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 30 January 2023.

Are there any changes to the Quill Awards this year?

Yes. This year we're excited to announce several new sponsorships and partnerships, as well as the addition of the new Scoop of the Year Quill.

Partner and sponsor categories are:

• Business News/Feature, with a $3,000 prize from sponsor McGrathNicol;
• Coverage of Women in Sport, with a $3,000 prize from sponsor Office for Women in Sport and Recreation;
• Excellence in Indigenous Affairs Reporting, with a $3,000 prize from sponsor Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations;
• Excellence in Science, Medical and Health Reporting, with a $3,000 prize from principal partner University of Melbourne;
• Grant Hattam Quill for Investigative Journalism, with a $3,000 prize from sponsor HWT;
• Innovation in Journalism, with a $3,000 prize from sponsor Ryman Healthcare;
• Regional and Rural Journalism, with a $3,000 prize from sponsor Transport Accident Commission;
• Reporting on Disability Issues, with a $3,000 prize from sponsor Victorian Government;
• Reporting on Multicultural Affairs, with a $2,000 prize in partnership with Gandel Foundation; and
• Young Journalist of the Year, with a prize package including flights, accommodation, and a ticket to the 2023 IRE conference in Orlando, Florida sponsored by Wilnic Family Trust.
• The $7,500 Gold Quill, sponsored by University of Melbourne, will be awarded to the work judged best among category winners.

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?

To enter the Quill awards, the entrant/s must meet one of the following criteria:

• be employed by a Victorian media organisation;
• work primarily in Victoria; or
• have been sent from Victoria on specific interstate or overseas assignment(s) for a Victorian media organisation.

"Victorian media organisation" refers to a media organisation that is based in Victoria or conducts substantial publishing or broadcasting activities in Victoria

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.

How much does it cost to enter the 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 2023. 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.

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.