Judging the Young Journalist of the year was very challenging and the results decided by the smallest of margins, so much so, that any of the top four could be a very worthy winner. That says a great deal about the quality of the entries and it wasn’t just confined to the top places, as it was very even across the entire field. What should encourage all entrants this year is that in reality, very little separated the lowest score from the highest. Perhaps the pressure to fill column space and the constant deadlines is actually producing diamonds with the state’s youngest country newspaper Journalists! Whatever the reason, their Editors must be rejoicing in the work being produced by the youngest on their teams and the contribution that is making to their papers. This year is without doubt the strongest in this category and that is something to celebrate. These young Journalists are displaying a commitment to producing news and stories which are enriching for the communities they serve. In an age when all forms of Journalism are under siege for various reasons, that’s a surprising and very encouraging result.

To the results and again this year, Charlotte Varcoe from the Border Watch was amongst the head of the field, producing strong work which could have easily seen her again in the top three. Liam Wormald from the Eyre Peninsula Advocate was third placed by the barest of margins. With only two years of experience, Liam displays a professional maturity with his diverse portfolio of entries. He recognises news value and the bigger picture in his reporting, but balances that beautifully with sensitive human interest. He’s well researched, communicates clearly and compliments his writing with good photography.

The runner up is Mahala Gainer from The Bunyip at Gawler. Like her peers, she has a keen news sense, an innate curiosity and energy to drive success. She is creative in her work, connects strongly with people and aspires to drive positive change through good Journalism. Her Editor recognises her skills and the speed of her development as a Journalist, saying ‘she shows high levels of care about the people in her stories but does not shy away from pieces that are critical of those in power’.

This year’s Young Journalist of the year is Kaitlyn Gibbons from the Murray Valley Standard. She has a very keen news sense and that’s clear from the number of front page stories she achieves. That comes from a strong work ethic and her growing capacity to be an insightful storyteller. Kaitlyn’s portfolio of entries was diverse, covering issues from drought, to floods, sport and international trade. Kaitlyn is clearly highly valued by her Editor, who appreciates her initiative, professionalism and the growth of her skills. She writes with insight and understanding, producing stories which really connect with her local community. She is a very deserving overall winner and clearly has a strong future in Journalism, to levels she may not even yet dreamt of achieving. Congratulations Kaitlyn.

Leigh Radford OAM

ABC Broadcaster

President of Rural Media & Communicators SA/NT