The 50th Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year, sponsored by The Age
Winner: Adele Ferguson, ABC News
Judges’ Citation:
Adele Ferguson’s work on a broken childcare system in Australia was journalism at its finest. It was of high public importance and interest, doggedly pursued over many months, revelatory and with impact. It exposed the structural issues behind the headlines and was the clear standout entry this year.
Shortlisted
Robyn Riley, Herald Sun
Rachael Brown, ABC News
Ben Smee, Guardian Australia
Background:
This is the 50th Graham Perkin award, commemorating The Age editor who died in 1975.
Adele Ferguson’s second Perkin means she becomes only the fourth journalist to win the award more than once. She joins Andrew Rule (1996, 2001) Paul McGeough (1997, 2004) and Nick McKenzie (2020, 2024, and with Richard Baker in 2017). Adele’s first win was in 2015.
The Jana Wendt Award for International Reporting, sponsored by Virgin Australia
Winners: Sara Tomevska and Colin Cosier, SBS Dateline, “Inside Israel: A Nation at War”
Judges’ Citation:
The haunting image of a settler child glaring at and filming Sara Tomevska and her crew in the West Bank will stay with the judges for a long time. In an extraordinarily high-quality field of entries, SBS Dateline’s Inside Israel stood out for its unflinching portrait of life and politics inside Israel two years after October 7, 2023. Tomevska’s background as a political reporter shone through as she and producer Colin Cosier – operating as a two-person outfit – produced eye-opening TV and deftly explained the complex politics playing out. The Gaza war is one of the most sensitive and contentious issues in our world today, and the judges were impressed with the impartiality and rigour demonstrated by the team. Inside Israel is a powerful and enlightening film.
Shortlisted
Lauren Tomasi, 9News, “Los Angeles Riots”
Matthew Knott and Kate Geraghty, The Age, “Israel: A war on many fronts”
Calliste Weitenberg and Agnes Teek, SBS Dateline, “The Cost of Doing Business”
Harry Gordon Australian Sports Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Champion Data
Winner: Michael Gleeson, The Age
Judges’ Citation:
Michael’s exceptional coverage of the rise and rise of Gout Gout was the best in the country. As Nine Publishing’s senior athletics reporter, Michael followed the Queensland sprinter from Stawell to Tokyo, taking readers along for the ride - with outstanding features, analysis and an exclusive interview. Judges were also impressed by Michael’s peerless columns on AFL, including a prescient piece on Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin and criticism of the AFL for its indulgence of Bailey Smith and hypocrisy behind hiring Snoop Dogg for Grand Final entertainment.
Highly Commended
Mitch Cleary, 7NEWS
Jon Ralph, Herald Sun
Shortlisted
Jake Niall, The Age