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30 July 2021
Regional SA Journalist Recognised for Australian Bushfire Coverage
Brittany Evins
Journalist at ABC News
Bachelor of Journalism
After earning a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of South Australia in 2016, Brittany Evins joined ABC News in their regional south-west branch as a reporter serving the Riverland and Mallee community with the news they need every day.
A vital part of the small team in the ABC's Renmark office, Brittany has proved her mettle pitching, writing, shooting and producing online, television, radio and social media stories for both ABC News and ABC News 24, as well as three daily local radio bulletins on 1062 ABC Riverland.
Here she has found great success, with her skills running the complete gamut of what it means to be a modern journalist – also managing and monitoring multiple social media accounts and platforms for the station, all while creating and broadcasting these local stories.
An emerging star in her field Brittany was awarded 2017 Best Rural Television Award and a Highly Commended at the recent Rural Media Awards. Now she has also snagged the highly-coveted 'Best TV/Video News Repor't award in the bronze category for her coverage of the South Australian bushfires at the SA Media Awards.
As a journalist in the area for five years, Brittany reflects on the lives and times she has captured producing online, television, radio and social media stories for ABC News, particularly the recent bushfires that devastated the Riverland region she continues to cover.
“I experienced so many emotions working on this [Australian bushfire] story and can confidently say it was one of the most rewarding but challenging stories that I’ve done,” Brittany says.
“It was important to me that the story was constructive and solutions-based, rather than re-hashing the fear and disaster of the event.”
“I feel so privileged to have been able to build some wonderfully strong connections with so many Adelaide Hills residents and can’t thank them enough for their time and confidence in me.”
Brittany was just one of the many outstanding journalists recognised in the recent SA Media Awards, presented by the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) recognise excellence in South Australian journalism.
Announced on 25 June 2021 at the National Wine Centre, the awards honoured candidates across categories including opinion, regional, sports, investigative, radio, photography and digital.
Brittany’s award was jointly supported by the MEAA and ABC News and was recognised as a highly competitive category with entries of a high calibre in the judges’ citation.
“Brittany Evins’ work stands out for its detail and storytelling,” the judges wrote in their comments. “Giving a human face to the consequences of the disastrous bushfires in South Australia, her work informed the public about what happens after the news cycle moves on.”
“Building on her experience in reporting the initial bushfire crisis, Brittany used the traditional journalistic skill of relationship building to develop a genuine rapport with the subjects and produced distinct, sensitive stories explaining the slow process of rebuilding, while connecting recovery to related news issues of post-disaster administration, mental health, environmental regeneration, and the COVID era.”
Brittany describes receiving the 'Best TV/Video News Report' award in the bronze category for her coverage of the South Australian bushfires at the SA Media Awards as a “pinch yourself” moment.
“The story took a lot of time, effort and love to produce but was wonderfully rewarding. I couldn’t have done it without the support and help from my colleagues at the ABC.”
“Journalism is a tough career but it’s one that gives back as much as you put in,” she says.
“Every day I’m able to produce a piece of work that educates just one person, or evokes feeling in someone is the greatest reward.”
UniSA alumni Lincoln Rothall, Ben Kelly and Royce Kurmelovs were also awarded at the ceremony for their outstanding contributions to journalism in the fields of TV/video camerawork, photography and freelance writing, respectively.
Current UniSA student Helen Karakulak received the Julie Duncan Memorial Award for Student Journalism for her dedication and leadership in the student journalism space.
View the full list of SA Media Awards here and to find out more about Journalism at UniSA and our graduates visit the website here.
To keep up to date with Brittany Evins’ reporting of the Riverland follow her Twitter feed here.
