“The Speight Coup”
Publication
National Nine News, Nine Network
Year
2000
Category
All Media: Television News Reporting
Hugh Riminton has been a journalist for more than 20 years, with more than half of this time spent reporting for the Nine Network. This is his first Walkley Award, although he was a finalist in 1998 and last year received commendation for his coverage of the Kosovo crisis. His award-winning piece was the first exclusive interview with Fiji coup leader George Speight, and it was followed by a second exclusive, when his coverage revealed the Fijian president’s secret talks on forming an emergency administration.
Judges’ comments:
“George Speight was the man everyone wanted to hear from – Hugh Riminton got the interview and handled it with aplomb.”