Sexton, from The 7.30 Report, took out the gala event's top prize after also being honoured as Best TV Broadcaster and winning the Best Coverage of Youth Affairs award.

 

The win rounded out a big night for the ABC, which won nine of the 32 awards presented, including Best Radio Broadcaster for Peter Goers.

 

Former Independent Weekly and now Messenger Community News on-line editor Greg Barila took out the Best Print Journalist award, while Channel 7's Caroline Kelly won her second consecutive Young Journalist of the Year award.

 

The Advertiser's Alice Prokopec was named Best Photogrpaher and also won for Best News Photo, while Jessica Marshallsay was awarded the Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Student Journalism.

 

Another South Australian journalism icon was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the awards for his legacy of groundbreaking and fearless investigative reporting.  Walkley Award winner and former Advertiser journalist Stewart Cockburn joins earlier inductees Max Fatchen, Kevin Crease, Des Colquhoun, John Doherty and Michael Atchison on the Hall of Fame honour board. 

 

The SA Media Awards recognise excellence in the media and reward South Australian journalists whose commitment to excellence best informs South Australians and the nation.