The Herald picks up five awards as excellence in journalism celebrated

The Herald has claimed five prestigious awards at the Kennedy Foundation’s Excellence in Journalism awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to Australian media. The awards, held at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse on Friday evening, recognized a range of journalistic achievements spanning investigative reporting, photography, feature writing, and political commentary. The Herald was the most-nominated organization, receiving 20 entries and securing victories in five categories. Among the standout wins was Senior Sports Reporter Chris Barrett, who received the Outstanding Sport Reporting award for an investigation into rugby league’s top referee, Ashley Klein. The piece exposed Klein’s $400,000 gambling debt, a secret known to the sport’s governing body for four years despite ongoing participation in elite-level matches. Photographer Edwina Pickles was honored with the Outstanding News Photography award for her coverage of the Bondi Beach terror attack, which occurred in December. Her images captured the harrowing moments of the incident, providing critical visual documentation of the tragedy. Deputy State Topic Editor Michael Ruffles took home the Outstanding Three Headlines award for a series of articles that included the provocative title “The lying, the Ferrari wish and $400,000 in cash in the wardrobe.” This submission was linked to Chief Investigative Reporter Kate McClymont’s coverage of former bankrupt Warren Jack, whose courtroom statements were described as “fanciful” during a legal battle over unpaid debts. Cartoonist Matt Golding was awarded the Outstanding Cartoon prize for his satirical piece titled “Playing Trump,” which depicted a fictional board game involving world leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Jane Cadzow, a contributor to the Good Weekend section, earned the Outstanding Feature Writing award for her profile of Anthony Pratt, known as Australia’s “cardboard king.” As the CEO of Visy Packaging, one of the country’s wealthiest individuals, Pratt’s life and business practices were explored in depth in the piece, which appeared in both the Herald and The Age. Additionally, The Age’s veteran crime reporter John Silvester was recognized as the Outstanding Columnist for his regular Naked City column, which delved into the complexities of Australia’s criminal underworld. The Herald’s editor, Jordan Baker, expressed pride in the publication’s accomplishments, noting that the awards reflect the diverse talents within the newsroom. She emphasized the dedication to informing readers and highlighting local issues. The Kennedy Foundation noted that the 2026 awards saw a record number of entries, underscoring the vitality of Australian journalism. Chairperson Carl Dumbrell praised the recipients, stating that the awards represent a significant contribution to democratic discourse through quality reporting.