Top journalism wins for Haymarket Australia IT titles

Winner Ry Crozier (left)

Haymarket Media Australia’s iTnews.com.au reporter Ry Crozier was named Australia’s Best News Journalist and personal computing title PC Authority won Best Personal Technology Coverage at the Red Rock IT journalism awards, Australia’s top awards for IT journalism.

Crozier was on hand to pick up his award – known as a “Lizzie” – as were PC Authority’s Zara Baxter and Will Maher. PC Authority also received a highly commended mention for Best Magazine of the Year.

Crozier said: “I was convinced I didn’t have a shot so when the announcement was made it was a big surprise, albeit a pleasant one.

“Credit has to go to Haymarket managing director Jeremy Vaughan for investing in a crack team of journalists, editor in chief Nate Cochrane, editor Brett Winterford and reporter Liz Tay at a time when there wasn’t a lot of money being pumped into tech.”

Crozier beat out top journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review to take home the Lizzie.

Former Australian technology journalist and category judge Agnes King said Ry’s “type of journalism should be rewarded and aspired to,” while Lia Timson, one of the judges in the Personal Techonology Coverage category, said: “PC Authority’s entries demonstrate superb research skills, insight, attention to detail and are of great interest to readers.”

Will Maher said of PC Authority’ win: “It’s great to be recognised for the extra lengths PC Authority goes to in testing and providing in-depth product advice. There is a crowd of blogs and technology magazines vying for reader’s attention, and half the battle for readers is knowing who to trust. Our reputation is built on reviews delivered by experts with many years of experience, and done in a way that demystifies technology. This award is a credit to them.”

This is the second year that PC Authority has won the Best Personal Techonology Coverage award, beating competitors such as CNET, Lifehacker, PCWorld and APC magazine. It also comes after last year’s win at the Australian Magazine Awards where PC Authority picked up the Best Computing and Games Magazine.

The Lizzies were given out at the StarCity Casino in Sydney on Friday, April 16.