bureau Chief Ashlee Mullany, currently in Washington, D.C. covering the US Election, accepted the inaugural Tom Krause Award for Outstanding Foreign Correspondent for her exclusive feature report, Inside a COVID Warzone.
The confronting 24-hour ride along with New York paramedics as they responded to urgent call-outs during the height of the city’s COVID-19 crisis gave Australian audiences raw insight into what happens when the virus goes uncontrolled in a densely populated society, featuring emotional, unfiltered interviews with victims and their families.
In an acceptance video from the White House, Mullany said:
“I’ve had the privilege of witnessing some remarkable things in America over the last four years, both good and bad. And things felt a little scary at times, particularly at the start of this year as this pandemic was playing out.
“I want to extend my thanks to our Chairman Kerry Stokes for his continued support, his investment in quality journalism. It does feel like there has never been a more important time for the public to be able to turn to trusted news sources and have eyes and ears on the ground in places like America in what has been such a tumultuous year.”
7NEWS senior cameraman Paul Walker, nominated alongside colleagues Cam Wallis and Tim Myers for their camera work in the US, received the Gary Ticehurst Award for Outstanding TV News Camera Coverage for his footage of the 2019 Sydney CBD stabbing.
Walker instinctively picked up his camera and captured every chilling moment as the attack played out in front of him, with the accused Mert Nay eventually restrained by members of the public – the exclusive vision broadcast in real-time and beamed around the world.
Walker paid tribute to the courage of reporter Andrew Denney and those individuals who jumped in without hesitation to stop him.
“I’m very proud to be part of the 7NEWS team and honoured to receive this award from my peers.”
The Kennedy Awards are named after veteran police reporter Les Kennedy, who died in 2011 at the age of 53.
