A simple list of all categories in the 31st Quill Awards is available here.
ALL MEDIA
Best Breaking News or Live Coverage, sponsored by The Lottery Corporation
This category recognises outstanding teamwork, although individuals are also encouraged to enter. The award acknowledges the challenges and skill of covering a news event as it is breaking, whether a natural disaster, court case, political scandal, police incident, or election.
Judges will consider the quality of writing/production during the breaking news event, and factors such as on-the-scene reporting, scoops, exceptional initiative, and going the extra mile.
The winner will receive a $3,000 prize sponsored by The Lottery Corporation.
[Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work and up to two supporting pieces.]
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Best Coverage of an Issue
This category recognises outstanding teamwork, although individuals are also encouraged to enter. The award acknowledges ongoing reportage of an issue or event. While judges will consider a reporter/team being first to publish a story, they will also look for the entrant/s who best covered an issue over time. Judges will give substantial weight to coverage that has an impact (eg: prompts an inquiry, investigation, helps solve a murder, draws out whistleblowers).
[Entrants may provide up to a maximum of three additional related items to the primary piece of work.]
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Business Reporting
Entries will be judged on originality, impact, relevance, quality of writing/production, use of platform and investigative skill.
[Entrants need to provide one main piece of work and up to two supporting pieces, if they form a series.]
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Coverage of Women in Sport, sponsored by Big Ant Studios
This award seeks to recognise excellence in reporting of women in sport.
Judges will reward journalism which, for example, reduces harmful stereotypes and promotes positive role models, and/or encourages constructive conversations about gender issues.
The winner will receive a $3,000 prize sponsored by Big Ant Studios.
[Entrants are asked to submit one main piece of work and up to two supporting pieces.]
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Excellence in Indigenous Affairs Reporting
The Melbourne Press Club is committed to recognising, promoting and amplifying the voices of Indigenous journalists and stories.
This Quill recognises excellence in Indigenous Affairs reporting, and encourages journalism which:
- highlights and amplifies Indigenous voices and stories;
- facilitates and brings about societal debate and/or policy change, and;
- 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.)
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 toward 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 and up to three related pieces. 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
This award covers short and longform stories in any medium and recognises reporting that reveals, explains and contextualises science and/or 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 will receive a $3,000 prize sponsored by the University of Melbourne.
[Entrants are asked to submit 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 recognises an outstanding example of investigative journalism. Work entered 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.
The winner will receive a $3,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from the Herald and Weekly Times.
[Entrants are asked to submit one main piece of work and, optionally, one or two supporting pieces.]
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Innovation in Journalism, sponsored by Swinburne University of Technology
This award recognises new and creative approaches to journalism.
Entries will be judged on initiative, innovation and journalistic excellence.
The winner will receive a $2,000 prize, thanks to sponsorship from Swinburne University of Technology.
[Entrants are asked to submit a primary piece of work and may submit one or two other supporting pieces of work.]
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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.
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.
[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 recognises excellence in multicultural media.
Multicultural media plays a vital role in public interest journalism and the health of our democracy. This Quill aims to honour stories that have a meaningful impact on multicultural communities.
Multicultural media often produces content in both heritage languages and English, acting as a voice both to and for communities. This sector includes newspapers and their digital platforms, radio, and television.
We welcome a broad range of formats, including news reports, campaigns, features, and opinion pieces.
Entries must demonstrate at least two of the following criteria, and may be submitted in English and/or heritage languages:
- Impact on the community or influence on public discourse
- Recognition of issues important to specific communities—by raising concerns, celebrating achievements, highlighting challenges, or documenting development and key figures
- Documentation of Victoria’s cultural heritage and traditions, or stories that promote social cohesion
- Celebration of achievements by individuals, groups, and/or communities
- Exploration of issues around diversity within communities
Submissions in languages other than English must include a translation or a summary in English.
This award is presented in partnership with Gandel Foundation, and carries a $3,000 prize.
[Entrants are asked to submit one main piece of work, and up to two supporting pieces.]
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Regional and Rural Journalism
This award is for work originally published or broadcast in regional or rural media produced by a Victorian regional or rural based journalist, including the Geelong region.
Entries will be judged on their originality, impact, the resourcefulness employed by the journalist in obtaining a scoop, as well as investigative skill, with an emphasis on quality of writing and/or production.
[Entrants are asked to submit one main piece of work and up to two supporting pieces.]
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Reporting on Disability Issues
The Melbourne Press Club is committed to recognising, promoting and amplifying the voices of journalists with a disability and stories about disability.
This category commends outstanding journalism that contributes to the positive portrayal of people with disability. Stories that genuinely explore the real-life experiences, challenges, or triumphs of individuals living with disability are encouraged.
[Entrants are asked to submit one main piece of work and, optionally, up to two supporting pieces.]
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Sports Feature
This award celebrates long-form sports stories which engage, provoke and reveal something to the reader.
Entries will be judged on originality, impact, relevance, use of platform and investigative skill. Emphasis will be on quality of writing and/or production.
[Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work, with up to two supporting pieces. If the entry includes broadcast material, it must be no longer than 10 minutes per piece.]
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Sports News
This award celebrates the skill and dedication of sports journalists who break news and develop stories that set the sporting agenda. Priority will be given to a scoop that has immediacy and relevance, while demonstrating innovative storytelling.
