18 June, 2026
Riley Walter, a crime reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald, has been named the 2026 John B Fairfax Family Young Australian Journalist of the Year at the Walkley Foundation’s Mid-Year Media Prizes in Sydney. He was selected from the winners of eight categories for young journalists aged 28 and younger. Walter won the Specialist and Beat category, newly introduced in 2026, with three compelling crime stories and was also a finalist for Shortform Journalism for an investigation into a money laundering and fraud syndicate.
Peer-judged and selected on the basis of journalistic excellence, the Mid-Year Media Prizes include the John B Fairfax Family Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards, Coverage of Science and Environment Prize, Freelance Journalist of the Year Prize, Women’s Leadership in Media Prize, Our Watch Award for Excellence in Reporting on Violence Against Women, Media Diversity Australia Prize, and Arts Journalism & Arts Criticism Prize.
Winners were also announced for the Jacoby-Walkley Scholarship with Nine, the ARN Ali Drower Audio Scholarship, and the Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific Journalism.
Walkley Foundation Chief Executive Shona Martyn congratulated the winners and recipients.
“It is thrilling to see the high quality of entries this year in both the John B Fairfax Family Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards and the general prizes open to all reporters for public interest journalism.
“In a time of great change in the media, we are ever more reliant on journalists, broadcasters and photojournalists with a nose for news and an ability to interpret and analyse key issues facing Australians today. At an event where we shine a particular spotlight on the next generation of journalists through awards and scholarships, there is much to be encouraged about.”
The judges said: ‘Riley Walter broke news on three quite separate scandals. The revelations about organised crime at the NAB would have been a strong candidate on its own. His scoop with the farm owner who rented his property to the Akrams before the Bondi massacre was one everyone wanted, providing critical insights into the accused men. A third story on law enforcement failings that allowed a surveilled ship to land a tonne of cocaine in Australia, left no doubt about the winner. Tremendous work. The judges look forward to seeing what comes next for Riley’s career.’
A full list of winners follows.
The John B Fairfax Family Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards
Supported by Jibb Foundation
These awards recognise the hard work of our most outstanding young Australian journalists. They reward the efforts of journalists aged 28 and under who demonstrate excellence in the fundamental tenets of the profession, as well as the ability to present distinctive and original journalism that pushes the boundaries of the craft.
Thanks to the generous support of the John B Fairfax family through the Jibb Foundation, the 2026 overall winner, Riley Walter, receives a two-week trip to international newsrooms (flights included). All category winners will be matched with an industry mentor to help guide their careers further.
2026 John B Fairfax Family Young Australian Journalist of the Year
Supported by Jibb Foundation
Riley Walter, The Sydney Morning Herald
Shortform journalism
Supported by ABC
Emily Kowal, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, ‘Hidden in Their Pockets: Exposing the Digital Predators of AI and Roblox’
Longform feature or special
Supported by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
Simran Pasricha, PEDESTRIAN.TV, ‘“Disgusting, Like Absolutely Foul”: Unpacking The Claims Against Dean Lewis & His Denial’
Specialist and Beat Reporting
Riley Walter, The Sydney Morning Herald, ‘NAB allegedly defrauded $150m via ‘corrupt’ staff’; ‘The secrets of the shooters on Jimmy’s rural acreage’; ‘Cocaine ship allowed to offload $500m in drugs’
Innovative storytelling
Matilda Boseley, Guardian Australia, ‘Parliamen-Tea: explaining the chaos of Australian politics’
Coverage of community and regional affairs
Supported by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Charlotte Wilkes, ABC Ballarat, ‘Allegations of sexual misconduct levelled at father-son Bowen therapists in Ballarat’; ‘Residents in battle with nearby metal recycler business due to zoning issue’; ‘New statistics show Victoria’s most dangerous roads are in regional areas’
Visual storytelling
Supported by Nikon
Audrey Richardson, Freelance – Getty Images, Reuters, The Sunday Times, ‘Sydney In Reflection’
Public service journalism
Supported by Telum Media
Anthony Segaert, The Sydney Morning Herald, ‘Parramatta Council Accountability’
Student journalist of the year
Supported by University of Sydney
Charlotte Wilkes, RMIT, ABC Online and Stateline, ‘Allegations of sexual misconduct levelled at father-son Bowen therapists in Ballarat’; ‘Schools teaching ‘prestige’ languages over those most spoken, professor says’; ‘New statistics show Victoria’s most dangerous roads are in regional areas’
Coverage of Science and the Environment Prize
Tom Hartley, ABC 7.30, ABC News Online, ABC Instagram, ‘The Vitamin B6 Investigation’
Freelance Journalist of the Year Prize
Nina Funnell, News.com.au, ‘Keep Counselling Confidential’
Women’s Leadership in Media Prize
Supported by MECCA M-POWER
Louise Milligan, Mary Fallon, Mayeta Clark, Lara Sonnenschein, Four Corners, ABC, ‘Scarred’
Our Watch Award for Excellence in Reporting on Violence Against Women
Administered by the Walkley Foundation
Claudia Long, Chantelle Al-Khouri, Hannah Meagher, ABC, 7.30, ABC News online, ‘Predators Paradise: Driving instructors accused of sexual assault’
Media Diversity Australia Prize
Supported by Media Diversity Australia, Australian Multicultural Foundation, and administered by the Walkley Foundation
Patrick Abboud and Compass team, Compass, ABC, ‘Surviving Gaza, Seeking Truth’
Arts Journalism & Arts Criticism Prize
Supported by the Geraldine Pascall Foundation. Through the generous support of the Copyright Agency, the winner will receive $5000 in prize money.
