Nelson Weekly journalist Phillip Rollo has won two national awards for his work.
The 21 year old earned the praise of judges at the annual New Zealand Football Media Association Awards and was judged the Regional-Community Writer of the Year and Best Single Image in the photographer of the year section. Phillip, who began working at the Nelson Weekly and Waimea Weekly newspapers after leaving Nayland College, says the awards are a huge honour. “I’m pretty pleased and excited. I love covering football and it’s great to have national judges praise your work.”
Weekly publisher Steve Page says Phillip deserves the recognition.
“Phillip has been with us straight out of school and his passion has been there the whole time. We saw something special in him early on and it’s great to see him recognised in this way. As newspapers we’re enjoying great success in the market, taking on more staff and now our staff are winning national awards, it’s all good news for our newspapers.”
Judge Bob Pearce said Phillip’s writing entry was strong and covered a good range of topics. “He writes in a shorter format that demands a skill of its own.”
The image that won the best single photo was of the Westlake Boys’ High players celebrating after the national schoolboy championships in Nelson last year. “This leapt out from all the images submitted – it was immediately engaging and a cool moment. The combination of jubilation, dejection in the background and the sprinkling of rain work together to make this photo an emotional sports moment,” said the judges.
