The Sydney Morning Herald journalists scoop the pool at Kennedy Awards
Investigative reporter Nick McKenzie was named journalist of the year for the third time for a body of work that included the Building Bad series, which exposed high-level corruption and organised crime links at construction union the CFMEU.
The investigation, which won the Gold Walkley last year, also garnered The Age, Herald, Australian Financial Review, and Nine's 60 Minutes, the award for outstanding investigative reporting.
Herald health reporter Angus Thomson was named young journalist of the year for work including an investigation exposing high blood lead levels among Indigenous children in the mining town of Broken Hill, and a series of exclusive reports on Sydney's troubled Northern Beaches Hospital.
Testament to the success of cross-platform collaboration at Nine, the Herald 's Eryk Bagshaw, Clare Sibthorpe and Bianca Hrovat and 60 Minutes ' Natalie Clancy won the award for outstanding television current affairs reporting for their exposure of sexual assault and migrant worker exploitation in Sydney's restaurant industry.
Photographer Flavio Brancaleone claimed two awards for his arresting images from the Vatican of the funeral of Pope Francis, including the prize for outstanding news photography. The public voted his image of the late pope lying in state the winner of the 'Power of the Lens' award.
The Age journalists Michael Bachelard and Charlotte Grieve won the prize for outstanding reporting on the environment for their story on carbon offsets, 'Dollars in the dust: Is outback scrub really saving the planet?'
In recognition of the unseen work that is the backbone of the Herald newsroom, associate editor Kathryn Wicks was named mentor of the year. She shared the award with 60 Minutes executive producer Kirsty Thompson.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Perth Now
Wild Honey: the sweetest sound of remote Australia
Gawukawu Gurruwiwi can't remember a time when music was not part of his life. The grandson of legendary Indigenous artist, Yothu Yindi frontman Mandawuy Yunupingu, he grew up in the Northern Territory's remote East Arnhem always wanting to be in a band. "We used to have this big rock that we'd hang around and imagine that the rock was a stage," he tells AAP. "We used to get some tins and broken tree branches for a guitar and bass." The East Arnhem region has produced some of the country's most loved names in music - Yothu Yindi, Baker Boy, King Stingray and now Gurruwiwi, who is front and centre of his own band and hoping to inspire yet a new generation of Yolngu musicians. Wild Honey have played to multiple festivals across the Top End including Darwin's Nightcliff Seabreeze but there's nothing like taking to the stage on home turf. Their first single was released in time for the national Garma Festival, held in the region each year. To this year perform Common Ground, a song about the way Garma brings people together on stage at Gulkula, was a special moment for the band. "All the families are proud of us," Gurruwiwi says. "It is good to perform in our mother Country." As Wild Honey prepare for their next gig, the East Arnhem Live festival on August 30-31, guitarist Adi Schmidt Mumm marvels at the opportunity to play to an audience more than 1000 kilometres from the nearest capital city. "It's amazing such a remote location is able to hold these festivals and bring thousands of people here to help nurture the music culture and industry," he says. "For us to be able to have a series of gigs throughout the year here is just so special." Wild Honey are in good company on the East Arnhem Live lineup, which is headlined by east coast band Beddy Rays and features local Yolngu talent including Yirrmal, Salt Lake Band, Dhapanbal and Yirrkala School's Lucky Band. When not taking to concert stages or writing, Schmidt Mumm and Gurruwiwi are committed to giving back to community. The pair run workshops at Yirrkala as part of the same music program in which Yothu Yindi bassist Stuart Kellaway taught Gurruwiwi to play guitar as a child. It's a legacy he's proud to continue. "It's pretty good for the young ones as well ... to show them the music industry is a good pathway," Gurruwiwi says. Spreading the word about the strength of Yolngu culture is at one with Wild Honey's aspirations, Schmidt Mumm adds. "Our hopes and dreams are to just keep playing more shows, play interstate and record more music, keep practising our skills."
Sydney Morning Herald
21 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Age's Nick McKenzie wins journalist of the year at Kennedy Awards
Investigative reporter Nick McKenzie has claimed the title of Kennedy Awards journalist of the year for a third time, in the annual celebration of excellence in journalism. McKenzie's award was among eight recognising the work of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald 's journalists on Friday night. McKenzie led the mastheads' groundbreaking Building Bad investigation, which earned the gong for outstanding investigative reporting. The investigation – which won the Gold Walkley and Gold Quill and was the culmination of years of work by teams across the Age, the Herald, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes – exposed allegations of intimidation and corruption in the building industry. Age senior writer Michael Bachelard and Age investigative reporter Charlotte Grieve received the Kennedy Award for outstanding reporting on the environment for their exploration of whether carbon offset schemes in the outback are working. Former Age political editor Michelle Grattan was honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the ceremony in Sydney, alongside inaugural Kennedy chairperson Peter Ryan. The award for outstanding television current affairs reporting in the longform category went to Out of Order, a joint 60 Minutes investigation by Herald investigative journalist Eryk Bagshaw, Herald crime reporter Clare Sibthorpe, Good Food editor Bianca Hrovat and 60 Minutes associate producer Natalie Clancy. The investigation exposed allegations of sexual harassment, drug abuse, and wage exploitation inside some of the country's most prestigious restaurants. Age editor Patrick Elligett congratulated all winners and finalists. 'These results confirm The Age 's reputation as the country's premier outlet for investigative journalism,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
21 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald journalists scoop the pool at Kennedy Awards
Journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have scooped the pool at the 2025 Kennedy Awards, taking home eight major prizes. Investigative reporter Nick McKenzie was named journalist of the year for the third time for a body of work that included the Building Bad series, which exposed high-level corruption and organised crime links at construction union the CFMEU. The investigation, which won the Gold Walkley last year, also garnered The Age, Herald, Australian Financial Review, and Nine's 60 Minutes, the award for outstanding investigative reporting. Herald health reporter Angus Thomson was named young journalist of the year for work including an investigation exposing high blood lead levels among Indigenous children in the mining town of Broken Hill, and a series of exclusive reports on Sydney's troubled Northern Beaches Hospital. Testament to the success of cross-platform collaboration at Nine, the Herald 's Eryk Bagshaw, Clare Sibthorpe and Bianca Hrovat and 60 Minutes ' Natalie Clancy won the award for outstanding television current affairs reporting for their exposure of sexual assault and migrant worker exploitation in Sydney's restaurant industry. Photographer Flavio Brancaleone claimed two awards for his arresting images from the Vatican of the funeral of Pope Francis, including the prize for outstanding news photography. The public voted his image of the late pope lying in state the winner of the 'Power of the Lens' award. The Age journalists Michael Bachelard and Charlotte Grieve won the prize for outstanding reporting on the environment for their story on carbon offsets, 'Dollars in the dust: Is outback scrub really saving the planet?' In recognition of the unseen work that is the backbone of the Herald newsroom, associate editor Kathryn Wicks was named mentor of the year. She shared the award with 60 Minutes executive producer Kirsty Thompson.
