The names of the 30 finalists for the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) 2014 Journalism Awards for Excellence have been released from the location of the society's annual AGM and Convention, in Fiji.

Each award category winner will be announced at a gala presentation evening at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa, on Saturday, 1 November 2014.

“Appreciatively supported by the travel industry in the way of sponsorship and prizing, each award category represents the high quality of work that our members have produced over the last 12 months,” said ASTW president Kerry Heaney.

“The judges, who we thank for volunteering both their time and expertise, have been working tirelessly to evaluate each category and the number of entries that were received. We are pleased to announce today's finalists and look forward to celebrating with the winners on Saturday.”

Finalists for each category include:

• Travel Writer of the Year Award, sponsored by Tourism Fiji:

Belinda Jackson for Return to Eden, Colour my world and Tripping the light fantastic; Ben Groundwater for Night Visions After Dark, The type of town that makes travelling great and Gone Native, no Bula; Tim Richards for Pack it in: how to travel with only carry-on luggage, Illuminating signs of the times and Shift in the cool; and Brian Johnston for Matters of grave concern, Ringstrasse cycle and Naked glories

• PR Communicator or Communications Team of the Year Award, sponsored by TravMedia:

No finalists announced prior to the winner being announced on Saturday

• Photographer of the Year Award, sponsored by Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority:

Cameron Cope for High Country Stockman and Fist and Magic - Senegal Wrestlers, Kara Murphy for Enchanted cave, Roderick Eime for Burma Brickworker and Angela Saurine for Dawn on the Ganges River Varanasi

• Best Australian Story Under 1000 Words Award, sponsored by Tourism Australia:

Christine Retschlag for Raw Ambition, a healthy deal, Daniel Scott for Welcome to the hottest town in Australia and Cameron Cope for Myths and mountains

• Best Australian Story Over 1000 Words Award, sponsored by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia:

Robert Upe for The Ghan: as good as gold, Marie Barbieri for Sydney's Harbour Islands and Kerry van der Jagt for Saltwater Dreaming

• Best International Story Under 1000 Words Award, sponsored by Macau Government Tourist Office:

Brian Johnston for Naked Glories, Craig Tansley for Exploring Colombia's Ancient City of Cartegna and Daniel Scott for Bar/fly Wimbeldon Common

• Best International Story Over 1000 Words Award, sponsored by InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa:

Daniel Scott for Brighton, England: Scenes from the seaside, Ben Groundwater for Night Visions After Dark and Robert McFarland for Working on the chain gang

• Best Adventure Travel Story Award, sponsored by World Expeditions:

Louise Southerden for Climbing the walls, Roderick Eime for Spirit of Africa, Catherine Marshall for Mystic Rivers and Glenn A Baker for Climbing with tigers in Bhutan

•  Best Responsible Tourism Story Award, sponsored by The Travel Corporation:

Rob Dunlop for Sports starts kick-start Kokoda campaign, Belinda Jackson for Sustainable Melbourne and Sheriden Rhodes for Bonding on the Beach

• Outstanding Tourism Organisation or Travel Product Award, sponsored by PPR:

No finalists announced prior to the winner being announced on Saturday

• Best Food Travel Story Award, sponsored by Intrepid Travel:

Jocelyn Pride for Tracy's Crab Shack, Georgia Rickard for The greatest gourmet secret of 2013, Christine Retschlag for Rough road from prison gate to plate and Briar Jensen for Culinary Cape Malay

• Best Cruise Travel Story, with a prize provided by TravMedia:

Brian Johnston for Afloat in a French idyll, Kerry van der Jagt for Awash with tall tales and Belinda Jackson for Search for the glow

• ·   Best Luxury Travel Story, sponsored by Inspired Luxury and Elite Havens:

Craig Tansley for Aspen in summer, Louise Southerden for Wildly indulgent and Brian Johnston for God it looks like Daniel

• Best use of Digital - Writer, with a prize provided by Wotif:

Annabel Candy for Get in the Hot Spot, Lee Mylne for A Glass Half Full, Christina Pfieffer for TRAVELTHERENEXT and Christine Retschlag for The Global Goddess

• Best Travel Book, with a prize provided by TravMedia:

Danielle Lancaster for 4WD Treks Close to Brisbane, Lee Mylne for A Glass Half Full and other travel stories, Louise Southerden for Adventures on Earth and Christine Retschlag for Destination Desire - The Global Goddess, a single woman's journey

• Best Family Travel Story Award, with a prize provided by Outrigger Resorts:

Sheriden Rhodes for The Big Trip, Tiana Templeman for Racing road trains in a campervan and Helen Hayes for Snow heaven in Innsbruck

• Best PR Campaign Award, with a prize provided by Sidekicker:

No finalists announced prior to the winner being announced on Saturday

For more information on the ASTW and the Award for Journalism Excellence, visit www.astw.org.au or follow #ASTW2014.

For more information, please contact:

Annike Morgan

PR Member 2014 ASTW Committee

amorgan@ppr.com.au

+61 411 425 549