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 in mid-October.

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.

Entries close 31st August, 2007 at 5:00pm.

1. Entrants can download a copy of the entry form here.

2. The guidelines for group entries can be found here.

3. Walkley Book Award entry form can be downloaded here and an FAQ for the Walkley Book Award can be downloaded here. 

4. The Nikon-Walkley Photographic Awards entry form can be downloaded here.

5. A copy of the Walkley Award categories explained can be downloaded here or they can be viewed online here. 

6. Frequently asked questions for Walkley entrants can be found here and the pdf version can be downloaded here.

7. Please note: VHS entries will not be accepted from 2007 forward as judges are often unable to access a VHS player. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Please also note our new DVD guidelines which must also be followed by television entrants.