The winners of the 2025 Our Watch Award for Excellence in Reporting on Violence Against Women have been announced as the ABC News Breakfast team.
The ABC News Breakfast team’s in-depth special coverage of gendered violence against women was named in Sydney last night alongside all the winners in the Walkley Foundation’s 2025 Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism.
Our Watch Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy, Regan Mitchell, who presented the award said the winning reporting by ABC News Breakfast team’s presenters, producers, editors, camera crews and production staff showed how far some journalism has come in its coverage of the issue.
“ABC News Breakfast’s ‘Not Just A Number' devoted a full week to a powerful exploration of men’s violence against women. It centred the voices of victim-survivors, who are experts in this preventable issue and must be at the forefront of the conversation. The team has set a new standard for nuanced, accurate and courageous reporting on one of the most serious issues facing Australia,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We are seeing some improvements in media reporting of violence against women, but there is still a long way to go. For example, non-Aboriginal voices should no longer be quoted as speaking for us. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are often made invisible, despite being the most impacted by men’s violence.
“The media has a unique power, privilege and responsibility to tell the stories of all women accurately and with integrity, and with the same urgency no matter their postcode, race, social economic status or how they look.
“I challenge media professionals to make the choice to always prioritise this preventable crisis and raise awareness of what we can all do to stop violence against all women from happening in the first place.
“Our Watch has been recognising and rewarding excellence in reporting on violence against women and children since 2013, initially through the Our Watch Awards – administered by the Walkley Foundation – and from 2019 onwards through the Our Watch Award at the Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism.
“This year saw a record number of entries in Our Watch Award category, which is encouraging to see. We commend all the entrants and finalists.
“I particularly commend the winners ABC News Breakfast Team in setting a new standard for journalism and showcasing the power of media in helping the broader public understand this insidious violence to ensure a real chance of system-wide learning and long-term change for all women.”
Our Watch works with the Walkley Foundation to improve the quality of reporting on violence against women and their children by building awareness of the drivers of this violence – gender inequality and lack of respect – and what can be done to prevent it. Access guides for reporting about violence against women and their children. Find more information about the Our Watch Award and professional development for journalists.
Please contact media@ourwatch.org.au or call 0448 844 930.
If you cover this story, or any story regarding violence against women and children, please include the following tagline:
1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732. Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491.
Access guides for reporting about violence against women and their children.
Our Watch is Australia’s leader in the primary prevention of violence against women. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms, and structures that lead to violence against women and children. Read more about Our Watch here.