Critic named Best Student Publication In ASPA Awards
Critic, the much-talked about Otago University student magazine, was named the best publication by a panel of media
experts at the annual Aotearoa Student Press Association awards, held in Auckland on Saturday in association with the NZ
Listener.
Critic scooped seven of the 16 awards on offer, including best designed publication, ‘best news writer (paid)’ (Kate
Newton) and ‘best editorial writer’ for editor Holly Walker.
Feature writer and columnist Steve Braunias said Critic was “Solid, entertaining, provocative, sometimes properly
stupid, and, possibly, vital to Dunedin… [with] lots of humour and a clear editorial intelligence at work.”
Media commentator Russell Brown said “"Critic has had a banner year - the issues submitted were strong from beginning to
end. While it does the basics well - the pages look good and the copy is well-edited - Critic also shows a distinctive
editorial imagination."
Auckland University of Technology’s Debate was named best small publication.
Other winners on the night included Craccum co-editor Alec Hutchinson, who won the categories of ‘best columnist’ and
‘best features writer’. Listener feature writer Alistair Bone said that Alec’s writing was “on a different level”.
The Aotearoa Student Press Association comprises 13 publications from the country’s university and polytechnic campuses.
These are the fourth annual awards, and the second held in association with the Listener.
One of the winners will be chosen by the Listener to take a two week internship at the magazine. All winners receive a
subscription to the Listener.
ASPA Awards 2005 - 1 October 2005
Best Cartoonist 2005
Judged by Max Media creator and underground icon Chris Knox, artist and former Craccum cartoonist Richards Scholes, and
editorial cartoonist Malcolm Evans.
1. Colin Andrews, Critic
2.= James Squires, Canta
Roy Cunningham, Nexus
Best Reviewer 2005
Judged by Headliners editor and Sunday Star Times Contributor Olivia Kember; Rip It Up and Listener reviewer James
Cardno, and NZ Herald Entertainment reporter Scott Kara.
1. Aaron Hawkins, Critic
2. Gareth Heta, Canta
3. Rob Hay, Magneto
Best Cover 2005
Judged by Metro art director Jenny Nicholls; Delaney Tabron, art director of Pavement; and Desna Jury, head of AUT’s
school of design.
1. Craccum
2. Critic
3. Salient
Best Education Writer 2005
Judged by former Debate editor Nadine Metzger, Landfall editor and blogger Tze Ming Mok, and Herald on Sunday journalist
Leah Haines.
1. Megan McKechnie, In Unison
2. Alec Hutchinson, Craccum
3. Chris Leggett, Satellite
Best Maori Content 2005
Judged by Maori Television Service staffer and former Critic kaiwhakapaoho Zoe Linsell.
1. Critic Te Arohi (no other placings awarded)
Best News Writer (volunteer)
Judged by investigative journalist Nicky Hager, National Business Review journalist Coran Lill, and TV1 News producer
Laura Barnsley.
1. Nicola Kean, Salient
2.= Kate Wright, Magneto
Chris Grala, Craccum
Best News Writer (paid)
Judged by foreign correspondent for Metro and TV3 Jon Stephenson; 95bFM news editor Noelle McCarthy; and NZ Herald
reporter and former City Voice editor Simon Collins.
1. Kate Newton, Critic
2. Keith Ng, Salient
3. Cushla Thompson, Canta
Best Sports Writer 2005
Judged by Clarke Gayford, creator of TV4’s Pulp Sport; Metro writer Peter Malcouronne; and Amy Hamilton, editor of Dash
magazine.
1. Nick Holm, Chaff
2.= William Fussey, Canta
= Lucy Smith, Nexus
Best Columnist 2005
Judged by Dominion Post columnist and former Critic editor Chris Trotter; Rip It Up editor and Stakeout host Martyn
Bradbury, and NZ Herald columnist Tapu Misa
1. Alec Hutchinson, Craccum – ‘The Revolutionaries’ Guide to Getting Laid’
2.= Georgia Jamieson Emms, Salient
Nick Gibb, Chaff
Best Humour Content 2005
Judged by Damian Christie, Herald on Sunday columnist; stand-up comedian and author Raybon Kan; and Agenda host Simon
Pound.
1. Geoff Brischke, Salient
2. Ryan Sproull and Chris Grala, Craccum
3. Dean Kilbride, Canta
Best Feature 2005
Judged by Wayne Hope, head of AUT’s School of Communications and editor of the Pacific Journalism Review; former Nexus
editor Ant Hiron, and Listener deputy editor Tim Watkin.
1. Erica Chellis, Magneto
2.= Dawn Tuffery, Nexus
Toby Turner, Craccum
Best Feature Writer 2005
Judged by NBR and North & South features write David Cohen, former Salient editor Nikki Burrows and Listener feature writer and ex-Craccum editor
Alistair Bone.
1. Alec Hutchinson, Craccum
2.= Ryan Haysom-Brown, Critic
Nick Holm, Chaff
Best Editorial Writer 2005
Judged by Unitec journalism lecturer Ed Mason, former Salient editor Michael Appleton, and Listener contributors editor
Denis Welch.
1. Holly Walker, Critic
2. Emily Braunstein, Salient
3. Stian Overdahl, Craccum
Best Designed Publication
Judged by Bro’ Town Designer Ant Sang, former Critic designer Lyndon hood, and graffiti artist Elliot “ Askew”
O’Donnell.
1. Critic
2. In Unison
3. Craccum
Best Small Publication and Best Publication
Judged by Business reporter, NBR and Listener columnist , and former Nexus editor David Young; Listener columnist and
blogger Russell Brown; former Critic editor and Herald on Sunday journalist Patrick Crewdson; Scoop.co.nz co-editor
Selwyn Manning, and Sunday Star Times writer and columnist Steve Braunias.
Best Small Publication
1. Debate
2. Magneto
3.= Satellite
In Unison
Best Publication
1. Critic
2. Salient
3. Craccum
ENDS