Ms Adams won the Gold ACM Excellence gong for her outstanding coverage of one of Australia's worst flood disasters in early 2022 and her consistently tenacious reporting for the Lismore community in northern NSW.

She lost her own car in the flood event and was working without power or heating in the early days of the aftermath, but ventured into the disaster zone to share stories of heroism and heartache which were read across Australia.

The Standard, in Warrnambool in Victoria's south-west, was named the Daily Masthead of the Year at the black tie event. The paper marked its 150th anniversary in 2022.

The Lismore City News, launched just 12 months ago, was named Non-Daily Masthead of the Year, while Queensland Country Life took out the agricultural masthead title.

Why regional stories matter

In their second year, the ACM Excellence Awards recognise the highest calibre of regional and rural reportage in Australia, celebrating the stories that strengthen and serve communities across 140 mastheads around the country.

"Regional journalism is the glue that holds our towns together but is often overlooked by a city-focussed media industry when it comes to awards," ACM managing director Tony Kendall said.

"Our editorial staff are breaking news every day in every state and territory of Australia, keeping their communities informed and entertained.

"The local journalism of people like Cathy Adams, who stands shoulder to shoulder with her readers through highs and devastating lows, is vital to a healthy, strong regional Australia," he said.

Punching above their weight

The ACM Young Journalist of the Year Award went to Alanna Tomazin from the Port Stephens Examiner.

Ms Tomazin, 24, is a dedicated reporter who cares deeply about her readers and their stories. She was a key member of the team that produced the innovative Young and Regional: Find Me a Home series.

The Illawarra Mercury, led by editor Gayle Tomlinson, took out a special award for its leadership in the shift to digital news storytelling, while the news story of the year was scooped up by Canberra Times court reporter Blake Foden for his global exclusive on tennis star Nick Kyrgios being charged with assault.

The Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) comes to the rescue of campers stranded on their car by floodwaters at Newbridge near Bendigo in October, 2022. Picture by Darren Howe

A nail-biting image of a dramatic flood rescue from a car roof top handed Darren Howe from the Bendigo Advertiser the best daily news photo of 2022.

Full list of ACM Excellence Awards winners

Gold ACME

Winner: Cathy Adams

Young Journalist of the Year

Winner: Alanna Tomazin

Masthead of the Year - Daily

Winner: The Standard

Masthead of the Year - Non-Daily

Winner: Lismore City News

Masthead of the Year - Agricultural

Winner: Queensland Country Life

Editorial Director's Award for Digital Leadership

Winner: Gayle Tomlinson, Janine Graham and the Illawarra Mercury newsroom

Trainee of the Year

Winner: Rosie Bensley

Mentor of the Year

Winner: Samantha Townsend

Audience Engagement Award

Winner: Hayley Warden, Julia Wythes and Ashley Walmsley

Team Innovation and Collaboration

Winner: Illawarra Mercury

Highly Commended: Samantha Townsend & Stephen Burns

Best Use of Multimedia

Winner: Emma Horn

Highly Commended: Scott Calvin

Campaign of the Year

Winner: Newcastle Herald

Highly Commended: Billy Jupp

Comment Piece of the Year

Winner: Annie Hesse

Highly Commended: Rachael Houlihan

Feature Story of the Year

Winner: Nicholas McGrath

Highly Commended: Helen Gregory

Daily News Story of the Year

Winner: Blake Foden

Highly Commended: Matthew Kelly

Daily Sport Story of the Year

Winner: James Gardiner

Non-Daily News Story of the Year

Winner: Sarah Falson

Highly Commended: Amandine Ahrens

Non-Daily Sport Story of the Year

Winner: Lachlan Harper

Agricultural News Story of the Year

Winner: Quinton McCallum

Property Story of the Year

Winner: Brittney Levinson

Production of the Year

Winner: Josh Hall

Sell of the Year

Winner: Samantha Townsend

Daily News Photo of the Year

Winner: Darren Howe

Highly Commended: Peter Lorimer

Daily Sport Photo of the Year

Winner: Adam McLean

Highly Commended: Anna Warr

Non-Daily Photo of the Year

Winner: Scott Calvin

Highly Commended: Linda Muller

Agricultural News Photo of the Year

Winner: Kelly Butterworth

Magazine of the Year

Winner: Robyn Ainsworth

Highly Commended: Lydia Roberts and team

Commercial Feature of the Year

Winner: Linley Wilkie

Highly Commended: Andrew Lotherington

Paid Content Campaign

Winner: Rosie Ryan