Two journalists
have shared the 2002 George Munster Award for Independent Journalism, presented
by the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (ACIJ) at the University
of Technology, Sydney (UTS) tonight.
Mark Corcoran,
from the ABC's Foreign Correspondent program, was recognised for his
story on the US military's alliance of convenience with Afghanistan's biggest
drug lord, Haji Bashar. Corcoran revealed that US forces had forged a secret
deal with Bashar, allowing him to continue his trade of opium and heroin in
return for turning in his former Taliban mates.
Corcoran and his
crew worked in hazardous conditions, in areas of Afghanistan where Taliban supporters
were in the majority.
West Australian
journalist Michael Southwell was the joint winner, for a series of articles
on the ongoing pollution from Alcoa's Wagerup alumina refinery.
Also recognised
was Natalie O'Brien, who was awarded an honorable mention for her story "Overboard
Incident 'never happened'", published in The Australian in November 2001. O'Brien's
story sparked an enquiry into the "Children Overboard" affair.
Leading investigative
reporter Liz Jackson presented Mark Corcoran and Michael Southwell with their
awards tonight, following the final of the George Munster Journalism Forums
— Investigative Journalism and the politics of truth.
The George Munster
Forums are held by the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism in conjunction
with ABC Radio National, and broadcast on Sunday at 5pm during October and the
first week of November.
Enquiries : Fran
Molloy, ACIJ Manager, 02 9514 2295
