Our Watch Awards 2018 finalists announced
August 15 2018 By Clare Kermond, Senior Advisor, Media & Communications
Naming family and domestic violence, using voices other than police and publishing help-line contact information are some of the key ways that the media has improved its reporting on violence against women, according to Australia’s national prevention organisation, Our Watch.
Our Watch and the Walkley Foundation this week announced the finalists in the annual Our Watch media awards, which celebrate excellence in reporting on violence against women.
Patty Kinnersly, Chief Executive Officer at Our Watch, said several high-profile cases recently had highlighted the importance of responsible reporting on this complex issue.
“The Our Watch awards showcase exemplary reporting on a topic which is often complex and can be traumatic for those working to tell the story,” she said.
Ms Kinnersly praised the high quality of work entered and noted that there had been an increase in entries since last year’s awards.
“The public conversation around violence against women and their children has shifted. We are seeing increasingly that journalists want to send a clear message that this violence is unacceptable, that there are no excuses for such violence and victims can never be blamed.”
Ms Kinnersly said reporting of violence against women had improved in recent times and it was particularly encouraging to see reporting which examined the drivers of this violence, such as behaviour that condones violence and inequality or encourages disrespect towards women and girls.
Finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
All Media: Best News Coverage
- Bridget Brennan, 7.30, ABC TV, ABC News Online, AM, ABC Radio, “Aboriginal women ask Australians to pay attention to assaults and murders”
- Janet Fife-Yeomans, Mark Morri, Ashleigh Gleeson, Danielle Gusmaroli and Christopher Harris, The Daily Telegraph, “Coward”
- Jason Walls, NT News, “Women fleeing domestic violence forced to ride in paddy wagons”, “Domestic crisis: It's time to stop this cycle of violence” “Survivors forced to relive the nightmare” “Former NT cop assaulted his police officer wife”
All Media: Best Use of Social Media
All Media: Best Series/Special
- Julia Baird, Hayley Gleeson, Debra Jopson, Sarah Malik and Rocco Fazzari, ABC News Online, “Religion and domestic violence investigation”
- Lorna Knowles, Kate McClymont, Tracey Spicer, Alison Branley and Jo Puccini, 7.30, ABC TV, “#metoo Australia”
- Lauren Novak, The Advertiser, “Leveraging an election to fast-track change”
All Media: Best Local/Community Journalism
- Elizabeth Byrne, Susan McDonald and Louise Maher, ABC Radio Canberra, ABC Radio news, ABC TV News, ABC News Online, ABC Instagram, “How verbal abuse of Tara Costigan escalated to murder”
- Claire Campbell, ABC News Online, ABC News, ABC TV, “Aboriginal women empowering schoolgirls in Central Australia to fight domestic violence”, “Prison inmates tackle domestic violence in 'No More' match against Central Australian Redtails,”, "Spike in rough sleepers sparks calls for female homeless shelter in Alice Springs”, “Remote cops” and “Urgent calls for public housing to improve child welfare”
- Nicole Ferrie, Emma D’Agostino and Natalie Croxon, The Bendigo Advertiser, “Together, we are an ocean”
All Media: Best Longform
- Julia Baird, Hayley Gleeson and Rocco Fazzari, ABC News Online, “Clergy wives speak out about domestic violence”
- Elizabeth Byrne, Susan McDonald, Alice Brennan, Jess O'Callaghan and Leila Shunnar, Background Briefing, ABC Radio National, “From verbal abuse to axe murder: The death of Canberra mum Tara Costigan”
- Louise Milligan, Mary Fallon, Sashka Koloff and Lucy Carter, Four Corners, ABC TV, “I Am That Girl”
All Media: Best Journalism Campaign
The winner of each category will go in the running for the Our Watch Gold Award. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in Sydney on Wednesday 12 September 2018.
About the Our Watch Awards
Our Watch developed a national media awards scheme to recognise and reward excellence in reporting on violence against women, in particular reporting that highlights the drivers of this violence and what we as a society can do to stop it before it starts. The Our Watch Awards is now in its fourth year.
For more information about the awards, which are administered by The Walkley Foundation, please visit the Walkleys' Our Watch Awards page. For more information on Our Watch and resources for journalists, visit ourwatch.org.au.
The Our Watch Awards are funded by the Department of Communications and the Arts.
About Our Watch
Our Watch leads Australia's work to stop violence against women and their children before it starts. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the culture, behaviours and attitudes that lead to violence against women and children.
Media contact
Clare Kermond, Senior Advisor, Media & Communications, Our Watch
0448 844 930
clare.kermond@ourwatch.org.au
*If you cover this story, or any story regarding violence against women and children, please include the following tagline:
“If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. For more information about a service in your state or local area download the DAISY App in the App Store or Google Play.”