Our Watch Awards 2016 finalists announced

Finalists in the 2016 Our Watch Awards have been announced. The Awards, administered by the Walkley Foundation, recognise exemplary reporting to end violence against women and their children.

Our Watch Chief Executive Officer, Mary Barry said:

“The media plays a powerful role in bringing the issue of violence against women to our attention and shaping the national conversation.  With this platform comes a great deal of responsibility.

“It is crucial that those doing it well are applauded. The Our Watch Awards recognise those who set a new standard, holding a mirror up to society and highlighting what works to prevent violence from happening in the first place. I look forward to celebrating the finalists and winners at the ceremony in September,” said Ms Barry.

Finalists, in alphabetical order, are: 

Best use of social media

• Ollie Henderson, Paloma Brierley Newton, Olivia Melville, Lucy Watson and Lucy Le Masurier, Sexual Violence Won’t Be Silenced, “#sexualviolencewontbesilenced”
• Miki Perkins and Erin Riley, Erinriley.com.au and The Age, “McGuire/Wilson Saga”
• Waleed Aly and Tom Whitty, The Project, Network Ten, “#ClickSomethingElse”

All media: Best news coverage

• Ginger Gorman, news.com.au, “The Unheard Voices”
• Belinda Hawkins, Steven Baras-Miller and Mark Farnell, Australian Story, ABC TV,  “The Minister’s Secret”
• Debi Marshall, SBS News, “The girls, the paedophile and Cardinal Pell”

All media: Best series or special

• Nicola Berkovic, The Australian, “Family law system in crisis”
• Ginger Gorman, news.com.au, “Disability and domestic violence – the unheard voices”
• Bronwyn Purvis, Ian Walker, Chip Rolley, Sophie Townsend and Daniel Battley, ABC Regional “ABC Open Family Violence Project”

All media: Best local/community journalism

• Selina Green, ABC South East SA Breakfast, “Mount Gambier community domestic violence forum,” “Rosie Batty domestic violence forum” “Candlelight vigil Lee-Ann Thomson” “Bystander workshop” “Study into domestic violence in rural areas” 
• Simon Mann, Annie Blatchford, Karen Coombs, Katelyn Swallow and Freddy Woodhouse, The Citizen, “Respect and responsibility” "Domestic violence: how PTSD can put veterans' families at risk" "10 ways to put Malcolm Turnbull’s ‘cultural shift’ for ending violence against women into gear" "How violence against women became a front page story"
• James Oaten, ABC Darwin, “Hidden victims: Women on visas feeling trapped after domestic violence abuse”  

All media: Best long form

• Bronwyn Adcock, Background Briefing, ABC Radio National, “Sis we’ve got your back”
• Sarah Ferguson, Nial Fulton and Ivan O’Mahoney, ABC TV, “Hitting Home”
• Jess Hill, The Monthly, “Suffer the Children: Trouble in the Family Court”

All media: Best journalism campaign 

• Lauren Novak and Sheradyn Holderhead, Sunday Mail and The Advertiser, “Knowing what we’re up against”
• Bronwyn Purvis, Ian Walker, Chip Rolley, Sophie Townsend and Daniel Battley, ABC Regional “ABC Open Family Violence Project”
• Waleed Aly and Tom Whitty, The Project, Network Ten, “#ClickSomethingElse”

About the Our Watch Awards:

Media contact

For enquiries or further information: Hannah Grant, Our Watch, mobile 0448 844 930, email Hannah.Grant@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.”

​Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

 

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