ADMINISTRATION OF THE WALKLEY AWARDS

More than 1000 entries are submitted in the prestigious Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism each year.

The awards are the culmination of a year-long process with 33 awards presented every November, including the coveted Gold Walkley.

The awards process begins each year with the formation of 17 judging panels comprising of more than 50 distinguished judges.

Entries open annually in July.

By the time entries close in early September, so begins the massive coordination of entries to judges and the meeting of judging panels to determine finalists.

Each panel is asked to make three nominations for the finalists in each category.

See categories here.

Finalists are announced nationally on the 15th of October 2008.

Finalists then go on for judging by the members of the Walkley Advisory Board.

The board, which annually helps chart the future direction of the awards, selects the winners of each category as well as the Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year, the Walkley Award for Journalism Leadership and the winner of the pinnacle of journalist achievement that year, the Gold Walkley.

See the members of the Walkley Advisory Board, present and past here.

Award winners are chosen on the basis of journalistic excellence. This varies according to individual categories but, in general, criteria includes newsworthiness, research, writing, production, incisiveness, impact, public benefit, ethics, originality, innovation and creative flair. Judges take regard of the resources available and effort expended in the preparation of the work.

Specialist criteria for each of the categories can be found here.

The Who’s Who of the Walkley Awards is a record of Australian culture and society, which traces the historical evolution of the craft and profession of journalism.

See past winners of the Walkley Awards here.

Walkley Award for Best Non-Fiction Book 

The Walkley Award for Best Non-Fiction Book is now calling for entries. This unique Walkley Literary Award celebrates excellence in non-fiction writing. The winner will join the ranks of Don Watson (American Journeys), Chris Masters (Jonestown), Neil Chenoweth (Packer's Lunch) and Bob Connolly (Making Black Harvest). 

The deadlines for 2009 Book Award entries are:

First round entries close
Tuesday 30 June 2009, 5pm
For books published from September 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009

Second round entries close
Monday August 31, 2009 at 5pm
For books published between July 1 and August 31

Click on the links to download the 2009 entry form and FAQs.

The 2009 Walkley call for entries period begins on Monday 6th July - Tuesday 1st September