Walkley Mag

Seven Australian journalists have been selected to take part in the 2026 Masters & McKenzie Investigative Journalism Fellowship. The program was launched in 2025, named for multi-Walkley Award-winning investigative journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie, who were recognised in 2023 with the Walkley Honour For Media Freedom for their ongoing investigative stories about Ben Roberts-Smith across more than six years.

As guest of honour at our 2026 Mid-Year Media Prizes, Gold Walkley-winning political editor of news.com.au, Samantha Maiden, shared her top ten lessons for journalism. We’re delighted to be able to bring them to you here, but please note we do not endorse starting one’s Walkley entry at 11.30pm on the night of the deadline. 1. Sit next to the smartest and most interesting person in the room The best lessons in journalism come from observing other journalists.

18 June, 2026 Riley Walter, a crime reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald, has been named the 2026 John B Fairfax Family Young Australian Journalist of the Year at the Walkley Foundation’s Mid-Year Media Prizes in Sydney. He was selected from the winners of eight categories for young journalists aged 28 and younger.