The 69th Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism have been presented in Sydney.
Radio was represented in the long and short audio categories, the ABC and triple j’s Hack triumphing in the latter for its Behind Closed Doors investigation.
The coveted Gold Walkley was awarded to the Building Bad investigation, with reports broken by journalists across The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes.
Winners were selected by the Walkley Judging Board in October, after first round peer-judging in September.
This year the Walkley Foundation required entrants to declare chequebook journalism, and introduced more rigorous reporting of AI and legal challenges, with a checking process that includes assistance from three integrity observers.
Some of the winners are listed below. Find the full list here.
ALL MEDIA: COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS, OPINION AND CRITIQUE
Award Partner Thomson Geer Lawyers
David Leser, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, ‘The war in Gaza: Not in my Jewish name’ (1,2,3)
ALL MEDIA: EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM
Faster, higher, stronger team, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, ‘Faster, higher, stronger’ (1,2,3)
ALL MEDIA: COVERAGE OF INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
Caroline Graham, Kylie Stevenson and Tilda Colling, The Australian, ‘NT Schools in Crisis’ (1,2,3)
ALL MEDIA: SPORTS JOURNALISM
Award Partner University of Queensland
Michael Warner, Herald Sun, ‘White Line Fever: AFL illicit drugs crisis’ (1,2,3)
AUDIO SHORT (UNDER 20 MINUTES)
Award Partner ABC
Ayla Darling and Hannah Palmer, Triple J, Hack, and ABC Investigations, ‘Behind closed doors: How one child’s voice exposed the dangers of rape inside mental health hospitals‘
AUDIO LONG (OVER 20 MINUTES)
Award Partner McGrathNicol
Paul Farrell and the Background Briefing Team, ABC, Background Briefing, ‘Stop and Search’ (1,2,3)
DIGITAL MEDIA: INNOVATION JOURNALISM
Award Partner Master Builders Australia
Guardian Australia team, Guardian Australia, ‘Leaving Gaza‘
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO JOURNALISM
Robert Gottliebsen AM
2024 GOLD WALKLEY
Building Bad Team – The Age, SMH, AFR and 60 Minutes, Nine, ‘Building Bad‘