Alumnus of the Year, Regional Achievement (October 2016)
In 2005 Katie Toney (nee Blowers) began her journalism career with the 7 Network as a USC student intern, graduating in 2006 with a Bachelor of Communication. By the end of her final exams, she was employed as a cadet reporter in a full time role at the Bundaberg bureau. Over the last 10 years, Katie has reported on a variety of hard hitting and feature stories such as the Jayant Patel scandal, Daniel Morcombe’s murder, floods and cyclones. In 2015, Katie stepped up to the anchor chair as the fill-in newsreader over summer. Management were so impressed they created a new position, Online Presenter, giving her the opportunity to front the network’s social media push. (Full details via link above.)
7 Queensland's General Manager handpicked Katie for the role after seeing her dedication to the company and ongoing advancement into ‘new age’ media platforms. Recently starting a brand new news service, Katie single-handedly researches, writes and presents a daily online bulletin dedicated to highlighting stories from regional Queensland.
In 2013 Katie won a Queensland Multi Media Award for her work covering Daniel Morcombe’s murder case and funeral. Katie has also researched, written, and presented documentaries on the Gympie Music Muster, Sunshine Coast Surf Clubs, and a tourism special that ran state wide to promote the Sunshine Coast.
Katie contributes to the profession in many ways, most notably by her support of the USC internship program. She is also a mentor to many young reporters, particularly young women, who start their careers at 7 Local News and is a leading example of balancing a career with a family, being a mother of two. As a farmer’s daughter from Gympie, Katie has a passion for rural affairs and the interests of regional communities, donating her time to local charities and events requiring promotion and support.
USC’s Associate Lecturer Journalism and Channel 7 colleague, Rosanna Natoli, remembers first seeing Katie in a tutorial and agreeing with former Head of School, Dr Stephen Lamble, she is ‘one to watch’. “I feel incredibly privileged to have watched Katie develop into the outstanding journalist, producer and presenter that she is today. Katie is an innovator, and an extremely hard worker with a fine-tuned regional focus who is leading the way in the Queensland media landscape".
Please note: this is archival information and may not reflect the recipients' current work details.