What do the Quill Awards recognise?

The Quill Awards promote and recognise excellence in Victorian journalism.

Who judges the Quill Awards?

The Melbourne Press Club assembles judging panels for the Quills, drawing on present and former journalists, editors and other relevant professionals.

When do entries close?

Entries close 5pm, Monday 29 January 2024.

What are the categories in this year's awards?

To see a full list of this year’s categories, visit the Quills categories or Conditions of Entry and Category Criteria pages.

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. 

How much does it cost to enter the Quill Awards?

The Melbourne Press Club charges a $105 administrative fee for each entry to the Quill awards.

Financial members of the Club are eligible for one free entry, provided they remain financial until April 2024. If you select the "I am a current MPC member" option during the online application process, your first entry will automatically be billed as free. Your membership status and entry history will be checked by the Melbourne Press Club secretariat.

To sign up for a Melbourne Press Club membership before you enter the Quills, click here. If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact the Club at admin@melbournepressclub.com or 03 8080 3610. Alternatively, you can log in to our member portal in the top right corner of our home page.

What do I include in my supporting statement?

The supporting statement is an opportunity for entrants to address the category criteria, explain the significance of their work, how it was produced, and further considerations that make your entry worthy of a Quill Award.

The statement must be no longer than 400 words (the Quill for Recognising Excellence in Indigenous Affairs Reporting allows up to 750 words).

It is recommended that entrants consult the category criteria and then write the supporting statement in a Word document before starting the online entry process.

In how many entries can I submit my work?

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 limited 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.

How does the Melbourne Press Club verify my entry?

During the online submission process, you will be asked to provide contact details for your editor, producer or equivalent manager who will receive an email requesting verification of the work and related details. This person can verify the entry via an email they receive before it is considered by the judges. If you are unsure whether the verification email has reached your employer, contact our team at entries@melbournepressclub.com.

I am self-published. What do I do to verify the work?

Self-published entrants should provide relevant URL links and, where possible, verification of the work's authenticity and publication.

Do you have any advice on uploading files?

If you need help optimising or reducing the size of PDF files, please refer to this guide: http://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-PDF-File-Size.

For information on how to merge PDF files, please refer to this guide: http://www.wikihow.com/Merge-PDF-Files.

Please note: these guides are not produced by the Melbourne Press Club and content may change at any time.

Do I need to send hard copies via postal mail?

Hard copies of applications and supporting material will not be accepted.

How many pieces can I submit as part of my entry?

Please see individual category criteria on the rules and criteria page for information about specific categories.

How do I submit social media content or updates as part of a Quill entry?

If you are including segments/sections of Twitter or other social media with an entry, please take a screen shot and save the relevant pages in PDF format to be included with your entry. A link to an entire Twitter feed or other social media content will not be accepted nor considered in the judging process.

Further questions

If you are uncertain about any aspect of the entries process, please contact the Melbourne Press Club team at entries@melbournepressclub.com or on 03 8080 3610.