Finalists announced for Media Awards 2024

The Centre is excited to announce the finalists for the 2024 Media Awards, which recognise journalists who are respectfully elevating the voices of children, young people, and families in their work. These awards celebrate stories that bring attention to the lived experiences of children and families – perspectives that are essential yet often underrepresented in media – and the impact those stories have.

The finalists are selected by a judging panel that includes the Centre’s CEO Deb Tsorbaris, the Centre’s Board Chair and CEO of OzChild Dr Lisa Griffiths, a young person with care experience, and a representative from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).

Award winners across four categories will be honoured at the Centre’s AGM on Wednesday, 27 November.

The 2024 Media Awards finalists are:

Best Story about Children

Celebrating stories that respect and recognise children’s unique perspectives and experiences.

• Natasha Bita, The Australian: Sickening childcare case a wakeup to systemic failures
• Wendy Tuohy & Madeleine Heffernan, The Age: State of Our Kids – Post-Covid Series
• Zoey Andrews, The Horsham Times (PRINT): Young survivor hits back, loud and clear
• Natasha Bita, The Australian: “It’s cruel”: Rates pain leaves kids going hungry

Best Story about Young People

Acknowledges coverage that empowers young people by giving voice to the issues they face.

• Arianna Lucente, ABC News: After Crisis Accommodation: Are ‘Foyers’ the Key to Fixing Youth Homelessness?
• Natasha Bita, The Australian: Overseas Gangs Target Boys with Sextortion
• Benita Kolovos, The Guardian: ‘They Honestly Saved My Life’: Victorian Project Rescuing Girls from Exploitation
• Olivia Cleal, Women’s Agenda: ‘I can’t be silent anymore’: The role of young voters in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum

Best Story about Families

Recognizes stories that reflect the diversity and evolving nature of families.

• Daniel Miles & Richelle Hunt, ABC News: Australian Prisons: A ‘Blind Spot’ for Mothers and Children
• Menios Constantinou, ACU Impact: A safer place for women and children to live
• Madeleine Stuchbery, The Weekly Times: Rural childcare pain: “It’s bloody hard”
• Richelle Hunt & Oliver Lees, ABC News/The Conversation Hour Podcast: “It’s Not All Sadness”: How to Cope When a Child Enters Palliative Care

Best Story about Out-of-Home Care

Honors balanced reporting that sheds light on the experiences of children and young people in out-of-home care.

• Katri Uibu, ABC News: When a Mother’s Love is Not Enough
• Alex White, Herald Sun: Push to Overhaul State Protection Laws
• Alison Foletta, The Courier: Walk the Journey
• Emma D’Agostino and Josie Taylor, ABC, More support sought for kinship carers as cost of living hits strained budgets 
• Dechlan Brennan, National Indigenous Times, Urgent reform needed for a system that’s ‘grossly failing’ Aboriginal families and children

Congratulations to all the finalists! Winners will be announced at the Centre’s Annual General Meeting on 27 November 2024.