An ABC investigation has won the top honor at the 2022 Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism, with the organisation’s journalists and broadcasters also taking home 10 other awards.
Key Points:
- More than two dozen ABC journalists were nominated for various Walkley Awards
- Former Four Corners executive producer Sally Neighbor receives Outstanding Contribution to Journalism Award
- Photographer Brendan Esposito won Press Photographer of the Year for his work in Australia and Ukraine
ABC’s Four Corners’ Ann Connolly, Ali Russell and Stephanie Zillman received the Gold Walkley, as well as the Public Service Journalism award, for their year-long investigation into guardianship and public care agencies.
State Control exposed the stories of around 50,000 Australians who said they had been “virtually kidnapped by the state”.
“This was an enlightening and determined report, empowering the voiceless and allowing them to tell a story of utter powerlessness,” the Walkley judges said.
“Having the law reform debate in multiple states has the potential to effect public policy reform on a large scale.”
A total of 26 ABC journalists were named as finalists in 15 categories at the Awards, which were presented in Sydney on Thursday night.
ABC news director Justin Stevens said the awards were “a testament to the incredible talent, hard work and dedication of our people”.
“Our journalists and teams are passionate about bringing the best public interest journalism to Australians and it’s wonderful to see their hard work recognized by their peers,” he said.
Walkley Foundation chief executive Shona Martyn said Australian journalists had “excelled” in covering major events, “sometimes putting their lives on the line”.
“This year’s best journalism also includes stories that were unearthed through old-school hard work, tips, hard work, insights and careful, considered research,” he said.
“I congratulate all the winners and finalists for their recognition at the 67th Walkley Awards.”
ABC’s Brendan Esposito was named Press Photographer of the Year for work covering Ukraine and Australia, and former Four Corners executive producer Sally Neighbor was honored for her outstanding contribution to journalism.
Brendan Esposito’s photo of NASA scientists doing research in the Northern Territory was among those sent to the Walkley Foundation. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) Another was also presented, from a Four Corners investigation into gang violence. (Four Corners: Brendan Esposito) Brendan Esposito’s work also included covering Ukraine as Russia invaded and the war unfolded. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito)
“In [Sally Neighbour’s] Seven years as executive producer of Four Corners, the show won 18 Walkleys, including two Gold Walkleys,” the Walkley Foundation said in a statement.
“The Four Corners stories he commissioned led to four royal commissions: youth justice, banking, aged care and the theft of Murray Darling water.”
Full list of ABC Walkley winners
Walkley Gold Award 2022
Anne Connolly, Ali Russell and Stephanie Zillman, ABC Four Corners, “State Control”
Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year
Brendan Esposito
Sally Neighbor was the executive producer of Four Corners for almost a decade. (Four Corners: Harriet Tatham)
Outstanding contribution to journalism
Sally Neighbor
Public Service Journalism
Anne Connolly, Stephanie Zillman and Ali Russell, ABC Four Corners, “State Control”
innovation
Mark Doman, Michael Slezak and the Digital Story Innovations team, ABC, “Using 3D techniques to tell immersive stories (1, 2, 3)”
Coverage of community and regional affairs
ABC North Coast, “Northern rivers flood disaster”
Sports journalism
Lorna Knowles, Nikki Tugwell and Clare Blumer, ABC, “Painful Past: the John Wright series”
Radio/audio news and current affairs
Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, ABC, “Ukraine War Crimes”
Television/Video: Work with camera
Ryan Sheridan, ABC Four Corners, “Despair and Defiance” and “Feral”
Current affairs TV/video short (less than 20 minutes)
Lorna Knowles and Nikki Tugwell, ABC 7.30, “Painful Past: the John Wright series” [1, 2, 3]
Long-form TV/video news (over 20 minutes)
Adele Ferguson, Klaus Toft and Lauren Day, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Four Corners, “Cosmetic Cowboys: The unregulated world of plastic surgery”