Journalist Mario Christodoulou has been recognised at this year’s prestigious 61st Walkley Awards for his work on ‘Money For Nothing’.
Christodoulou, together with his colleagues Adele Ferguson and Klaus Toft, was awarded under the Business Journalism and Investigative Journalism categories.
The joint groundbreaking investigative report by Fairfax Newspapers and ABC TV Four Corners took six months to complete, and focused on the insurance arm of the Commonwealth Bank, CommInsure.
Aired in March earlier this year, the report came just two years after the institution was exposed for ripping off its customers in a financial advice scandal, and revealed the tactics being employed by the company to avoid necessary payouts.
The gala event took place at the stunning Plaza Ballroom of Brisbane’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, where more than 600 journalists and media personalities gathered. Host for the night was Sky News’ David Speers.
Making up the Walkley Award Board judging panel was a host of highly-qualified and experienced journalists including chair Kate McClymont from The Sydney Morning Herald, deputy chair Angelos Frangopoulos from the Australian News Channel, Jonathan Richards from Google Creative Lab, Sandra Sully from TEN Eyewitness News, and the Nine Network’s Lisa Wilkinson, among others.
“The judging process is what gives the Walkley Awards its credibility,” Ms McClymont said. “The judges are senior journalists − people who know the skill, quick wit, depth of research and analysis, resourcefulness and even physical courage that it takes to create the best journalism.”
The Gold Walkley was awarded to freelance photographer Andrew Quilty for his extraordinary body of work, ‘The Man on the Operating Table’, based in Kabul. This is not Mr Quilty’s first Walkley however, having received six since moving to Afghanistan in 2013.
To view the full list of Walkley Award winners, visit walkleys.com