JOURNALISTS RECOGNISED FOR EXCELLENCE
in Independent Journalism

Friday, 19 September 2003

Embargoed - 9:00pm

Press Release

Sharon Davis and Nick Franklin received the 2003 George Munster Award for Independent Journalism, presented by the Australian Centre for
Independent Journalism (ACIJ) at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) tonight.

Davis and Franklin won the award for their four-part radio documentary series "Crime and Punishment", broadcast on "Radio Eye" on ABC Radio National in October 2002.

The documentary series focused on the contentious "law and order auction" in electoral politics. The pair examined issues driving the debate in the lead-up to NSW 2003 state election. Davis and Franklin interviewed prisoners, advocacy groups and mental health practitioners
among others.

Highly commended for the award were Natalie O'Brien and Elisabeth Wynhausen for their series of stories "The Agony of the Sex Slave Trade", published in The Australian, between March and June 2003. O'Brien and Wynhausen's stories were an investigation into the death of 27-year-old Thai woman, Puangthong Simaplee, who was trafficked to Australia and forced into prostitution. The articles focused on the inadequacy of governmental responses to the issue.

The Wanda Jamrozik prize, awarded to the best Honours or graduate thesis/project within Journalism or Media Studies at the University of Technology, Sydney, was also presented. The winner of the prize was Mansour Razaghi for his radio story about the Australian government's secret deal with Iran on the return of Iranian refugees. The story was broadcast on Background Briefing, ABC Radio National, 8 June 2003, and was co-produced by Tom Morton.

Chris Nash, the Director of the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, presented the awards.

The George Munster Forums are held by the ACIJ in conjunction with ABC Radio National, and broadcast on Sunday at 5pm during September.

Enquiries: Fran Molloy, ACIJ Manager, (02) 9514 2295
Website: http://www.acij.uts.edu.au/