Herald shines in list of Walkley Award finalists

3 hours ago 3

By Staff reporters

October 16, 2025 — 1.58pm

A series of investigations into the sinister side of Sydney’s glitzy hospitality scene, a national examination of hidden misogyny in Australia’s medical system and an exposé on a controversial billionaire have been nominated as Herald finalists in the 70th Walkley Awards.

In total, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have 21 journalists nominated across 12 categories, making up the largest number of finalists among commercial media organisations.

One of the index images used for the Sex, Sleaze and Hospitality series.

Herald investigative reporter Eryk Bagshaw, court reporter Clare Sibthorpe and Good Food’s Bianca Hrovat have been nominated in the news reporting category for their exposé of Sydney’s hospitality scene.

The extensive reporting spanning multiple hospitality giants, including Merivale, Swillhouse and Bondi Icebergs, resulted in the resignations of high-profile hospitality figures and regulatory reforms.

Herald chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont, Age investigative reporter Nick McKenzie and The Australian Financial Review’s Max Mason were nominated in the news reporting category for their series of articles on WiseTech’s Richard White that led to his resignation as chief executive.

The Herald was nominated in the specialist beat reporting category for the medical misogyny series that had an overwhelming response from readers.

One of the index images used for the Medical Misogyny series.

Herald health editor Kate Aubusson, blogger Emily Kaine and the Age’s investigative reporter Aisha Dow uncovered a series of disturbing cases where women said they had been disbelieved, misdiagnosed, or wrongly admitted to hospital.

Herald photographer Steven Siewert was nominated for press photographer of the year and freelancer Flavio Brancaleone was nominated for a photographic essay.

Melissa Fyfe scored two nominations for her feature writing in Good Weekend.

Richard White and one of the women he was linked with, Kimberlee Cvitash.

Alan Moir was also listed as one of three finalists in cartoon of the year.

In the digital innovation category, Badiucao, Matthew Absalom-Wong, Patrick O’Neil and Tom McKendrick made the top three for “Watched, followed, threatened. Now an impostor is claiming to be me”.

The winners will be announced in Sydney on November 27.