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The Humanitarian Storytelling Award is supported by UNICEF Australia

Millions of people around the world feel the humanitarian fallout from crisis and conflict every day. Wars are longer, increasingly fought in cities, and often between more armed groups with deadlier weapons than ever before. The human cost of conflict can be obscured when it takes place oceans away often leaving a legacy of poverty on communities and children. The Humanitarian Storytelling Award seeks to elevate the unheard stories of communities affected by armed conflict, humanitarian crisis, and other impacts of conflict including violence, human trafficking, access to resources and poverty. It celebrates storytelling that does no harm, respects dignity, is inclusive, compassionate and people-focused. It recognises the role that journalists play in defending dignity in times of humanitarian crisis, war and conflict.

About UNICEF Australia

UNICEF operates in more than 190 countries in some of the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children. UNICEF Australia works with local partners to raise children’s voices, defend their rights, and help them reach their potential at all stages of life, here and in neighbouring countries. We rely entirely on voluntary donations to provide lifesaving support; improve maternal and child health, education, and nutrition; and to respond to global emergencies.

For more information about UNICEF Australia and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.au

Judging criteria

The Humanitarian Storytelling Award recognises the work of an individual, team or news organisation that highlights the impact of humanitarian crisis and/or conflict on people and communities. 

Examples might focus on the impact of humanitarian crisis, conflict, climate change, sexual violence, human trafficking, migration, displacement, detention, gender or disability, as well as emerging trends in crisis and conflict, including new weapons technologies and humanitarian action.

Eligible formats include rolling coverage, a series of news reports or features, a single longform piece or photographic essay. Entries can be any medium (text, audio or visual) and published on any platform (digital, print, podcast or broadcast).

Entries must demonstrate how the reporting was realised, how the below criteria were considered and represented and provide evidence of impact. Judges will also consider deadlines, resources and other pressures or dangers faced by entrants.

Judges will evaluate submissions according to the following criteria:

  • Focus on people affected by humanitarian crisis and/or the impact of conflict – rather than just the politics.
  • Representation of people that is inclusive, compassionate, preserves dignity, and does no harm.
  • Participation by communities or individuals featured in the story in aspects of the storytelling itself – this award recognises stories that show the diversity of experiences of people living through humanitarian crisis and/or conflict.
  • Opportunities to elevate diverse voices, prioritising those of marginalised groups and communities.
  • Awareness of and sensitivity to the risks people made vulnerable by crisis and/or conflict may be exposed to when sharing their story.
  • Focus on neutral, impartial and non-political storytelling.
  • Impact and public benefit.
  • Adherence to ethical standards.
  • Time constraints and resources available.
  • Innovation, enterprise or courage.
  • Highlights stories in other countries around the world, with less of a focus on Australia or Australian involvement.

Entries may be a single piece or a body of work up to three pieces. All forms of media are accepted. Entries are open to works produced in languages other than English but a full English transcript must be provided.

All entries must have been published or broadcast and available in Australia between April 27, 2023 and April 15, 2024.

Each entry to the Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism is judged on how well it responds to: 

  • the category description; and 
  • judging criteria. 

Please note the Humanitarian Storytelling Award is subject to its own judging criteria (detailed above).

Conditions of entry

Entries may be a single piece or a body of work up to three pieces. All forms of media are accepted. Entries are open to works produced in languages other than English but a full English transcript must be provided.

Each entry to the Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism is judged on how well it responds to: 

  • the category description; and 
  • judging criteria. 

Please note the Humanitarian Storytelling Award is subject to its own judging criteria (detailed above).

Entry fee

Entry is free for members of MEAA. The cost of entering the award for non-members is $50 including GST.  Inquiries about MEAA membership please contact members@meaa.org for further details or call 1300 656 513.

Contact

For questions on the award entry process, please contact: 

Margie Smithurst, Senior Manager, Walkley Awards and Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism

margie.smithurst@walkleys.com

For questions about UNICEF Australia and its mission, please contact: 

Anita Quigley, Head of Media and Public Affairs

aquigley@unicef.org.au

Further resources

2023 winners:

Matthew Davis and Peter O’Donoghue, Foreign Correspondent, ABC, “Myanmar’s Forgotten War”  (1, 2, 3)

Humanitarian Storytelling Award winners

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