All Media: Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique Winner

Paul McGeough, The Sydney Morning Herald, “Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran”

Paul McGeough is The Sydney Morning Herald’s chief correspondent.

A journalist since the mid-1970s, McGeough started his career as a cadet on The West Australian. He went on to become editor of The Sydney Morning Herald in the late 1990s.

With about half of his working life spent as a foreign correspondent, McGeough’s work and travels have taken him to more than 60 countries. From his first assignment offshore to cover the 1990-91 Gulf Crisis, he’s been going to Iraq ever since. McGeough was also in New York during the events of September 11, in Afghanistan for the subsequent war, and has reported
conflict and crisis from four continents.

He has also won five Walkley Awards, including the 2003 Walkley Award for Journalism Leadership.

Paul McGeough continues to be a strong, independent voice working in an extremely dangerous region, often at high personal risk. His commentary and analysis revealed the gulf between Washington’s wish list and actual events on the ground in various corners of the world.

Judges’ comments
An excellent fusion of reporting, analysis and commentary from the field. McGeough’s sharp incisive writing gives readers a road-map through the complicated politics of the Middle East and Afghanistan, bringing enormous clarity to a smoke-ridden circumstance.