QUILLS JUDGING CRITERIA (BY CATEGORY)
A simple list of all categories in the 29th Quill Awards is available here.
Artwork
This award is open to artwork in all media. The judges will recognise the quality of execution, originality of artistic style and technique, and viewer impact. They will also consider how effectively the artwork supports any associated text or broadcast material.
Entrants need to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces if they form a series.
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Best Breaking News or Live Coverage, sponsored by The Lottery Corporation
This award is open to all media. It looks to recognise outstanding teamwork, although individuals are also encouraged to enter. The category has been changed slightly to better acknowledge the challenges and skill of covering a news event as it is breaking, whether it’s a natural disaster, a court case, a political scandal, a police incident, an election. The judges will consider the quality of the writing/production during the breaking news event, and factors such as entrants who are on scene, have secured a scoop, displayed unusual initiative, or demonstrably gone the extra mile. Effective multi-platform work will be given additional weighting.
The winner of this category will receive a $3,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from The Lottery Corporation.
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Best Coverage of an Issue
This award is open to all media. It looks to recognise outstanding teamwork, although individuals are also encouraged to enter. It has been changed slightly to better recognise sustained coverage of an ongoing issue. While first to publish will a factor, the judges will be looking for the reporter or team who has best covered an issue. Special attention will be given to stories that tailor offerings to more than one platform. Judges will also give substantial weighting to coverage that has an impact (eg: prompts an inquiry, investigation, helps solves a murder, draws out whistleblowers).
Entrants may provide up to a maximum of five additional related items to the primary piece of work. An item that constitutes or forms part of an entry in this category may also be entered in one further category.
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Business News/Feature, sponsored by McGrathNicol
This award is open to all media. Entries will be judged on originality, impact, relevance, quality of writing/production, use of platform and investigative skill.
The winner of this category will receive a $3,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from McGrathNicol.
Entrants need to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces if they form a series.
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Cartoon
The judges will give priority to amusement. They will also recognise skill in encapsulating an issue or idea, topicality, draftsmanship and creative use of visual metaphor.
Entrants will be judged on a single cartoon.
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Coverage of Women in Sport, sponsored by the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation
This award, supported by the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, recognises excellence in reporting of women in sport, by rewarding journalism that contributes to gender equality and a fair, respectful, safe and inclusive society.
A prize of $3,000 will be awarded to the category winner.
Entries will be judged according to their potential positive impact on gender equality. This could include, for example, reducing harmful stereotypes and promoting positive role models, and/or encouraging constructive discussion about gender issues.
Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Excellence in Indigenous Affairs Reporting, sponsored by the Federation of Traditional Owners
The Melbourne Press Club is committed to recognising, promoting and amplifying the voices of Indigenous journalists and stories.
This Quill Award recognises excellence in Indigenous Affairs reporting, and encourages journalism that: i) highlights and amplifies Indigenous voices and stories; ii) facilitates and brings about societal debate and/or policy change; and iii) builds strength, visibility and pride in Victorian Aboriginal culture, history and achievement.
This award is open to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists who work in either Indigenous or mainstream media, and recognises excellence in the reportage of Indigenous affairs in all mediums (print, digital, TV, radio, podcast, video, etc.)
A prize of $3,000 will be awarded to the category winner, thanks to sponsorship from the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations.
Judges for this award will consider:
- Storytelling elements: quality of writing or production, story exclusivity, deadline pressure and effort;
- The resources available to the individual or group;
- Impact on the journalist themselves, and;
- The contribution towards truth, justice and increasing cultural understanding.
Note: the majority of the three judges for this award will be Indigenous
Entrants can choose to submit a single piece of work or up to three related pieces showcasing a body of work. The supporting statement may be a maximum of 750 words.
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Excellence in Science, Medical and Health Reporting, sponsored by University of Melbourne
The award covers short and longform stories in any medium and recognises reporting that reveals, explains and contextualises science and the science of medicine and health. The award emphasises storytelling that demonstrates and fosters understanding of the scientific method, particularly on emerging and topical issues or matters of public importance.
The winner of this category will receive a $3,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from The University of Melbourne.
Entrants need to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Features Photograph
The judges will recognise the photographer’s success in distilling the essence of a story or providing new insight into an issue. They will look for impact, technical excellence, creativity and exclusivity.
Entrants should provide a single image, or a maximum of three related images.
