The Australian Wins Brand of the Year at News Awards
The national outlet secured top honours at the 22nd annual ceremony held at Sydney's Press Hall.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Style — General
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The Australian has been named Brand of the Year at the 2026 News Awards. The publication was recognised for its work in national investigations, corporate reporting, and digital publishing strategy.
Why it matters
These awards highlight the industry's top contributors across various editorial categories, ranging from business reporting to photography. The ceremony serves to acknowledge significant journalistic efforts and professional excellence within the Australian media landscape.
The awards ceremony marked its 22nd annual iteration in Sydney. Coles Magazine was additionally recognised as Lifestyle Brand of the Year.
The players
The Australian
This is a major national newspaper in Australia that publishes comprehensive news, political analysis, and business reporting.
Jay Clark
He is an award-winning journalist recognised for his impactful sports reporting and ability to break significant news stories.
Sharri Markson
She is a prominent investigative journalist known for leading high-profile reports and deep-dive analysis on national issues.
Coles Magazine
This is a popular lifestyle publication that provides food, cooking, and home-related content to Australian readers.
Rod Savage
He is a respected media professional who received the Chairman's Award for his enduring contributions to the field.
The details
At the event, several individual journalists and teams were honoured for their specific contributions, including Jay Clark, who won both Scoop of the Year and Best Sports Journalism. Other winners included Sharri Markson for Investigation of the Year and Gera Kazakov, who took home the Photograph of the Year for an image captured in Alice Springs.
Timeline
The 22nd annual News Awards ceremony took place on 21 October 2026.
The Sir Keith Murdoch Journalist of the Year award is scheduled for November 2026.
Culture Shift
The 2026 News Awards ceremony follows the established pattern of annual industry galas designed to reward excellence in a rapidly evolving digital news environment. These accolades reflect a broader societal trend where high-quality investigations and targeted digital strategies define institutional prestige.
Readers can expect to see continued investment in the investigative and digital reporting styles that led to these award-winning outcomes. Engaging with this content provides the public with a direct look at the stories and photography that the industry considers to be the standard for high-quality journalism.
The takeaway
Journalism awards serve as a vital marker for readers to identify high-quality reporting and professional standards in a crowded media market. Monitoring these award-winning outlets can help you curate your daily news diet with content that has been peer-reviewed and recognised for excellence.
What happens next
The Sir Keith Murdoch Journalist of the Year Award will be announced at the News Awards Gala Dinner in November 2026.
Further reading
For more information on the latest industry trends, visit the Style — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mediaweek.
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