Julia will fly to the US and UK to visit major media organisations in London, New York and Washington, with A$5,000 spending money.
The Age's Julia Medew has been named the 2009 Young Australian Journalist of the Year for her outstanding series of medical stories which uncovered wrongdoing in the Victorian health system: including irregularities in organ transplants, accounting fraud and medical negligence which contributed to the death of a young mother.
The Walkley Advisory Board applauded Julia's incisiveness and the impact and public benefit of her work. The Board agreed that Julia's writing, the objective analysis behind it and the empathy clearly expressed were compelling and a confirmation that print journalism remains a powerful force in news breaking.
Medew started out as a copy person with Fairfax at 17 and has worked her way up through a traineeship to hold the position of health reporter for The Age.
More than 100 journalists aged 26 and under submitted entries for the Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards, now in their second year. Fifteen nominees across print, radio, television, photography and online media, were shortlisted for judging by members of the Walkley Advisory Board.
The chairman of the Walkley Advisory Board, ABC Stateline presenter Quentin Dempster, said the young talent on show was outstanding: "The exemplary standard of journalism delivered by finalists across all categories this year is heartening at a time when the public value of journalists' work needs to be appreciated and recognised," Dempster said.
The Board noted that skill and resourcefulness were displayed throughout all finalists' entries with Nic MacBean's online coverage of victims' stories in the Victorian bushfires; Yaara Bou Melhem's report on the anguish of innocent women jailed supposedly for their own protection in Jordan; Sandie Bertrand's talented photographic eye and technique in difficult shots; and Michael Atkin's in-your-face account of life after juvenile detention.
Kim Williams, CEO of the Awards' major sponsor Foxtel said journalism is at the core of their nine news and current affairs channels and their value for media diversity in Australia:
"Foxtel is proud to support the Walkley Foundation through its sponsorship of the Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards. Foxtel will continue to support the growth of journalism in this country, so we are naturally inclined to be associated with the Walkley Foundation and an award that encourages journalists in the early stages of their careers."
Julia will fly to the US and UK to visit major media organisations in London, New York and Washington, with A$5,000 spending money.
Young Australian Journalist of the Year: Sponsored by Foxtel
Julia Medew, The Age
Print News Winner: Sponsored by News Community Media
Julia Medew, The Age ,"Hospitals Creating Ghost Wards"
Television Winner: Sponsored by Sky News
Yaara Bou Melhem, SBS "Jordan: Jailing the Innocent"
Radio Winner: Sponsored by ABC
Michael Atkin, ABC/Triple J Radio "Getting Out of Juvi"
Online Winner: Sponsored by Nine MSN
Nic MacBean, abc.net.au "Profiteers, Looters Circle in Firestorm's Aftermath"
Photo Winner: Sponsored by Nikon
Sandie Bertrand, The West Australian
