ABC journalist Emily Baker from the Hobart newsroom has been named Young Journalist of the Year at the Walkley Foundation’s Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism, announced in Sydney last night.
Kate Ashton from ABC News Darwin won for Coverage of Community and Regional Affairs and Joey Watson for Longform Feature or Special.
Sally Sara and Victoria Pengilley were awarded the June Andrews Award for Women’s Leadership in Media for their series of ABC Radio reports on the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan, “Taliban interview“, “Shukria Barakzai” and “Hasina Safi“.
Baker’s award was for her series of articles exposing the behaviour of Tasmanian politician Adam Brooks – a story that also won the Public Service category.
Baker said: “Regional journalism really matters. Tasmania doesn’t always get a lot of attention but things that happen in Tasmania really matter. The work that we do makes an impact.”
Last month Baker was also named Tasmanian Journalist of the Year for this reporting.
The Walkley Judging Board said Baker’s entry stood out among a strong field.
“Emily Baker’s extraordinary series of stories unearthed shocking revelations of harassment, deception and denial at the highest levels of Tasmanian politics,” they said.
“Her persistence in the face of attempts by political leaders to block her investigations with threats of defamation and to belittle her publicly, showed determination and dedication. These stories may never have come to light otherwise.
“The stories were powerful and impactful, they encouraged public debate about the conduct expected of our political representatives. And importantly they forced resignations and changed Tasmanian politics for the better.”
The full list of ABC winners:
Young Australian Journalist of the Year
Emily Baker, ABC Hobart
Longform feature or special
Joey Watson, Earshot, Radio National, ABC, “Everyone wants to be Fuhrer“
Coverage of community and regional affairs
Kate Ashton, ABC News Darwin, “NT COVID outbreak traps Binjari and Rockhole community residents in two weeks of hard lockdown in hot and overcrowded homes“, “FOI documents show NT government previously forecast it would not meet target to build 650 remote houses in five years” and “NT pleads with Canberra to pay for new homes on Aboriginal homelands, plays catch-up on remote housing targets“.
Public service journalism
Emily Baker, ABC Hobart, “‘I’m real see’: Woman says Brooks lied about identity” “Brooks resigns after police raid” and “Complainant speaks on O’Byrne allegations“.
June Andrews Award for Women’s Leadership in Media
Sally Sara and Victoria Pengilley, RN Breakfast and The World Today, ABC Radio, “Taliban interview” “Shukria Barakzai” and “Hasina Safi“.
