ABC TV journalist Jake Sturmer is the 2012 Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year, claiming the prestigious award for Katanning Hostel Abuse: the confronting story of child sexual abuse victims.
Sturmer's interviews detailed the significant emotional and psychological damage inflicted on four now-adult victims of widespread sexual abuse at a youth hostel in Western Australia, where the state government has since launched an inquiry that was recently widened to include another hostel. Sturmer’s piece also encouraged other victims of child sexual abuse to come forward.
Award judges were impressed with Sturmer’s ability to secure these interviews and the manner in which he conducted them. They praised his great skill and empathy in helping the victims speak publicly about their ordeals. "These pieces were of great national interest and demonstrated public benefit," the judges said.
Walkley Advisory Board chairman Laurie Oakes said: "I was very impressed by the journalistic quality, the professionalism and innovation shown by the Young Australian Journalist of the Year Award winners and finalists. It’s encouraging to see journalists demonstrate so much skill at such an early stage of their careers."
FBi Radio’s Gina McKeon was highly commended by the Walkley Board for her in-depth commentary on St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Redfern (NSW) prior to the abolition of controversial Aboriginal centre 'The Block'.
The Board applauded McKeon’s capacity to draw surprising confessions from those she interviewed. "She produced a powerful community portrait reflective of the broader schisms within the Catholic church."
The Board also commended the skills of this year’s other category winners, including Miranda Grant’s online coverage of a community devastated by the Queensland floods; Jason Edwards’ portrait of a struggling family waiting for government assistance following Black Saturday; and Anthony DeCeglie’s investigative piece on Karl O’Callaghan and the Perth Hills bushfires.
Foxtel Director of Corporate Affairs Bruce Meagher highlighted the importance of quality journalism. "Foxtel is proud to be the major sponsor of the Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards for the fifth year running. Quality journalism is at the heart of Foxtel’s news offering, and in order to keep it this way we believe it is important to continue to recognise and support exceptional young talent in this industry," he said.
As 2012 winner, Sturmer has won a three-week trip to BBC newsrooms in London and CNN in Atlanta.
More than 110 journalists aged 26 or younger entered this year’s awards and 15 finalists were shortlisted across five media categories: print, radio, television, online and photography.
Winners: (from left) Anthony DeCeglie, Miranda Grant,
Jake Sturmer, Gina McKeon and Jason Edwards
WALKLEY YOUNG AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS
OVERALL WINNER - WALKLEY YOUNG AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Foxtel
Jake Sturmer, ABC TV
“Katanning Hostel Abuse”
Judges: John Donegan, David Higgins, Liz Jackson, Hedley Thomas
PRINT NEWS WINNER
Sponsored by UNSW
Anthony DeCeglie, The Sunday Times
“Karl In Fire Fallout”
Judges: Natasha Bita, Joseph Catanzaro, Trent Dalton
RADIO WINNER
Sponsored by ABC
Gina McKeon, FBi Radio
“St Vincent’s Church in Redfern”
Judges: Katrina Bolton, Samantha Donovan, Natalie Peters
TELEVISION WINNER
Sponsored by Sky News
Jake Sturmer, ABC TV
“Katanning Hostel Abuse”
Judges: Yaara Bou Melhem, Hugh Riminton, Monique Schafter
ONLINE WINNER
Sponsored by August
Miranda Grant, ABC Open
“What’s keeping you going Grantham?”
Judges: David Higgins, Stephen Hutcheon, Matthew Liddy
PHOTOGRAPHY WINNER
Sponsored by Nikon
Jason Edwards, Leader Newspapers
“Holding us together”
Judges: Brian Cassey, Natalie Grono, Phil Hillyard