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Feature Writing
This award is open to print and online. Entries will be judged on originality, impact, relevance, quality of writing, platform and investigative skill, with an emphasis on the quality of writing.
Entrants need to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Grant Hattam Quill for Investigative Journalism, sponsored by HWT
This award is open to all media. It is awarded for work judged to be an outstanding example of investigative journalism. That work should uphold the right of journalists to publish or broadcast material in the public interest under difficult circumstances, including legal restraints.
The award is named in memory of prominent media lawyer Grant Hattam, and is sponsored by the Herald and Weekly Times.
The category winner will receive a $3,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from HWT.
Entrants should provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Innovation in Journalism, sponsored by Ryman Healthcare
This award is open to all media but looks particularly to recognise fresh talent and creativity in the digital space. It is designed to reward team effort, although individuals are also entitled to enter.
Entries will be judged on freshness and innovation, effective use of the mediums involved, including social media, and organisation and accessibility of content. As for other awards, journalistic excellence will be judged on the basis of impact, investigative skills, relevance, quality of writing and initiative.
The winner of this category will receive a $3,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from Ryman Healthcare.
Entrants are asked to provide a primary piece of work and may submit one or two other supporting pieces of work. An item that constitutes or forms part of an entry in this category may also be entered in one further category.
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Keith Dunstan Quill for Commentary
This award is open to all media. Columnists and broadcast commentators must have been published or broadcast at least 10 times during the year to be eligible. Bloggers are required to have been wholly or mainly responsible for maintaining a blog site for a substantial part of the year.
The award judges will consider originality, quality of writing, impact, contribution to change, audience response and the writer or broadcaster’s initiative in identifying issues and raising public awareness. In the case of bloggers, use of the medium and the level and quality of interaction with website users, where relevant, will also be considered.
The Keith Dunstan Quill for Commentary is named in memory of Keith Dunstan, Victoria’s best-known and longest- serving newspaper columnist, who died in 2013.
Entrants may submit a maximum of three columns, blogs or broadcast commentaries. They should identify one piece of work as the primary part of the entry.
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Multicultural Affairs and Media, in partnership with Gandel Foundation
This award is open to all media including multicultural media and encourages original, and informed reporting, programs, or features, on, about, or for multicultural audiences.
Judges will look for journalism that highlights issues, experiences and contributions of individuals, groups and/or communities.
The issues encountered by multicultural communities, be they
racism and discrimination, stereotyping, or issues within communities, are of consideration.
The award looks for true stories that provide a nuanced and deeper understanding of Australia’s cultural diversity and multicultural audiences. Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work. Entrants can also choose to include one or two supporting pieces.
If the work is in another language, it must be accompanied by a translation and an English synopsis.
This award is presented in partnership with the Gandel Foundation, and carries a $3,000 prize.
Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work. Entrants can also choose to include one or two supporting pieces.
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News Photograph
The judges will recognise success in distilling the essence of a breaking news story. They will look for impact, technical excellence, creativity and exclusivity.
Entrants should provide a single image, or a maximum of three images in a series.
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News Report in Writing
This award is open to print and online. It recognises the skill and initiative of a big news break. Judges will consider originality, impact, relevance, quality of writing/production, platform and investigative skill.
Entrants need to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Podcasting
This award recognises excellence, creativity, impact, innovation and investigative skill in this expanding journalistic medium. Entries may include audio pieces premiered or serialised on radio and made available for online streaming, as well as “podcast native” programs. Judges will recognise the opportunity of the podcast form to tell stories in fresh ways, including the use of elements such as music, atmospheric sound, interviews or literary form to engage listeners.
Entrants will be asked to provide detail on the reach of the podcast and explain any ongoing impact of the work.
Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work, which can be a single episode, or a compilation of the best of the podcast series. The only requirement is that the audio does not exceed 30 minutes in total
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Radio Current Affairs
This award recognises excellence in radio current affairs journalism, focusing on the immediacy, accuracy, originality and impact of the reporting; acknowledging the additional pressure of live vs pre-recorded work, and the degree of difficulty in obtaining an interview or piece of audio. The judges will also be looking to reward exclusivity, investigative skills, and simple story-telling.
Entrants are encouraged to select a single piece of work for this category. There is the option of providing a maximum of two supporting pieces of related work on the same subject.
