Matilda Boseley and Riley Walter Win Top Prizes at 2026 Walkley Mid-Year Media Awards

Guardian Australia’s Matilda Boseley’s political explainer series Parliament-Tea was recognised at the 2026 Walkley mid-year media prizes, winning the young journalist award for innovative storytelling.

The high-profile, multiplatform political explainer series, in which Boseley explained machinations in Australian parliament over a cup of tea, engaged a younger generation in national policy debate. The category recognises journalism that breaks standard structural moulds to reach and inform audiences through dynamic digital platforms and creative production formats.

Boseley was recognised for her fast-paced commentary, clear graphic breakdowns and accessible short-form video storytelling, stripping complex federal legislation, budget measures and shifting party dynamics into engaging visual journalism.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Riley Walter took home the top accolade of the night, named the John B Fairfax family young Australian journalist of the year.

Walter also won the short-form journalism and specialist and beat reporting categories for his series of investigations, including a staff ring that allegedly defrauded the NAB of $150m.

The ABC Four Corners team of Louise Milligan, Mary Fallon, Mayeta Clark and Lara Sonnenschein won the women’s leadership in media prize for Scarred, a seven-month long investigation into one of Melbourne’s most prominent gynaecologists which revealed he repeatedly carried out unnecessary surgeries.

The ABC was also recognised in the Our Watch award for excellence in reporting on violence against women, with Claudia Long, Chantelle Al-Khouri and Hannah Meagher winning for an investigation which uncovered hundreds of allegations of sexual harassment and assault by driving instructors.

In the science and environment reporting category, the ABC’s Tom Hartley was recognised for his multiplatform investigation into the a rise of B6 toxicity cases from over-the-counter supplements, which led to a crackdown by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Nina Funnell won the freelance journalist of the year prize for her news.com.au campaign, Keep Counselling Confidential. The investigation campaigned to protect the legal privacy of assault survivors, and built on Funnell’s previous advocacy journalism in this area, including her Walkley-winning #LetHerSpeak campaign and book, which successfully overturned state victim-gag laws across Australia.

The ABC also won the media diversity Australia prize with Patrick Abboud and the team of Compass winning for ‘Surviving Gaza, seeking truth’, which highlighted the work of Palestinian journalists.

In the arts journalism and arts criticism category, The Australian’s arts editor, Tim Douglas, was recognised for his comprehensive body of work over the year.

Under the Young Australian Journalist categories, Pedestrian reporter Simran Pasricha won the long-form feature-writing category for her investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour levelled at an Australian pop star, which included interviews with many of his alleged victims.

The short-form journalism category was awarded to the Sydney Morning Herald’s Emily Kowal, for her story on digital predators within the online gaming environment Roblox.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Anthony Segaert won the public service journalism award for his investigation into Parramatta council.

ABC reporter Charlotte Wilkes won both the regional and community affairs reporting prize and was named student journalist of the year for a trio of stories run on ABC online and Stateline.

Reflecting on the calibre of this year’s entries, Walkley Foundation chief executive, Shona Martyn, commended the winners for their tenacity and deep commitment to public interest reporting.

“In a time of great change in the media, we are ever more reliant on journalists, broadcasters and photojournalists with a nose for news and an ability to interpret and analyse key issues facing Australians today,” she said in a statement.

“At an event where we shine a particular spotlight on the next generation of journalists through awards and scholarships, there is much to be encouraged about.”