The list of prizes to be awarded in 2008.

Full criteria of each award follows:

• Best News Report
  Judges are particularly looking for courageous journalism, as well as writing excellence, accuracy, storytelling, newsworthiness, ethics, research, impact and public benefit. The entry may comprise up to 3 reports on the same subject.
• Best News Feature
  Keeping in mind the parameters of the medium, creativity, originality and writing flair will be highly regarded in this category, in addition to the conditions.
• Best Lifestyle Feature
  Creativity, originality and writing flair will be highly regarded in this category. Entries may come from features sections, supplements or special publications.
• Best Three Headings
  Subeditors can enter their three best headlines. Judges will be looking for originality, flair and the headline’s relevance to the story it heads.
• Best Page Layout
  Judges will consider criteria including: 1. Impact - how the page elements such as headline, picture, graphics and text work together to catch reader attention. 2. Innovation - creative or groundbreaking use of design to get the concept of the story across. 3. Design principles – examples would include having a main focal point to the page such as a dominant image; not too much clutter with multiple elements or colours; offering multiple entry points for readers such as briefs or pointers, drawing the reader’s eye into the page and leading them to different elements. In summing up, the page must get the message of the story or stories across to the reader through the design, be reader friendly and be easy on the eye.
• Best Print Journalist (Silver Award)
  Three articles required which may include sport, business, news, features or commentary pieces, which may already have been submitted in other categories.

Entries to all photography categories may be either a single photograph or a series on the same subject.

• Best news photo or photo series
  Newsworthiness, impact, technical superiority, creativity and originality will be looked at in this category.
• Best sport photo or photo series
  This category will reward those who capture the emotion and drama of sport. Entries may show action or feature imagery in the sporting arena.
• Best feature photo or photo series
  Images submitted for feature or magazine purposes. They should display creativity, originality and technical excellence.
• Best photographer (Silver Award)
  Three photos required showing a variety of topics which may include sport, business, news or features photos, and may already have been submitted in other categories.

Radio

In radio, judges will take into account the resources available for the preparation of the work entered, and the collaborative nature of this medium.

• Best Radio News Reporting
  Three pieces are required. The criteria are newsworthiness, courage, impact, immediacy and making use of the qualities of the medium in reporting news and pursuing excellence in journalism.
• Best Radio Current Affairs Report
  This category aims to cover shorter current affairs reports and the analysis of news issues. High regard will be paid to research, writing, production, incisiveness, impact, public benefit and ethics.
• Best Radio Feature, Documentary or Broadcast Special
  Here, radio journalists have the time to research and explore news issues and current affairs in a longer format, keeping in mind the same criteria as for best current affairs report.
• Best Radio Broadcaster (Silver Award)
  Three radio broadcast items which may include news, features, sport or commentary and which may already have been submitted in other categories.

Television

In television, judges will take into account the resources available for the preparation of the work entered, and the collaborative nature of this medium.

• Best TV News Report
  In particular, the judges will reward reports demonstrating newsworthiness, courage, impact, incisiveness, public benefit and ethics. Entries in this category may be a single short news report or one or more reports entailing coverage on the same subject.
• Best TV Current Affairs Report (Less Than 10 mins)
  This category aims to recognise daily current affairs and analysis of news events. Reports should highlight research, public benefit, ethics, courage and impact.
• Best TV Feature, Documentary or Special (More than 10 mins)
  This category will recognise excellence in longer reports. Reports should highlight research, public benefit, ethics, courage and impact.
• Best TV News or Current Affairs Camera
  This category recognises the special role of the camera operator in news, current affairs and documentary.
• Best TV Broadcaster (Presenter, Reporter and/or Camera) (Silver Award)
  Entrants should submit three pieces which show creativity, research, production and technical skills.

• Best Editorial Artist
  Judges will be looking for illustrations or photo illustrations, graphics or cartoons displaying creativity, innovation and style, combined with artistic technique. The three pieces entered may have been created in a limited time in relation to deadlines, usually for a news section, publication or broadcast, or for feature stories or sections for which an appropriate amount of time has been allowed.  The time frame allowed to create the entries should be specified in the 200 word supporting statement.
• Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique
  This category is open to those journalists involved in comment and analysis and include leader writers, reviewers, and opinion columnists covering arts, sport, business or politics.  Entrants should submit three samples, not necessarily related, to be judged as indicative of their work.
• Best Coverage of Suburban Affairs
  This category is open only to journalists working in the suburban media and recognises their role in reporting on and informing their local communities.  Up to three pieces may be submitted.
• Best Coverage of Rural/Regional Affairs
  This category is open only to journalists working in the regional media and recognises their role in reporting on and informing their local communities.  The resources available to the entrant in creating the work should be specified in the 200 word supporting statement. Up to three pieces may be submitted.
• Best Coverage of Social Equity Affairs
  This award recognises media reporting which addresses issues relating to social and economic equality, human rights and participatory democracy. In addition to the general judging guidelines, judges will have special regard for the public impact and/or benefit of the journalism and also to the size, resources and location of the medium.
• Best Coverage of Sport
  Covering both print and electronic media, this category recognises the contribution of journalists and photographers covering sporting events and issues. Entrants should submit their best coverage of a sport, an event or an issue.
• Best Coverage of Youth Affairs
  This category recognises positive coverage of young people and/or youth issues in South Australia. Entries will be judged on accuracy, newsworthiness, objectivity, public benefit, balance, adherence to the Alliance Code of Ethics, technical competence based on the medium in which it was published, creativity and writing excellence. This category is open to journalists of all ages.
• Best Public Relations Campaign (Government or Private)
  This award recognises a government or private sector PR campaign for successfully addressing a client's objective within the budget allocated.  Campaigns may be short or long-term in nature, and may range from public education programs to community relations, issues/crisis management, integrated marketing communication, internal communication or corporate communication.  Entries must outline the campaign strategy and delivery and include at least two pieces of evidence demonstrating results (e.g. survey results, phone inquiries, measures of outcomes) in addition to media coverage obtained.
• Best Freelance Contribution
  This award recognises freelance journalists, photographers & camera operators. The entry must show editorial independence, resourcefulness, originality, journalistic ability and newsworthiness as well as commitment to the Code of Ethics.
• Best Young Journalist (Silver Award)
  Entrants must be aged 25 or under as at 31 December 2007 and must display creativity, research, technical skills, newsworthiness, writing flair and impact. Entries are not confined to reporting of youth issues - any media coverage may be entered in this category providing the entrant is aged 25 or under. Requires three pieces.
• Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Student Journalism (Silver Award)
  This category is open to students of the University of South Australia's Journalism program.  Items will have been published or broadcast as part of the Journalism program, and will reflect outstanding initiative and/or newsworthiness and technical skill, and adhere to appropriate ethical and legal standards.  Finalists and winners will be selected by the University of South Australia. Final year students are entitled to a free year’s membership of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance.

• Hall of Fame – Contribution To Journalism
  This award recognises long-term commitment and achievement in the industry. Third party nominations to be submitted with relevant supporting material.  Recipient of this award will be chosen by the South Australian Media Awards Advisory Committee.
• Journalist of the Year
  The winner of this award is chosen by the South Australian Media Awards Advisory Committee. Each bronze and silver category winner, excluding Student of the Year, will be a contender for Journalist of the Year.