What distinguishes journalism from many other forms of writing is that, at its best, it can throw light on to the darker recesses of our society, the Law Society of Ireland director general, Mr Ken Murphy, said yesterday.
"It can give a voice to people who otherwise may never be heard," he said at the presentation in Dublin of the society's Justice Media Awards.
RTE's Legal Affairs Correspondent, Ms Mary Wilson, received this year's overall award for her exclusive interview with a former nun, Ms Nora Wall, who last year was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, only to be freed five days later on the instructions of the DPP. Ms Wilson received a cheque for £1,000.
Other winners were:
Daily newspapers
Justice Award: Nuala Haughey, The Irish Times; Certificates of Merit: Mary Dundon, Irish Examiner; Michael Foley, for an article published in The Irish Times.
Non-daily newspapers
Justice Award: Mark O'Connell, Sunday Business Post; Certificate of Merit: Jimmy Woulfe, Limerick Leader.
Magazines
Justice Award: Mairead Carey, Magill; Certificate of Merit: Stephen Brady, Consumer Choice.
Books
Justice Award: Liz Walsh and Rita O'Reilly, for The People versus Catherine Nevin; Certificate of Merit: Paul Cullen of The Irish Times for his monograph, Refugees and Asylum-seekers in Ireland.
Radio
Justice Award: Barry Cummins of Today FM.
Television
Justice Award: Diarmuid Peavoy, RTE's Nationwide programme; Certificate of Merit, Annette O'Donnell, RTE News.