[Entrants are asked to provide one main piece of work, with up to two supporting pieces. If the entry includes broadcast material, it must be no longer than 10 minutes per piece.]
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Young Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Jo Nicholls
Young Journalist of the Year is presented to the entrant judged to be the most outstanding young journalist in 2025. The award is open to journalists aged 27 years or under on 1 December 2025 (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 2025 and 31 December 2025. 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 plus flights, accommodation, and a ticket to the 2026 IRE Conference in Washington, D.C.
Sponsorship of this award comes from Jo Nicholls.
[Entrants may submit a portfolio of up to six individual works. An item that constitutes or forms part of an entry in this category may also be entered in one further Quills category.]
[Please remember: this is six works total. If you attempt to include extras through a large portfolio page, merged PDF, or large online gallery, judges may ignore them or determine your entry is not valid.]
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AUDIO MEDIA
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.
[Podcast award entries will be judged on one audio file up to 45 minutes in length, which can contain clips from multiple episodes. This compilation should reflect the podcast's use of sound, music, interview techniques, editing and writing to engage listeners. Except for cutting and editing clips from published episodes together in one file with a clear fade in and out between each clip, no further editing should be completed, and no extra content should be recorded for the purpose of this entry.]
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Radio Current Affairs
This award recognises excellence in radio broadcasting, including live programming and interviews.
Judges will look for originality, public impact, and gripping storytelling, with emphasis on content that uncovers something new, delves deeper on an issue, or changes the public conversation. Extra weighting will be given to live over pre-recorded material.
Entries must be the original radio broadcasts.
[Entrants are asked to submit one primary piece of work, with up to two supporting, related pieces.]
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Radio News
This category recognises excellence in short form radio journalism, rewarding the skill of succinct storytelling.
Entries will be judged on their originality (scoop or script-writing), public impact, and immediacy, with special consideration given to the time and resources available to the journalist.
[Entrants are asked to submit a single piece of broadcasting that does not exceed 2 minutes in duration, with up to two supporting, related pieces.]
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WRITTEN MEDIA
Feature Writing
This award is open to print and online journalists. Entries will be judged on originality, impact, relevance, creativity, and investigative skill, with a special emphasis on the quality of writing.
[Entrants are asked to submit one main piece of work and up to two supporting pieces.]
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News Report in Writing
This award is open to print and online journalists. 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 are asked to submit one main piece of work and up to two supporting pieces.]
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TV / VIDEO MEDIA
Outstanding Camera Work (Over 4 Min)
This category recognises camera operators who demonstrate creativity and innovation in capturing content through feature pieces or dynamic news coverage in the field.
Judges will assess technical expertise, storytelling impact and the creative use of camera tools and techniques.
[Entrants are asked to submit one primary piece of work, with the option to include up to two supporting examples that highlight the breadth of their camera work.]
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Outstanding Camera Work (Under 4 Min)
This category recognises camera operators who show creativity, and strong judgement in capturing dynamic news coverage. It may be a single shot that everyone else wished they had, or clever visual storytelling that took careful planning and execution.
Judges will assess impact, technical expertise, and the entrant’s success in capturing or illuminating the essence of a news story.
[Entrants are asked to submit one primary piece of work, with the option to include up to two supporting examples that highlight the breadth of their camera work.]
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Feature Storytelling - TV + Video
This award recognises standout feature storytelling of more than five minutes, produced for broadcast, online or streaming.
Judges will look for originality, impact, structure, production quality and investigative strength. Extra weight will be given to exclusive footage or interviews, and for storytelling that expands community knowledge or understanding of an issue or event.
[Entrants are asked to submit a maximum of one piece of work.]
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News Story - TV + Video
This category recognises standout daily news reporting for broadcast or digital platforms.
Judges will be looking for a scoop, and will consider the impact of the story, the speed with which the material makes it to air and production quality. Extra credit for delivering live crosses especially during high-pressure coverage.
[Entrants are asked to submit one main piece of work and up to two supporting pieces.]
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VISUAL MEDIA
Artwork/Graphics in any Medium
This award is open to graphics or artwork in all media including TV, print and digital. The judges will recognise quality of execution, originality of style and technique, and viewer impact. They will also consider how effectively the graphics illustrate and enhance any associated text or broadcast material.
[Entrants are asked to submit one main piece of work and may include up to two supporting pieces if they form a series.]
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Cartoon
Judges will recognise skill in encapsulating an issue or idea, humour, topicality, draftsmanship, and creative use of visual metaphor.
[Entrants are asked to submit a single cartoon.]
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Features Photograph
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, in the highest resolution possible.]
[Entrants must agree that, if their entry is a finalist in this category, their image/s can be printed and displayed at the annual Quill Awards dinner.]
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News Photograph
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 related images, in the highest resolution possible.]
[Entrants must agree that, if their entry is a finalist in this category, their image/s can be printed and displayed at the annual Quill Awards dinner.]
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Sports Photograph
Judges will recognise impact, drama, technical excellence, creativity and exclusivity in sports coverage photography.
[Entrants should provide a single image, or a maximum of three related images, in the highest resolution possible.]
[Entrants must agree that, if their entry is a finalist in this category, their image/s can be printed and displayed at the annual Quill Awards dinner.]
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