Investigative journalist Nick McKenzie was named The 2020 Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year at the prestigious Quill Awards tonight for his ground-breaking investigations into war crimes, political corruption and Crown Resorts for The Age, 60 Minutes and Good Weekend magazine.

The Age’s Nick led Nine journalists across its print and television divisions to an outstanding 14 Melbourne Press Club Quill awards in what has been the biggest news year in recent history.

The Age won 10 awards across 34 nominations – including Young Journalist of the Year, Innovation in Journalism, Features Photograph and the entire Age online team being recognised – while 9News journalist Christine Ahern won two awards for her reporting on A Current Affair and TODAY, with camera operator Travis Nemtsas being recognised for his work for 9News.

It’s the second time McKenzie has claimed the top award, after taking home the prize in 2017 with his Age colleague Richard Baker. He was also awarded a Quill for Feature Writing (Good Weekend) and a joint award with Chris Masters for their 60 Minutes investigation into alleged war crimes by Australian forces in Afghanistan.

Two joint investigations by The Age and 60 Minutes into Crown Resorts and branch stacking in Victoria, as well as a moving Good Weekend feature about an SAS soldier’s harrowing experience in Afghanistan, have had powerful repercussions. 

9News journalist Christine Ahern was recognized in the TV/Video Feature (Short Form) and TV/Video News categories for her exclusive interviews with whistleblowers inside the Epping aged care catastrophe during COVID-19 for A Current Affair, as well as an exclusive interview with a whistleblower hotel security guard that revealed what was really going on behind Victoria’s botched hotel quarantine system.  

The Age editor Gay Alcorn said: “The awards across the newsroom reflect The Age’s commitment to high-quality journalism in all areas. Ours is the best newsroom in the country in my humble opinion. Nick’s work in particular was difficult and in some cases took years, but the public interest was strong and its impact undeniable.”

“It is particularly pleasing to win such a breadth of awards after a challenging year when our staff worked almost entirely from home.”

Kirsty Thomson, Executive Producer of 60 Minutes, said: “Congratulations to Nick on winning journalist of the year at the Quill Awards.This award confirms what we at 60 Minutes already know, that  he is one of the bravest, hardest working journalists in the business. Nick’s stories epitomise the very best of investigative journalism and we are proud and honoured to work alongside him.”

Melbourne’s 9News Director Hugh Nailon said: “The outstanding work recognised tonight represents the high quality of stories our newsroom produced every day of the pandemic.”

Nine’s full list of winners of the 2020 Quill Awards for Excellence in Victorian Journalism:

THE 2020 GRAHAM PERKIN AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR, Winner: Nick McKenzie Nine Network’s 60 Minutes and Good Weekend Magazine

THE MPC YOUNG JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD, Paul Sakkal, The Age

BEST BUSINESS STORY IN ANY MEDIUM Sarah Danckert, The Age, ‘Bigger Than the Wolf of Wall Street’

CARTOON Matt Golding, The Sunday Age,

COVERAGE OF AN ISSUE OR EVENT The Age Online Team, www.theage.com.au,

FEATURE WRITING Nick McKenzie, Good Weekend, ‘One Last Mission’

FEATURES PHOTOGRAPH Christopher Hopkins, The Age, ‘I Want to hold her Hand’

THE GRANT HATTAM QUILL FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM Nick McKenzie & Chris Masters, Nine Network’s 60 Minutes, ‘War Crimes’ Judges’

INNOVATION IN JOURNALISM Rachael Dexter & Justin McManus, The Age, Documenting life in lockdown s and provide a generally hopeful view of lessons learned and the way ahead for lives disrupted by COVID-19.

THE KEITH DUNSTAN QUILL FOR COMMENTARY John Silvester, The Age, Naked City

SPORTS NEWS Sam McClure, The Age, Crows Camp Catastrophe

TV CAMERA WORK (CREATIVE) Travis Nemtsas, 9News, After Curfew

TV/VIDEO FEATURE (SHORT FORM) Christine Ahern, 9Network A Current Affair, Epping Disgrace

TV/VIDEO NEWS Christine Ahern, 9Network The Today Show, Quarantine Catastrophe

For more information:
Adrian Motte
Communications Manager, Nine
amotte@nine.com.au

Monday, 29 March, 2021