The Freelance Journalist of the Year Prize recognises the unique contribution that freelance journalists make across all media platforms to the future of the industry. It can include commentary, analysis and investigations, among other forms.
The prize for Freelance Journalist of the Year is chosen on the basis of journalistic excellence.
Entrants must submit a body of work of three pieces. All forms of media are accepted. This award is only open to individual entrants.
All entries must have been published or broadcast and available in Australia between April 16, 2024 and April 14, 2025.
Each entry to the Mid-Year Media Prizes is judged on how well it responds to:
- the category description; and
- judging criteria.
For more information on how judging works, including the judging criteria, please refer to the FAQs.
Your entry must comply with the Terms & Conditions.
Entry fee
The entry fee for Freelance Journalist of the Year Prize remains $50.
Entry remains free for MEAA members.
Entry Support
If you have any further questions, please contact: Margie Smithurst, Senior Manager, Walkley Awards and Mid-Year Media Prizes: margie.smithurst@walkleys.com.
Past winners
2024 winner: Gabriella Coslovich, Good Weekend and The Saturday Paper, ‘Body of work’ (‘Fine Lines’, ‘The Art of War’, ‘Grand-standing’)
2022 winner: Dale Webster, The Regional, “’Big four’ banks casting a dangerous shadow” “Why I spent a year counting every bank in regional Australia” and “What anyone making a submission to Australia’s latest regional banking inquiry should know first”
Dale Webster has carved a niche telling stories that resonate with regional Australians. She has decades of experience working in print media but after being made redundant from News Corp’s rural masthead, The Weekly Times, she set out on her own and publishes independently through her own title, The Regional.