Nine Queensland celebrates big wins in the 2025 Clarion Awards – Nine Queensland has been recognised at the 2025 Clarion Awards, last night, with wins in a range of categories, plus a special lifetime achievement award for one of Queensland’s most respected journalists.
Esteemed former 9News Queensland presenter Andrew “Lofty” Lofthouse was honoured with the Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism award, which recognises long-term commitment to excellence in journalism and achievement in the industry.
Director of News at Nine Queensland, Brendan Hockings, said:
“This prestigious award is a powerful testament to the remarkable career and indelible impact of Andrew Lofthouse. Lofty retires as the gold standard for professionalism and character in Queensland journalism.
“His decades of dedication to truth-telling, combined with his legendary humility and deep respect for every member of the team, have defined his legacy at 9News.”
During last night’s ceremony, 9News Queensland presenter Melissa Downes, who was Lofty’s co-presenter for 16 years, welcomed him to the stage, “In 2009, he found his way up the mountain, to 9News Queensland, to a place on the desk with me…a partnership that endured for 16 years.
“Lofty is one of the true gentlemen of the TV news business, a consummate professional, a natural in any situation. You could send him to the heart of a cyclone, the edge of a bushfire, or the devastation of a flood and he’d always deliver.”
Nine Queensland secured a total of 4 Clarion Awards from 13 nominations, with wins across television news and publishing.
Among the wins were Best News Report in the Television/Audio category for “Police Release Victim Information” by Tim Arvier and Brendan Hockings and Best Artwork, Cartoon, Illustration or Graphic by Mark Brown for “Griffith Sentence”.
Hockings said:
“I’m proud of all our Clarion Award finalists and the high-quality journalism 9News delivers to Queensland every night. These awards are recognition of a hard-working, passionate newsroom committed to delivering the kind of news coverage Queenslanders can rely on – accurate, timely and trusted.” As an experienced and award-winning team, 9News Queensland continues to set the benchmark for comprehensive news coverage across the state. As Queensland’s most-watched and most-trusted news service, 9News remains dedicated to telling the stories that matter, a commitment clearly reflected in the recognition received at last night’s 2025 Clarion Awards.
NOMINATIONS (WINNERS IN BOLD)
Television News Report
- Bailey Kenzie and Emily Prain, Nine, “Ezra Mam”
- Tim Arvier and Brendan Hockings, Nine, “Police Release Victim Information”
Social Issues Reporting
- Tim Arvier and Brendan Hockings, Nine, “Police Release Victim Information”
Most Outstanding Final Year Journalism Student – Graduating 2025
- Jiselle Manning, University of Queensland and Nine, “Body of Work”
Radio, Documentary and Podcast
- Jessica Lodge, Melissa Downes, Adam Buncher, Matty White and Sam Stove, Nine, “The Ultimate Sacrifice”
Artwork, Cartoon, Illustration or Graphic
- Mark Brown, Nine, “Griffith Sentence”
- Mark Brown, Libby Hodges, Hannah Treloar and Rebecca McLean, Nine, “Pheobe Bishop”
Broadcast Interview
- Pippa Bradshaw, Rob Barbir and Ben Stivala, Nine, “Cult Dad”
Current Affairs, Feature, Documentary or Special Broadcast
- Pippa Bradshaw, Miranda Eddy, Rob Barbir and Ben Stivala, Nine, “The Saints”
Best Metropolitan News Photo
- Matt Dennien, Brisbane Times, “Not Part of Our Plan”
Investigative Journalism
- Dan Nolan, Nine, “The Wreckage of a Predator”
Business Journalism
- James Hall, Zoe Samios, Jessica Sier, Amelia McGuire and Primrose Riordan, The Australian Financial Review, “On the Trail of Star Entertainment’s Mystery Macau Shareholder”
Sports Journalism
- James Hall and Zoe Samios, The Australian Financial Review, “How It All Went Wrong for Rocky Elsom”
Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism
- Andrew Lofthouse
Media Release – Nine
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Nine Queensland celebrates big wins in the 2025 Clarion Awards
