Shining a light on inconvenient truths is rarely comfortable, especially for journalists who report on their close-knit regional communities. But Newcastle Herald investigative journalist Donna Page wouldn’t have it any other way. — Donna Page always wanted to be a journalist. While most children were engrossed in Disney movies or reading their favourite story books, eight-year-old Page spent her Sunday evenings watching 60 Minutes with her grandfather.

Investigative journalist Kate McClymont reveals how she exposed Melissa Caddick, the Sydney swindler who disappeared without a trace. — The disappearance of Dover Heights woman Melissa Caddick captivated the nation. Where had she gone? Why would she disappear? Kate McClymont made it her mission to find out. The Sydney Morning Herald investigative journalist spent hours digging through financial records, court documents and land title deeds, to reveal Caddick’s heartless…

Naaman Zhou’s reports on the exploitation of Australia’s food delivery riders won him the 2021 Walkley Award for Public Service Journalism. — When Doordash delivery driver Chow Khai Shien was killed in a car accident, he became the third person in Australia to die while delivering food during the pandemic. By the end of the year, five delivery riders had died between September and November 2020, an average of one death every…

Photojournalist Alex Coppel discusses the perilous and rewarding process of capturing the biggest events of 2021 — Whether it’s an Olympic swimmer winning Gold or a baby taking its first dip, Alex Coppel’s photography offers a striking insight into a world living in the shadow of the pandemic. Coppel braved violent crowds of anti-lockdown protesters and captured exclusive images of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as COVID-19 case…

Ella McCrindle dishes on the great outcomes she’s had after winning the 2021 scholarship. — I’ve always loved 60 Minutes. I used to watch it as a child and fantasise about becoming a reporter, travelling to the far reaches of the world to hunt down a great story. In early 2021, working on my dream show seemed about as realistic as going on an overseas…

Gold Walkley-winner Samantha Maiden discusses the issues in the coverage of Brittany Higgins’ allegations and why the result is more important than any award. — Samantha Maiden’s reporting on Brittany Higgins’ alleged sexual assault in Parliament House earned her the 2021 Gold Walkley Award and the Walkley Award for Coverage of a Major News Event or Issue. Ella McCrindle interviewed Samantha about the genesis of the piece, the issues involved and the after effects.

Sydney Morning Herald photojournalist Kate Geraghty won the Nikon Prize for Photo of the Year for her portrayal of a COVID-19 patient. — “A photo can stop people in their tracks and tell people what is happening and how it feels and looks. It can evoke emotions that sometimes words can’t do.” Sydney Morning Herald photojournalist Kate Geraghty won the Nikon Prize for Photo of the Year for her chilling portrayal of a…

Winner of the 2021 Nikon Portrait Prize. — This image, depicting an overcrowded living situation on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, won the 2021 Nikon Portrait Prize. Entries for the Nikon Portrait Prize reveal aspects of the human condition by showing people from all walks of life. Award-winning photographer Brian Cassey spoke with the Walkley Foundation’s…

A look at the finalists’ photographs. — Kate Geraghty has been named the winner of the 2021 Nikon Photo of the Year Prize for “Fighting COVID-19 Delta”. The judges thought Kate’s image of a COVID-19 patient encapsulated the year in news. The judges said “Provocative, strong and summarises the year that was: illness, hospitalisation, isolation, family not…