Tim Douglas, Culture, The Australian, ‘Body of work’
Scholarships & Grants
Jacoby-Walkley Scholarship
Supported by Anita Jacoby, Nine Network and AFTRS
David Thom, University of Sydney
ARN Ali Drower Audio Scholarship
Supported by ARN
Kalani Bate-Henry, Curtin University
Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific Journalism
Supported by private donors
Jennifer Scherer, SBS
Steven Trask, AFP
#midyearprizes
Mid-Year queries: Margie Smithurst margie.smithurst@walkleys.com
Thank you to our judges
Each year hundreds of journalists, editors and producers give their time to judge our awards. Thankyou to all those who judged this year:
- Matthew Absalom-Wong, The Age
- Drew Ambrose, 101 East, Al Jazeera English
- Stefan Armbruster, PCBL/Pasifika TV
- Kerri-Lee Barry, SBS Radio
- Bob Beale, Former Science and Environment Editor, SMH
- Ariel Bogle, Guardian Australia
- Jenny Brockie, former Host, Insight SBS
- Ben Butler, Walkley Judging Board chair
- Reid Butler, Nine
- Kelly Clappis, WIN News Victoria
- Sarah Collard, Guardian Australia
- Stephanie Corsetti, Freelance
- Colin Cosier, SBS Dateline
- Luke Costin, AAP
- Toby Creswell, author
- Avani Dias, ABC
- Mark Doman, ABC
- Fiona Ellis-Jones, ARN
- Jasmine Fellows, Refraction Media
- Catalina Florez, SBS
- Elizabeth Flux, The Age
- Fiona Harari, The Weekend Australian Magazine
- Thomas Henry, The Australian
- Belinda Hickman, The West Australian
- Chris Hopkins, Freelance photojournalist
- Dan Ilic, Not a Real Media Company Pty Ltd
- Anita Jacoby AM
- Jason Koutsoukis, The Saturday Paper
- Paula Kruger, Media Diversity Australia
- Naomi Lynch, ARN
- Claire Mackay, ABC
- Sarah Malik, Freelance / UNSW
- Baz McAlister, The Courier Mail
- Matt McDonald, ARN
- Philippa McDonald, Freelance
- Tom McKendrick, The Age
- Rob McLennan, ARN
- Margie McLew, Nine
- Mark Morri, The Daily Telegraph
- Ashlee Mullany, Spotlight, Seven
- Kirsty Needham, Agence France-Presse / Walkley Judging Board
- Bianca Nogrady, Freelance Science journalist
- Helen O’Neill, Freelance Journalist
- Matt O’Sullivan, Sydney Morning Herald
- Deirdre Porter, ABC Brisbane
- Alana Riley, ARN
- Robyn Riley, Herald Sun
- Hugh Riminton, 10 News First / Walkley Judging Board
- Kieran Rooney, The Age
- Brooklyn Ross, ARN
- Lauren Sams, The Australian Financial Review
- Stefanie Sgroi, Nine
- Ben Smee, Guardian Australia
- Anushri Sood, Boardwalk Pictures Australia
- Ginny Stein, UTS
- Kirsty Thomson, Sixty Minutes, NINE
- Cam Tyeson, 10 News First
- Dale Webster, Freelance
- Matthew Westwood, Musica Viva
- Dorothy Wickham, Melanesian News Network
