The Walkley Foundation has revoked the award presented to the Nine News journalists who published a series of reports about former federal Liberal National politician Andrew Laming, which have been found to be “false and damaging”.
For the first time in 66 years the prestigious Australian journalism body has withdrawn an award from its recipients.
Peter Fegan and Rebeka Powell were presented with the Television/Video News Reporting Walkley Award in February 2022 for three TV reports broadcast on 25 March, 26 March and 27 March 2021 about the former politician’s time as a federal member, the Australian Financial Review reported.
Laming initiated defamation proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Nine relating to the third report, “which centred around an allegation that a lewd photograph was taken of a young woman in her workplace without her knowledge or consent.”
Nine settled the defamation case on terms and apologised to Laming in September.
The Walkley Foundation also said in the statement on Tuesday that the Directors of the Walkley Foundation met to consider its advice and accepted a recommendation that the award be withdrawn.
“The Directors appreciate that parties settle defamation proceedings for any number of reasons. The Federal Court proceeding settling on confidential terms and the limited apology by Nine was not decisive by itself to justify the withdrawal of the Award, but in all the circumstances the Board resolved the award could not be maintained in respect of the third report.
“The first two reports in this series contained allegations that were very serious and raised important issues of public interest, but the award could not be maintained solely upon those allegations.
“Accordingly, the Directors have resolved to withdraw the award.
“The Directors also note that defamation proceedings are not an exhaustive fact finding inquiry, or the Foundation’s chosen vehicle through which to assess journalistic merit.
“The relevant parties have been advised. The 2021 award for Television/Video News Reporting will not be presented to either of the other finalists as the Walkley Judging Board did not select a runner-up.
“The Foundation makes no further comment on the decision to withdraw the award.”
Nine said in the same statement: “Serious allegations were made about Dr Laming in that report and he sued Nine because of it.
“9News has now seen material which indicates that the photograph Dr Laming took was not lewd in nature.
“9News unreservedly withdraws those allegations about Dr Laming and apologises to him and his family for the hurt and harm caused by the report,” he added.
Laming welcomed the decision by the Walkley Foundation. “The self-nominated [Walkley] Award gave credibility to false and damaging allegations that should never have been published,” in a statement issued on Laming’s behalf, as reported by the Australian Financial Review.
“The Walkley Foundation judging panel were aware of Dr Laming’s legal complaints yet proceeded to grant the award without making any inquiries of him about the substance of those complaints.
“The Walkley Foundation and other bodies should review their processes when legal claims have been made in relation to nominated publications,” the statement added.