9News Podcast team earns three ACRA nominations – The acclaimed team behind the 9News podcast Hannah’s Story has earned three nominations in this year’s Australian Commercial Radio Awards.
Hannah’s Story has been nominated for Podcast of the Year, Best Documentary – Audio, and Best Podcast Producer for Jessica Lodge.
Launched jointly by 9News and 9Podcasts, Hannah’s Story, presented by 9News Queensland presenter, Melissa Downes, produced by Jessica Lodge, with sound editing by Adam Buncher, has captivated audiences with its compelling narrative and meticulous storytelling.
It delves into one of the worst acts of domestic violence Australia has ever seen – the day Hannah Clarke and her three children were set on fire and killed in their car in a quiet Brisbane street by their father, Hannah’s estranged husband, Rowan Baxter. Since launching in 2023, the podcast has dominated the Australian podcast charts, resonated globally, and received numerous national and international accolades.
The three ACRA nominations coincide with the release of the follow-up Downes-Lodge project, The Ultimate Sacrifice, which traces the harrowing events of December 12, 2022, when two Queensland Police officers were shot dead in a shocking ambush at Wieambilla.
With four episodes already released, this podcast explores the haunting question: how did a routine callout escalate into Queensland’s deadliest police shooting and Australia’s first Christian terrorist attack?
From Monday, July 29, The Ultimate Sacrifice will continue, following the four-week coronial inquest into the massacre. Listeners can expect unfolding evidence, testimonies, new details, previously unheard recordings, and crucial insights revealing the heroism and camaraderie displayed on that tragic day.
Melissa Downes said:
“What an incredible honour it is for Hannah’s Story to be nominated at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards. The overwhelming response to and unwavering support for Hannah’s Story has been deeply moving. I am particularly proud to see Jess’s outstanding producing talent recognised on a national stage. The timing is especially meaningful as The Ultimate Sacrifice is currently topping the Australian podcasting charts.”
Jess Lodge said:
“We’ve seen firsthand the power of this podcast in sparking community conversations about coercive control, particularly as it continues to serve as an invaluable educational resource. Receiving recognition within the audio industry is incredibly gratifying. We take immense pride in our storytelling, so it’s wonderful to see our podcasts being appreciated as much as we enjoyed creating them.”
Nine Radio Managing Director, Tom Malone, said:
“This is further testament to the sensitive and powerful storytelling of Melissa, Jess and Adam. Their podcast has won audiences and awards around the world for its detailed and careful examination of coercive control, shining a light on scourge that must be confronted. “Their latest podcast, The Ultimate Sacrifice, is further proof of their skill in telling harrowing stories with great care and sensitivity. On behalf of everyone at Nine, we are immensely proud of their purpose-driven journalism and consequent accomplishments.”
Hannah’s Story and The Ultimate Sacrifice are available wherever you get your podcasts.
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9News Podcast team earns three ACRA nominations
