New award recognises excellence in reporting on disability

The Victorian Coalition Government and Melbourne Press Club have partnered to establish a new Quill Award to recognise journalistic excellence in the reporting of people with disability.

Announcing the award on the eve of the 21st International Day of People with Disability,Minister for Disability Services and Reform Mary Wooldridge said the award acknowledges the key role that the media plays in shaping community understanding of disability.

“The Quill Awards are the premier media awards in Victoria and this new category recognises the important role of journalists to report with sensitivity and care about people with disability and the issues they may face,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“The Victorian Government Quill Award for reporting on disability will be an ongoing award to encourage journalistic excellence.”

Ms Wooldridge said the announcement of the new Quill Award coincides with the results of the Victorian Government’s 2013 Report it Right and WIN! competition, which challenges tertiary journalism, communication and media students to consider how to best report on stories about people with disability.

“We received an overwhelming response to this year’s Report it Right and WIN! competition with students across the state submitting high quality entries,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“I am very pleased to announce that the winner of the 2013 Report it Right and WIN! competition is Matilda Marozzi from RMIT, who wrote an engaging article about accessible housing and is a deserving winner.”

Runners-up were Anna Brasier from Victoria University, Isabelle Lane from Monash University and Olivia Coburn from Monash University.