The race for global sports media recognition has once again highlighted Oceania’s remarkable storytelling talent, with photographers, writers, filmmakers and broadcasters from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea earning prestigious places in the continental rankings of the 2025 AIPS Sport Media Awards. The rankings, unveiled following the awards ceremony at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, celebrate the region’s most compelling sports narratives and visual masterpieces.
Leading the charge in photography were some of Oceania’s finest image-makers, whose work captured defining moments across international sport. New Zealand’s Aaron Gillions topped the Photography Sport Action category with his stunning rugby image Tupaea on Fire, while Australia’s Adam Pretty dominated the Photography Portfolio section through a collection of breathtaking aquatic and sporting visuals that demonstrated exceptional creativity and technical excellence.
The video categories showcased the growing strength of sports filmmaking in the region. Australian photographer Ryan Pierse secured top honours in Video Short Feature for his behind-the-scenes coverage of Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari test, while New Zealand journalist Michael Burgess claimed first place in Video Documentary with his powerful production exploring the untold story of the country’s only schoolboy All Black. Their success underlined Oceania’s ability to blend emotion, history and elite sport into compelling visual narratives.
In the writing divisions, journalists delivered stories that went far beyond results and statistics. Michael Burgess once again emerged as a standout performer by winning the Best Colour Piece category, while Australia’s Julian Linden topped the Opinion Column rankings with his thought-provoking feature A Golden Apology. Stories highlighting resilience, identity, social challenges and personal triumphs demonstrated the transformative power of sports journalism across the region.
The continental rankings represent a significant milestone in the road to global recognition, reflecting performances across five rounds of judging by AIPS experts, executive committee members and an international jury. With 1,987 submissions from 130 nationalities received for the 2025 edition, the rankings reaffirm Oceania’s growing influence in sports media and celebrate the storytellers whose work continues to inspire audiences both within the region and around the world.
