The Australian Press Council supports the annual “Ossie Awards” run by the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia (JERAA). Each year, The Australian Press Council funds three prizes for outstanding work by journalism students:
The Australian Press Council Prize for Journalism Student of the Year ($750). This is for a student who has performed well in all academic subjects and who has also produced outstanding journalism as part of their coursework.
The Australian Press Council Undergraduate Prize for an essay on the topic of press freedom or media ethics ($200)
The Australian Press Council Postgraduate Prize for an essay on the topic of press freedom or media ethics ($200)
2021 winners
The Australian Press Council Prize for Journalism Student of the Year ($750 prize)
Winner – Reuben Spargo, Charles Sturt University.
"Reuben Spargo demonstrated a winning blend of skill, professionalism, initiative and confidence across a distinct portfolio of podcasting, screen interviewing, and writing. The Charles Sturt University student’s exceptional work highlighting online trolling and abuse of prominent women from politicians to journalists was one of several exemplary pieces."
Judges: Felicity-Ann Lewis of The Australian Press Council and Hedley Thomas, The Australian
The Australian Press Council Undergraduate Prize for an essay on the topic of media ethics ($200 prize)
Winner - Samantha O’Connell, Monash University
"Samantha discusses the challenges of celebrity and the issues throughout the essay with good use of references and examples. The challenges in arbitrating on who is a celebrity as there is no definition is a point well made as is the examination of the ethical dilemmas of ‘in the public interest’ and how this is delineated’ by journalists to keep celebrities safe from invasions of privacy which may ultimately affect their mental health."
Judges from The Australian Press Council
The Australian Press Council Postgraduate Prize for an essay on the topic of media ethics ($200 prize)
Winner – Grace Stranger, University of Technology, Sydney
"Grace’s essay on the findings of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody, and its recommendations about the media representations of Indigenous people, is a well-argued paper that makes strong points about the discrimination that results from a lack of understanding many media students have of indigenous people."
Judges from The Australian Press Council
Journalism departments in tertiary institutions interested in participating in this program are invited
to contact the Council or JERAA. Details about past winners can be found on the JERAA website at
https://jeraa.org.au/past-winners/. The “Ossies” are named after journalist Osmar S. White.