It was a night of pride and power  as HOT 1027’s Tara Penny was awarded Woman in Media and the overall Woman of Stature 2025 title at a glittering awards ceremony this weekend.  

In an emotional pair of acceptance speeches, Tara paid tribute to the entire HOT 1027 newsroom — the only all-female team nominated together in the history of the awards — and reflected on her personal mission as a journalist: to tell stories that “inspire people and make them tick.”  

“This kind of storytelling goes hand in glove with the ethos of HOT 1027” she told the audience. “We seek out the heroes, mavericks, survivors and innovators. And to me, that’s the kind of stature worth striving for. 

Awards Ceremony that Recognises Excellence in Journalism 

” Tara’s passion for integrity, her deep respect for the people she interviews, and her gratitude for her team came through clearly as she described the privilege of doing what she loves every day — surrounded by colleagues she calls “the best in the business.” 

Her win is not just a personal triumph but a recognition of the power of journalism that uplifts, informs, and sparks change — and a reminder that storytelling, in the right hands, can move mountains. 

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