Irish Examiner columnist and journalist Michael Clifford was today named 2016 NewsBrands Ireland Journalist of the Year at a ceremony in Mansion House, Dublin.
Clifford (pictured), who also won Broadsheet Columnist of the Year, was singled out by the judging panel for a body of work that consistently demonstrated the “basic characteristics of good journalism”.
Professor John Horgan, chairman of the judging panel, spoke of the decision-making process that saw Michael Clifford crowned Journalist of the Year.
“You are not just comparing apples and oranges: you’re comparing them with all sorts of other exotic fruit,” he said. “Features and news, broadsheets and popular papers, scoops and series, sports and crime, columnists and reporters – they are all in the mix, and properly so.”
“That said, the person who emerged as the overall winner is a journalist who has demonstrated that, although he is a winner in one category, he would be equally at home in several others,” Professor Horgan said.
Read: Read today’s Michael Clifford column here: In the absence of vision, the goal is a return to pre-crash days
“In everything Michael Clifford does – commentary, analysis, exposés – he is driven by the three basic characteristics of good journalism in any paper, on any topic, and in any age: evidence, accuracy, and fair-mindedness. And good writing, of course – that goes without saying.”
#mickclifford wins overall @journoawards16 yahoo! @irishexaminer #iestaff pic.twitter.com/LlTxLjR5IC via @cathshan
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) November 3, 2016
Mr Clifford’s citation for Columnist of the Year praised “a writer whose commentaries and analysis are invariably grounded in careful research and inquiry. They are distinguished by their sharp insight and their balanced judgment. They are presented in a writing style that is strong, courageous, lucid and accessible. They are always constructed on a solid factual framework and the distinction between fact and opinion is always made clear.
“[He] uses sources skilfully and is meticulous in protecting them even when his work is challenged. The range and variety of his work is extensive, encompassing many issues from sexual equality to rural decline, to politics, to crime, policing and criminal justice.
“He is an exemplar of considered, thoughtful, researched journalism in an era when these qualities are increasingly rare and often under threat.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Journalist of the Year: Michael Clifford, Irish Examiner
Standing ovation for @Mickcliff Journalist of the Year! #journoawards16 pic.twitter.com/s5yz3g7VoQ
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Business Journalist of the Year: Tom Lyons, The Sunday Business Post
And the first award of the day, Business Journalist is won by @TomLyonsBiz of @sundaybusiness. Congratulations Tom! #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Business Story of the Year: Fearghal O’Connor, The Sunday Business Post
Next up is Business Story and the winner is Fearghal O'Connor of @sundaybusiness. That's two out of two for @sundaybusiness #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Columnist of the Year – Broadsheet: Michael Clifford, Irish Examiner
Winner of Columnist of the Year, in a broadsheet title is Michael Clifford of @irishexaminer Congratulations! #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Columnist of the Year – Popular: Paddy Murray, Sunday World
And Columnist of the Year in a '"popular" title goes to Paddy Murray of the Sunday World #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Crime Journalist of the Year: Nicola Tallant, Sunday World
Winner Crime Journalist @nicolatallantsw #journoawards16 pic.twitter.com/uEDFS6LjFO
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Crime Story of the Year: Alan Sherry, Sunday World
Crime Story is won by Alan Sherry, also of Sunday World. Sunday World cleaning up in the crime categories #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Critic of the Year: Patrick Freyne, The Irish Times
Critic of the Year goes to Patrick Freyne of @IrishTimes. Congratulations Patrick #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Digital Innovation Award: The Irish Times, Remembering the 1916 Rising
Digital Innovation won by @IrishTimes for Remembering 1916 #journoawards16. @FuJoMedia pic.twitter.com/SipoMxF1cC
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Feature Writer of the Year (Popular): Catherine Fegan, Irish Daily Mail / The Irish Mail on Sunday
Feature Writer in a popular news title goes to Catherine Fegan, Irish Daily Mail. Congratulations Catherine #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Feature Writer of the Year (Broadsheet): Susan Mitchell, The Sunday Business Post
Feature Writer in a broadsheet title goes to Susan Mitchell of @sundaybusiness. Congratulations Susan #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Foreign Coverage of the Year: Jason O’Brien, Irish Independent
Our next award is for Foreign Coverage and the winner is Jason O’Brien of @Independent_ie. Congratulations Jason! #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Front Page of the Year: The Herald, ‘Hotel Killers’
The award for best front page goes to The Herald for its Hotel Killers page #journoawards16 pic.twitter.com/Pikj3NcdEo
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Headline of the Year: The Irish Sun, ‘Charlie Chaplain’
Headline of the Year is awarded to The Irish Sun for Charlie Chaplain #journoawards16 pic.twitter.com/dO96CK84so
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Investigative Journalism of the Year: Peter Murtagh, The Irish Times
Investigative Journalism is won by Peter Murtagh of @IrishTimes. Congratulations Peter #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
News Analysis of the Year: Rosita Boland, The Irish Times
News Analysis is up next. And the winner is Rosita Boland, @IrishTimes. Congratulations Rosita #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
News Reporter of the Year: Patrick O’Connell, Irish Daily Star / Sunday World
News Reporter is awarded to Patrick O'Connell of the Irish Daily Star and Sunday World #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Political Journalist of the Year: Jody Corcoran, Sunday Independent
Political Journalist is won by Jody Corcoran of Sunday Independent. Congratulations Jody #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Political Story of the Year: Niamh Horan, Sunday Independent
Political Story is won by Niamh Horan of @Independent_ie. Congratulations Niamh #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Showbiz Journalist of the Year: Ken Sweeney, The Irish Sun
Showbiz Journalist is won by Ken Sweeney of The Irish Sun. Congratulations Ken #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Showbiz Story of the Year: Maeve Quigley, Irish Daily Mirror
Showbiz Story goes to Maeve Quigley of Irish Mirror. Congratulations Maeve #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Sports Story of the Year: Vincent Hogan, Irish Independent
Sports Story goes to Vincent Hogan of @independent_ie. Well done Vincent #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Sports Writer of the Year: Neil Francis, Sunday Independent
The award for Sports Writer goes to Neil Francis of Sunday Independent. Congrats Neil #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Scoop of the Year: Sunday World Crime Team, Sunday World
The Sunday World Crime Team wins Scoop of the Year for coverage of Regency Hotel shootings #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
Young Journalist of the Year: Sean Dunne, Irish Daily Mail
Our Young Journalist award winner is Sean Dunne, Irish DailyMail #journoawards16
— NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) November 3, 2016
