Key Dates for 2024

Entry opens May 1

Entry closes July 1

Finalist announcements July 26

Kennedy Awards Gala - Friday, August 16, Royal Randwick

Entries eligible for work published or broadcast between July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024

Kennedy Award Categories

The Kennedy Awards is a national media awards program. Entry is open to all Australian working journalists, cartoonists, camera operators and videographers.

ALL MEDIA

• Indigenous Affairs Reporting

• Outstanding  Cartoon

• Outstanding Consumer Affairs Reporting

• Outstanding Court and Legal Affairs Reporting

• Outstanding Crime Reporting

• Outstanding Finance Reporting

• Outstanding Foreign Correspondent

• Outstanding Investigative Reporting

• Outstanding Online News Breaking

• Outstanding Political Reporting

• Outstanding Reporting on Human Rights, Social or Religious Affairs

• Outstanding Reporting on the Environment

• Outstanding Sport Reporting

• Outstanding 3 Headlines (NEW)

• Outstanding Team Player or Mentor

• Scoop of the Year

• Student Journalist of the Year

• Young Journalist of The Year (if yet to turn 27 by June 30)

• The Kennedy Prize - Journalist of the Year

• Lifetime Achievement (Selected by Kennedy Foundation Board)

PRINT/TEXT

• Outstanding Columnist

• Outstanding Feature Writing

• Outstanding Travel Writing

• Racing Writer of the Year

• Outstanding Digital Innovation (NEW)

• Regional Reporting Print and Online

TELEVISION/VIDEO

• Outstanding News Camera Coverage

• Outstanding Nightly Television Current Affairs Reporting

• Outstanding Television Current Affairs Reporting -Long Form

• Outstanding Television News Reporting

• Outstanding Documentary (NEW)

• Regional Broadcast Reporting

AUDIO JOURNALISM

• Outstanding Podcast

• Outstanding Radio News and Current Affairs (UPDATED)

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Outstanding News Photography

• Outstanding Portrait Photography

• Outstanding Sports Photography

• People's Choice Photographic Award- The Power of the Lens

Find out more about the detailed category criteria and conditions of entry HERE

Judging Process and Entry Criteria

In each category, three finalists will be selected by the judges of that category, who will then each will independently award points to the top three in order of preference. Each judge’s numbers will then be totalled to find the winner of that category.

Winners will be exceptional examples of ground-breaking, gutsy and creative journalism that demonstrate a profound and enduring impact.

Judges will also consider the resources, research, preproduction, preparation, logistical challenges, public interest and community benefit each entry reflects.

Entrants are required to disclose any formal corrections, claims of plagiarism or legal proceedings related to the entry after its publication.

By registering, the entrant attests to the originality of the work and its compliance with copyright rules.

All entrants and their work must comply with the MEAA Code of Ethics.

Entrants must declare if the creation of the work involved payment for information or an interview.

Dealing with Conflict of Interest in Judging

The Kennedy Awards strives to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest in the judging process. The judges selected are respected leaders in Australian journalism and specialised consultants from associated industry .

The Kennedy Awards Supervisory Committee monitors any potential for a personal or professional relationship to undermine the judging process's independence, fairness and objectivity.

Judging the work of entrants from their own media organisation will not necessarily disqualify a judge.

Before the judging process begins, each judge is required to identify any potential conflict of interest and notify the organising committee. If necessary, the appropriate changes will be made.