Winner: Andy Burns, Charlotte King and Jess Davis, Landline and ABC News Online, “After the harvest”

Judges’ citation:

Among a very high standard group of entries, After the Harvest submitted by Andy Burns, Charlotte King and Jess Davis from ABC landline was a standout. Burns, King and Davis presented a compelling brief of evidence about the use of the agricultural chemical Paraquat, while telling a powerful human story of a farming community experiencing a cluster of Parkinson’s disease. The use of archival footage and historic photos alongside contemporary lived experience of users of Paraquat greatly strengthened the story. The journalists’ rebuttal of complaints challenging the evidence, and the review of their work by external authorities who found no basis to the complaints, added another layer of confirmation to the story. After the Harvest is evidence-based story telling at its best.

Highly Commended: 

Petra Stock, Guardian Australia, “Do fish have feelings? Scientists believe they’re getting closer to an answer”

Shortlisted:

Rachel Eddie, The Age, “‘Inconclusive is enough’: Victoria’s low-key pill testers”