Media Release 1 February 2017 - Australian Press Council

MEDIA RELEASE | 1 February 2017

Call for nominations for 2017 Press Freedom Medal

The Australian Press Council is calling for nominations for its Press Freedom Medal, to be awarded to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment or service to the cause of press freedom.

The winner will be announced and a presentation made at a special ceremony in Sydney on or around World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2017.

In 2016, Press Freedom Medals were awarded at the Press Council’s 40th Anniversary Conference to leading investigative journalists Kate McClymont (Fairfax Media) and Paul Maley (The Australian), whose recognition was very well received.

"It is entirely fitting that we honour people who have made important contributions to press freedom and exemplify everything that a free press is about," said the Council’s Chair, Professor David Weisbrot. “The purpose of the Australian Press Council is to promote responsible journalism that informs the Australian public and supports effective democratic institutions. We do this by setting high standards of practice, handling complaints from the public and advocating for free speech, press freedom and open government.”

Nominees can be journalists or editors or other individuals such as members of the legal profession, educators or whistleblowers whose work has supported press freedom or cast light upon important issues in Australian society in a way fully consistent with the Press Council’s Standards of Practice.

Nominations may be made by members of the public, any member of the Council and its Secretariat, or any publication that is a member of the Press Council. The nomination period commences on 1 February 2017 and closes on 1 March 2017.

A Press Council subcommittee will shortlist no more than three nominees. Council members will then select the appropriate recipients. The Press Council may decide to make no award in a given year.

The Council had awarded Press Freedom Medals prior to 2016, but the honour was reserved for people affiliated with the organisation. It was decided last year to revitalise the award and open it up more broadly.

For more information about the Press Freedom Medal, contact the Director of Research and Communications by email at michael.rose@presscouncil.org.au or by telephone: 0451 978 276. Submit nominations, along with reasons why the individual should be considered for the award, to standards@presscouncil.org.au