Donna Page is an investigative reporter for The Newcastle Herald, where she previously worked as Chief-of-Staff and Day Editor. She also ran a mentoring program at The Newcastle Herald for several years and regularly works on investigations with other staff as part of the paper’s training program. Page has worked for The South China Morning Post and Portuguese news agency Lusa, covering news and business. She also spent several years as an investigative reporter for a Chinese/English current affairs magazine Macau Closer, based in Macau on China’s southeastern coast. Passionate about regional journalism, Page won Walkley Awards for Coverage of Community and Regional Affairs in 2016, 2019 and 2020 and was a finalist in 2013. She was also part of a Newcastle Herald team that won a United Nations Association of Australia award for environment reporting in 2015. The mother of two has taught journalism at the University of Newcastle since 2016. She is driven by her belief that regional and rural journalism is at the heart of local communities, as well as by her passion for giving a voice to those without a voice. Over the past 25 years, Page has seen huge changes in the regional media landscape as outlets face increasing financial strain and newsrooms dwindle. Despite the challenging conditions, she believes regional and rural media outlets must continue to stand up for their communities and pursue public interest journalism, championing local people, issues and events. “Too often regional and rural communities get lost in the noise,” she said. “Local journalists are responsible for ensuring local stories are told, injustices are revealed and power is held to account.”
The WIN Network is home to 17 news bureaus across Australia, more than 80 news staff and services a population of more than 8 million people.
Stella is responsible for 13 half hour news bulletins each weeknight, and more than 100 news updates a day.
Stella started her career as a reporter at WIN Television in the early 90’s after graduating with a Masters in Journalism from the University of Wollongong and quickly rose to the position of Newsroom Chief of Staff at WIN Network headquarters in Wollongong.
After leading the flagship newsroom to record ratings, Stella moved to Channel 9 in Sydney as Assistant Chief of Staff, Producer and covered breaking national and international news as Reporter for many years.
While working at Channel 9, Stella also lectured at the University of Wollongong, passing her knowledge and skills to post-graduate students studying Broadcast Journalism both here and UOW offshore campuses.
Stella is proud to have a long list of successful regional and metropolitan journalists she has mentored over her career spanning 27 years – and credits WIN Television for employing thousands of journalists and camera operators over a 50 year period.