Fairfax Radio’s Latika Bourke has been named Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year for 2010 for her outstanding coverage of the Liberal leadership crisis which saw Tony Abbott topple Malcolm Turnbull. Her use of Twitter was a defining factor in her win.
Bourke also broke the news that Joe Hockey had been sounded out for the leadership and got confirmation from power-broker Nick Minchin that any compromise on emissions trading negotiated by Turnbull might be rejected.
The Walkley Advisory Board agreed that Bourke’s pioneering use of Twitter as the drama reached its climax in the party room added an important dimension to her reporting.
More than 100 journalists aged 26 and under submitted entries for the Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards, which are now in their third year. Fifteen nominees across print, radio, television, photography and online media, were shortlisted for judging by members of the Walkley Advisory Board.
The chairman of the Walkley Advisory Board Quentin Dempster said Bourke displayed guts and resourcefulness under pressure, “These young practitioners are the future of journalism and it is wonderful to see their judgement and intellectual honesty on display.”
The ABC’s Drew Ambrose took out the Online Award for his accounts of Victoria’s Black Saturday fires. The Board also noted that expertise and originality were displayed by this year’s winners, including: Sophie McNeill’s report on the abuse and mistreatment of Afghan women; James Brickwood’s powerful images; and Erik Jensen’s revelation that Taronga Zoo had sold exotic animals to game shooters.
Adam Suckling, FOXTEL Director Policy and Corporate Affairs, said journalism is at the centre of their 10 news and current affairs channels: “FOXTEL is proud to support the Walkley Foundation through its sponsorship of the Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year Awards. We will continue to support the growth of journalism in Australia, so we are naturally motivated to be associated with the Walkley Foundation and an award that encourages journalists in the early stages of their careers.”
Bourke will fly to the US and UK to visit major media organisations in London and New York, with A$5,000 spending money as her prize.