Winners
Linda Morris and Eryk Bagshaw – ‘The portrait Gina Rinehart doesn’t want you to see’
Publication
The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times
Year
2024
Category
All Media: Specialist and Beat Reporting
This collaboration produced arts beat journalism at its best, revealing that Gina Rinehart had asked the National Gallery of Australia’s chair and director to remove a portrait of her from an exhibition by Vincent Namatjira. The gallery also received complaints from associates of Rinehart’s company Hancock Prospecting and from athletes she sponsors.
The story began with a tip, which had to be verified with sensitivity, extensive contacts and freedom of information laws. The first report set off a media storm, as it was followed up by national and international media outlets. Social media memes sprang up; there was even a crowdfunding campaign to put it on a New York billboard.
Linda Morris and Eryk Bagshaw were the first to approach Kevin Hausmann after receiving information that the head of Queensland Swimming had backed Gina Rinehart’s complaint. They were also the first to obtain comment from Olympic swimmer Kyle Chalmers confirming he had written in support of the removal of the portrait.
These stories explored efforts by Australia’s richest person to control her image, and the pressure on cultural and sporting institutions increasingly dependent on philanthropy.
Judges’ comments:
“Linda Morris and Eryk Bagshaw’s entry is an outstanding example of collaborative rounds-based journalism. A tip that Australia’s richest person wanted an unflattering portrait removed from the National Gallery became a rolling saga of power and vanity, philanthropy, sport sponsorship – and what money really buys.”
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