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Radio News
This award is for radio news reporting – be it a live cross or a recorded voice report. It seeks to recognise the unique pressures of turning a breaking news story into a succinct piece of radio broadcasting, which tells the listener everything they need to know in under 2 minutes. Judges will be examining the exclusivity and impact of the entry, as well as the quality of the story telling. Consideration will also be given to the time and resources available to the journalist.
Entrants are encouraged to select a single piece of work for this category (of no more than 2 mins in duration). If required, a maximum of two supporting pieces of related work on the same subject may also be submitted.
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Regional and Rural Journalism, sponsored by TAC
This award is for work originally published or broadcast in regional or rural media, including the Geelong region. Entries will be judged on their originality, impact, relevance, use of platform where relevant, and investigative skill, with an emphasis on quality of writing and/or production.
As in previous years, Geelong-based publications are included in this category.
The winner of this category will receive a $3,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from Transport Accident Commission.
Entrants need to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Reporting on Disability Issues, sponsored by the Victorian Government
The Melbourne Press Club is committed to recognising, promoting and amplifying the voices of journalists with a disability and stories about disability.
This award is open to all media and in particular those with a disability. It recognises journalistic excellence in the positive portrayal of people with disability and the issues they may face. Entries depicting the real-life experiences of people with disability are encouraged. The award is open to individual journalists and teams.
The winner of this category will receive a $3,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from the Victorian Government.
Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Scoop of the Year
This new award is designed to recognise the standout story of the year. It can be a one-off or series of themed scoops. It is open to all media, and individual as well as team entries. The award celebrates the challenges and skill of landing and publishing/broadcasting a genuine exclusive. Entrants are encouraged to outline the impact of their scoop, and the follow-up it garnered.
Entrants need to provide one main piece of work, with one or two supporting pieces if required.
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Sports Feature
This award is open to all media. Entries will be judged on the criteria of originality, impact, relevance, use of platform and investigative skill, with an emphasis on quality of writing and/or production.
Entrants need to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Sports News
This award is open to all media. It recognises the skill and initiative of a big news break in sports reporting. Judges will consider originality, impact, relevance, quality of writing/production, use of platform, and investigative skill.
Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Sports Photograph
The judges will recognise impact, technical excellence, creativity and exclusivity in sports coverage.
Entrants should provide a single image, or a maximum of three images in a series.
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TV Camera Work (Creative)
Entries for news features (run time less than 40 minutes) where the camera operator displayed innovation and creativity. Judges will look for expertise and use of extra camera technologies (drones, dashcam, etc.) to create sequences for extra visual impact.
Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work. Entrants can also choose to include one or two supporting pieces.
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TV Camera Work (Shot of the Year)
Entries will be judged on impact, technical excellence, and exclusivity. The judges will recognise the entrant’s success in capturing or illuminating the essence of a breaking news story or providing new insight into a subject.
Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work.
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TV/Video Feature
This award is for TV or video features; over 5 minutes in length. Submissions in TV categories can include stories created for online video-on-demand or live streaming.
Entries will be judged on originality, impact, relevance, quality of writing or production and investigative skill.
Judges will recognise the degree of difficulty involved in getting exclusive footage, audio or interviews; as well as the extra pressure of live broadcasting as an element of the entry. Entrants need to provide a single piece of work.
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TV/Video News
Submissions in the TV category can include stories created for online video-on-demand or live streaming.
The judges will recognise the skill and initiative involved in a big news break, its impact and the quality of writing or production. They will also consider the extra difficulty involved in live as opposed to pre-recorded work and the difficulty involved in getting exclusive footage.
Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.
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Young Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Wilnic Family Trust
This award is open to all media and is presented to the entrant judged to be the most outstanding young journalist in 2023. It is open to journalists aged 25 years or under on 1 December 2023 (Entrants must include their date of birth in the supporting statement).
Work in any medium and in any combination of single news stories, features or series may be submitted. The work must have been published or broadcast between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023. The judges will consider how the work was conceived, the amount of direction the entrant received, research skill and other factors such as time constraints.
The winner of this award will receive $1,000 and flights, accommodation, and a ticket to the 2024 IRE Conference in Anaheim, California.
Sponsorship of this award comes from the Wilnic Family Trust.
Entrants may submit a portfolio of work. Entrants are limited to three PDF/JPEG attachments and/or three URL links, but may include multiple stories in a single PDF. An item that constitutes or forms part of an entry in this category may also be entered in one further category.
