The ABC’s journalism has been richly awarded at the 2022 Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism with its journalists and teams winning top honour the Gold Walkley and 10 other awards.
Anne Connolly, Stephanie Zillman and Ali Russell took the Gold, as well as the award for Public Service Journalism, for their gripping investigation “State Control”, the result of a year-long investigation into Public Guardian and Trustee agencies which control the lives of around 50,000 Australians.
The judges said: “This was enlightening and determined reporting, giving power to voiceless people and allowing them to tell a story of complete powerlessness. Prompting debate about law reform in various states, it has the potential to effect large-scale public policy reform.”
The ABC had 26 finalists across 15 categories in the Awards, which were announced in Sydney last night.
“These awards are testament to the talent, hard work and incredible dedication of our people,” said ABC Director, News Justin Stevens.
“Our journalists and teams are passionate about bringing the best public interest journalism to Australians and it’s wonderful to see their hard work recognised by their peers.
“The ABC’s journalism has never been stronger, more impactful or more accessible to all Australians.”
Brendan Esposito was named Press Photographer of the Year and former Four Corners Executive Producer Sally Neighbour was honoured for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.
The coverage of the Northern Rivers flood catastrophe by the ABC’s North Coast team of Joanne Shoebridge, Julie Ray, Renata Gombac and Justine Frazier was awarded for best Coverage of Community & Regional Affairs.
Across the globe, Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop‘s searing reporting on war crimes in Ukraine won for best Radio/Audio News and Current Affairs.
The compelling investigation by Lorna Knowles, Nikki Tugwell and Clare Blumer, “Painful Past: the John Wright series”, took two awards, for Sports Journalism and short-form TV/Video Current Affairs.
The award for long-form TV/Video Current Affairs went to Adele Ferguson, Klaus Toft and Lauren Day for their investigation “Cosmetic Cowboys: The unregulated world of cosmetic surgery”, which included stories for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Four Corners.
Ryan Sheridan won TV Camerawork for his skilful work on Four Corners reports “Despair and Defiance” and “Feral”.
The Innovation prize went to Mark Doman, Michael Slezak and the Digital Story Innovation team, led by Stephen Hutcheon, for their work using 3D techniques to tell immersive stories in ’Lawless’ loggers; Culture in the Crosshairs; The ‘Syria playbook’; and How a Tongan volcano shocked the world.
Full list of ABC winners:
2022 GOLD WALKLEY
Anne Connolly, Ali Russell and Stephanie Zillman, ABC Four Corners, “State Control”
NIKON-WALKLEY PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Brendan Esposito
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO JOURNALISM
Sally Neighbour
PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM
Anne Connolly, Stephanie Zillman and Ali Russell, ABC Four Corners, “State Control”
INNOVATION
Mark Doman, Michael Slezak and Digital Story Innovations team, ABC, “Using 3D techniques to tell immersive stories” (1, 2, 3)
COVERAGE OF COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
Joanne Shoebridge, Julie Ray, Renata Gombac and Justine Frazier, ABC North Coast, “Northern Rivers flood catastrophe”
SPORTS JOURNALISM
Lorna Knowles, Nikki Tugwell and Clare Blumer, ABC, “Painful Past: the John Wright series”
RADIO/AUDIO NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS
Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, ABC, “Ukraine war crimes”
TELEVISION/VIDEO: CAMERAWORK
Ryan Sheridan, ABC Four Corners, “Despair and Defiance” and “Feral”
TELEVISION/VIDEO CURRENT AFFAIRS SHORT (LESS THAN 20 MINUTES)
Lorna Knowles and Nikki Tugwell, ABC, 7.30, “Painful Past: the John Wright series” [1, 2, 3]
TELEVISION/VIDEO CURRENT AFFAIRS LONG (MORE THAN 20 MINUTES)
Adele Ferguson, Klaus Toft and Lauren Day, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Four Corners, “Cosmetic Cowboys: The unregulated world of cosmetic surgery”
