Wright told Dannews.co.nz she is excited to have been given the opportunity to work with some of the best in the news business.

“I’m looking forward to getting my feet under the desk and learning how everything works from an amazing team of people at CNN. It’s all happened during the election campaign so it hasn’t really sunk in It almost feels like it’s happening to someone else.”

Among the team at CNN in Hong Kong are former TVNZ reporter Phil O’Sullivan and popular Australian anchor, Anna Coren.

Rebecca is very proud of 3 News’ coverage of this year’s election and lists it among highlights of her four years at TV3.

Her last day at 3 News is 7 December and she starts at CNN International on December 19.

- Dan News

For the first time in TV3′s history, 3 News’ election coverage was the first choice for 25-54 year olds, the target demographic for both TV3 and TV One.

Presented by John Campbell and Duncan Garner, the 3 News election special was watched by 23% more 25-54 year-olds than TV One.

TV3′s coverage averaged a 9.0 rating and 27.5% share in the 25-54 demographic. In comparison, TV One’s coverage averaged a 7.3 rating and a 22. 1% share.

TV3′s election coverage was also first choice with younger viewers, dominating the 18-39 and 18-49 demographics.

New Zealanders have been quick to take up the invitation to ‘See if First’ with over 10,000 downloads to date. More than 15,000 pages are being viewed each day, and those numbers continue to climb.

The app is a great way to get up-to-the-minute information from 3 News’ award-winning newsroom, including high quality video, and is easy to navigate and share.

As well as the latest news and video from NZ and around the world, the app has accurate weather information, video from flagship TV programmes 3 News, Firstline, Campbell Live, 60 Minutes, Nightline, Sports Tonight and The Nation, plus photo galleries, blogs and more.

MediaWorks Director of Interactive, Siobhan McKenna says: “It’s exciting to get our iPad app out there, and make it available to the audience in the lead-up to the general election, a time of high demand for news and current affairs content.

“User requirements are high for apps so Tom Jackson our Product Manager has taken the time and care to ensure we deliver the best news video experience on iPad in the market.

“Our audience is certainly telling us that they’re happy.”

3 News – See It First app (version 1.0) features:

· The latest and breaking news from 3News.co.nz, including national, world, sports, entertainment, politics, business, technology, environment, and lifestyle news.

· High quality video from 3News, Firstline, Campbell Live, 60 Minutes, Nightline, Sports Tonight and The Nation

· Photo Galleries viewable in full screen and any orientation

· Accurate weather for your region and around the country

· Blogs from the 3News resident and guest bloggers

· The ability to easily share articles with your friends via Facebook, Twitter and email

· Offline browsing by downloading articles to your iPad through any wireless connection for use when you don’t have an internet connection and to save on 3G data usage

Download it now at http://itunes.apple.com/app/3-news-see-it-first/id477563885?mt=8

Someone needs to start a Paddy Gower Appreciation Society.

The win has special meaning for Hilary, and the wider 3 News team, as it recognizes her anchoring role in TV3’s breaking news coverage of the Christchurch earthquake in February.

Hamish Clark, who was first to report from the scene in Christchurch as the aftershocks continued, won the Best News Reporting award and was named Journalist of the Year.

Director of News and Current Affairs, Mark Jennings says:

“Hilary Barry has had a huge year, presenting and reporting from Christchurch during the earthquake, the African famine and the Rena grounding. The way she anchored the breaking news coverage during the earthquake was truly world class and she deserves this award very much.

“Hamish Clark was one of a group of Christchurch reporters who risked their own safety to report live during the earthquake. The fact that his coverage was carried by every major network around the world says it all.

“The Campbell Live team carried out many investigations this year. Their look into where the aid money given to Samoa after the Tsunami went…..or rather didn’t go, was one of the most important and John Campbell ‘s ability to hold people to account fills me with pride and admiration.”

Campbell Live also won big on the night, with John Campbell, Pip Keane and Claudine MacLean sharing the prestigious Investigation of the Year award for their investigation into the use of aid money raised after the Tsunami that devastated Samoa.

TV3’s run of comedy success continued, with top-rating comedy panel show 7 Days taking home the NZ On Air Best Comedy or Comedy Series Award, and its host Jeremy Corbett named Best Presenter – Entertainment/Factual.

Madeleine Sami, star of comedy series Super City, won the Best Performance by an Actress award.

Director of Programming, Kelly Martin comments:

“In a year where New Zealanders have needed laughter more than ever, it is fantastic to have the success of TV3’s local comedy recognized across 7 Days and Super City.

“I am also very pleased that Missing Pieces and Secret Lives of Dancers have taken two of the big awards of the night – and happy to say that viewers can look forward to new series of these great shows in 2012.

“These awards are a tribute to the production teams, our commissioners, and everyone who contributes to local programming.”

Set behind the scenes of the Royal NZ Ballet, The Secret Lives of Dancers won the award for Best Observational Reality Series, while Missing Pieces was named Best Constructed Reality Series.

TV3’s other awards saw Best Director Documentary going to Annie Goldson for Brother Number One, which will screen on TV3 in 2012; James Griffin winning Best Script – Drama/Comedy for his work on the final season of Outrageous Fortune; and Best Cinematography Documentary/Factual awarded to David Paul for The Banker, The Escorts, and The $18 Million. Images & Sound Best Editing Drama/Comedy went to Allanah Milne for Stolen, and 3 News’ Cameron Williams won Best News Camera.

Dean Cornish and Nick Dwyer shared the Best Director – Entertainment/Factual award for Making Tracks, which screened on C4.