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QUILLS CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
The Quill Awards promote and honour excellence in Victorian journalism. Entrants must observe the following guidelines. In particular, they must adhere to the detailed specifications for submitting documents, audio and video files set out below.
Who is eligible to enter the Quill Awards?
Entrants must be employed by a media organisation that is based in Victoria or conducts substantial publishing or broadcasting activities in Victoria. They must work primarily in Victoria or have been sent from Victoria on an interstate or overseas assignment for a Victorian media organisation.
Journalism about Victoria produced by organisations and individuals based in other states is not eligible unless the entrant or at least one member of a group entry who contributed substantially to the work is based in Victoria.
In the case of group or team entries, the majority of members must be Victoria-based and the lead byline or equivalent must be Victoria-based.
What work is eligible for entry?
Entries for the 29th Quill Awards must have been published or broadcast between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023. All entries must comply with the MEAA Code of Ethics and must declare any formal corrections, claims of plagiarism or any legal proceedings commenced in relation to the entry after its publication. Entrants must certify that their work is original and that it complies with copyright rules.
What is the deadline?
Entries must be submitted by 5pm Monday 29 January 2024.
Individual, Group and Team entries
There are three entry types in the Quills, but for most categories only two are applicable.
Individual:
If an entry is the work of one person, choose the "individual entry" option below.
Group:
Two, three, or a maximum of four individuals may submit a group entry. Group entries must choose the "group entry" option and enter details of all entrants below.
In a group entry, one individual must be nominated the primary entrant.
For group entrants to redeem the free member entry offer, the primary entrant must be a member and have not already claimed a free entry this round. The free entry will be attributed to the primary entrant, and they will not be able to claim a further free entry.
Team:
Team entries are permitted only in the following four categories:
· Best Breaking News or Live Coverage,
· Best Coverage of an Issue,
· Innovation in Journalism, and
· Podcasting.
Organisations and groups of five or more individuals entering one of those categories may submit a team entry. In a team entry, the name of the publisher or reporting team is acknowledged in official materials produced on the night, rather than any individual. For team entries, please choose create a single entrant with your publication logo as the image and team name as the name.
Example team names are "The Cape Otway Examiner Investigations Team" or "Loddon FM Newsroom".
How many entries can you submit?
You may submit a maximum of two entries in a particular category, however the same entry may not be submitted in more than one category.
There are exceptions to the above rule. An item which constitutes or forms part of an entry in the following categories may also be entered in one further category:
- Young Journalist of the Year Award
- Best Coverage of an Issue
- Innovation in Journalism.
You may only enter an item a maximum of two times, regardless of whether it comprises all or part of each entry, and only when a category specifically allows for it.
In general, the judges reserve the right to transfer an entry to another category or to reject an entry that, in their opinion, does not comply with the Conditions of Entry.
Supporting statements
Entrants must add a supporting statement explaining the particular significance of the work and how it was executed. Please address the criteria relating to each category.
Most supporting statements are no more than 400 words. The Quill for Excellence in Indigenous Affairs Reporting allows a supporting statement of no more than 750 words.
How much material can be part of an entry?
Where entrants submit multiple articles, broadcast items or images as part of an entry, they must nominate the primary item to be considered by judges in their supporting statement. Where the primary item forms part of a series or a package, up to two further associated items may be submitted to provide context. If this condition is not adhered to, the judges may either select one item from those submitted by the entrant as the primary item or disqualify the entry.
In the Coverage of an Issue or Event category, the entrant is not required to nominate a primary item and may submit a maximum of six items or stories, including the primary item.
Employer verification
Entrants must provide contact details for their employer or a contact at the organisation which commissioned the work. This person will receive a verification email and be asked to confirm the work’s authenticity.
Can MPC board members and judges enter?
MPC board members and Quills judges are eligible to enter the Quill awards, however a board member or judge who submits an individual entry or is part of a group entry in any category is ineligible to also serve as a judge in that category.
Judging
The judges’ decisions are final.
Quill Awards republishing rights
By submitting a Quill Awards entry, the entrant(s) and the publisher or broadcaster of their work acknowledge the right of the Melbourne Press Club to reproduce all entry materials for the purposes of promoting the awards. Quill winners may be expected to speak about their entry as part of a later MPC event.