A 23-year-old foreign correspondent who spent weeks working alone in the West Bank and Gaza Strip was been named 2008 Young Australian Journalist of the Year.
Judges said Sophie McNeill displayed a “high level of courage and confidence” in researching and filming her story: ‘Palestine; Divided it Falls’ for SBS’s Dateline program. McNeil, who made her first foray into journalism at the age of 15 when she travelled to East Timor to research the health crisis crippling the country, was the overall winner of the inaugural Young Journalist of the Year Award.
More than 120 journalists aged 26 and under submitted entries for the Young Australian Journalist of the Year awards of which 15 nominees, across print, radio, television, photography and online media, were short-listed for judging by members of the Walkley Advisory Board. The Board was impressed by the high standard of entries, especially those selected as winners of their categories.
Ben Doherty, for example, stood out for his versatility and fluid writing style. “Doherty produced a body of work that work rivalled that of more senior journalists, demonstrating the very best qualities of the profession”, the judges said.
Michael Atkin’s standout story of the humane slaughter of a goat was a controversial choice of subject but the radio reporter obviously carried out high level research to prepare himself for the interview it made for “compelling, challenging and highly informative radio”.
Andrew Quilty, said the judges, has an “inspiring” ability to document daily life and his composition is “brilliant, his work very emotive, drawing viewers in. His talent is mature beyond his age”.
Asher Moses’ story, “PM’s Staff edited Wikipedia”, used Wiki Scanner to reveal that bureaucrats from the Prime Minister’s office sanitized embarrassing entries. His story “generated considerable public debate and further disclosures about editing by other groups, including the media,” the judges said.
Sophie 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 Awards Winners
Young Australian Journalist of the Year: Sponsored by Foxtel
Sophie McNeill, SBS Dateline
Print News Winner: Sponsored by News Ltd Community Newspapers
Ben Doherty, The Age “Unbowed Howard Takes It on the Chin”
Television Winner: Sponsored by Sky News
Sophie McNeill, SBS Dateline “Palestine: Divided it Falls”
Radio Winner: Sponsored by ABC
Michael Atkin, Triple J “Goat Death”
Online Winner: Sponsored by Nine MSN
Asher Moses, The Sydney Morning Herald “PM’s Staff edited Wikipedia”
Photo Winner: Sponsored by Nikon
Andrew Quilty, Australian Financial Review Magazine, "Untitled Utopia"
