How a journalist walks the fine line of objectivity and being just another person. 

That is the basis for The Border Mail’s Nigel McNay and his nomination for the Chris Watson Award for outstanding regional print reporting. 

McNay’s article, published on June 6, 2015, partly centres on his time as a young journalist, when he would often need to interview people at their darkest time.

Kennedy Foundation Trustee Adam Walters said the subject and the depth of the feeling in the article were what grabbed the attention of the judging panel. 

“Les Kennedy was a crime reporter and the emotional rigors of his (McNay's) story tapped a rich vein of empathy among many of the judges,” Mr Walters said. 

“We are human and we bleed. I remember covering the Bali bombings and to his eternal credit, Les took time out of his day to walk over to me and my cameraman and ask ‘how are you guys going’. 

“The wily old fox that he was he could tell that hanging around all of this grief was taking its toll on us. 

“So in the spirit of Les Kennedy and the foundation that aims to helps journos through hardships, Nigel’s story really hit the mark.”

McNay will be coming up against stiff competition from two other regional newspapers for the Chris Watson award. More than 100 finalists across 34 categories were recently announced out of 540 entries from throughout NSW.

Mr Walters said the Border Mail journalist stood a good chance to take home the gong. 

“It’s like the FA Cup for journalism, you can have the Border Mail up against Liz Hayes and their money and resources,” he said.

“But if the story is good enough, it’ll win.”The Kennedy Foundation awards are only four years old but already they have shown to honour the best the Australian media has to offer.  

“When it comes to the high-end journalistic awards, we’ve become the Golden Globes because we’re not just a bellwether for the Walkley Awards, but we foreshadow the major award winners,” Mr Walters said. 

“As a former crime reporter as well, I often say, the drive home is never long enough. 

“And the adjustment can be something as simple getting in trouble for leaving your socks on the floor after you’ve spent all day drowning in the tears of victims. 

“And that’s a daily battle for journalists.” 

A gala presentation ceremony takes place at Royal Randwick’s grand ballroom on August 7.