Despite the immense time and resource pressure on young journalists in an ever tightening news climate, that competitive pressure is consistently producing diamonds. After nearly four decades in media, this year I’m genuinely impressed by the standard of young regional Journalists in SA, which is healthy and heartening. All entries exhibited good work and the difference between most individuals was relatively small. The better entries revealed the multi-skilling of today’s young Journalists, who not only write well, but who also take good photos, which complement and strengthen their work.

For the third year in a row, it was difficult to separate the top four, and several others were very close behind. The entries reflected an understanding of the communities which the individual Journalists serve and the issues which affect those communities. It’s encouraging to see the standards being achieved and it will be that commitment to higher standards which will continue to separate the best young Journalists from their peers, as their careers develop.

Deserving an honourable mention in third place is the impressive Jack Church, who at 18 years and just completed his second year at Deakin University, is doing fine work for the Fleurieu Sun/The Times. His entry reflected his varied and solid reporting of complex issues. His own Editor says ‘Jack is beyond his years in maturity and will one day, very soon, be an editor of his own newspaper. He is that capable’.

Reflecting on what a competitive year it has been, it was impossible to separate equal second place winners Jem Nash and Charlotte Varcoe. Both are doing excellent work for their respective papers. Jem Nash shows strong attention to detail but is clearly fearless and versatile with his reporting. He ranges effortlessly between hard news, health and sport with his coverage. Charlotte Varcoe continues to grow into a seasoned Journalist and has capably and sensitively covered issues like domestic violence, through to concerning environmental stories. She clearly challenges her talent and illustrates her stories with excellent photography.

In the end, very little separated Jem Nash and Charlotte Varcoe from the overall winner.

The Best Young Journalist of the year is Sophie Conlon.

She produces wonderful work for Limestone Coast Today. Her Editor says ‘She throws herself into every story, and promotes her interviewees to trust her and open up to her. Sophie is not afraid to ask challenging questions in the name of true, accurate reporting and is not only open to feedback on her work, but acts on it’. Her reporting on International Women’s day, which featured the Limestone Coast’s most senior Police Officer, Superintendent Cheryl Brown, was a stand out. Sophie upholds strong editorial values, which underpin her good journalism.

In the words of her Editor, ‘Sophie Conlon is an excellent journalist and is well placed to be leading an editorial team in the future’.

Sophie Conlon demonstrates a standard of work which makes her a very worthy winner of Young Journalist of the year for 2024.

Leigh Radford OAM

President, Rural Media & Communicators SA/NT