JULIA MEDEW
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2009 Young Australian Journalist of the Year The Age's health reporter, Julia Medew, was named the 2009 Young Australian Journalist of the Year. Medew won for an "outstanding series of medical stories which uncovered wrongdoing in the Victorian health system". The Walkley Advisory Board applauded Medew for the incisiveness, impact and public benefit of her stories, which included accounting fraud, medical negligence that contributed to the death of a young mother and a debate over organ transplants. The board said Medew's writing, the objective analysis behind it, and the empathy expressed, were compelling and a confirmation that print journalism remained a powerful force in news breaking. June 2009 |
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Medew wrote a series of stories exposing hospitals for manipulating figures so they were eligible for bonus funding and avoided penalties. Her persistence eventually forced the State Government, after months of inaction, to overhaul the funding system for hospitals and provide greater transparency for patients. The award comes a year after she won the Melbourne Press Club Quill Award for Young Journalist of the Year for her series on the Michael Neal HIV case. More than 100 journalists aged 26 and under submitted entries for the award. Fifteen were shortlisted. Walkley Advisory Board chairman Quentin Dempster praised the "exemplary standard". The Age editor-in-chief, Paul Ramadge, said: "This award is so very fitting. Julia has had such a wonderful year – breaking news, and writing with increasing authority across the paper. We are all so proud of her achievements." Medew will fly to the US and Britain to visit major media organisations in London, New York and Washington, with $5000 spending money. For more information visit: youngjournalistawards.org.au. |
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