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SBS journo wins top prize

Dateline’s Sophie McNeill has been named the Young Australian Journalist of the Year by the Walkley Foundation and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

She was awarded the winner of the Television category in the inaugural awards for her story Palestine – Divided It Falls.

“I wholeheartedly agree with the award organisers that the future of journalism is in safe hands with entries the calibre of those submitted by Sophie and the other award winners,” SBS News Director Paul Cutler said.

“Sophie is a deserved winner and the award is recognition of her talent, tenacity and commitment to quality journalism.”

Press Release:
Dateline journalist Sophie McNeill was last night named the Young Australian Journalist of the Year at the inaugural awards ceremony, an initiative of the Walkley Foundation and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

Sophie was awarded the winner of the Television category for her Dateline story Palestine – Divided It Falls before beating off the winners of the print, radio and online categories to clinch the overall award for journalists under the age of 26.

Around 150 journalists submitted entries for the Young Journalist of the Year awards and the 15 shortlisted entries were then judged by members of the Walkley Advisory Board before last night’s awards ceremony.

“I wholeheartedly agree with the award organisers that the future of journalism is in safe hands with entries the calibre of those submitted by Sophie and the other award winners,” SBS Director of News and Current Affairs, Paul Cutler said.

“Sophie is a deserved winner and the award is recognition of her talent, tenacity and commitment to quality journalism.”

Sophie, 23, began her career at SBS as a cadet in 2004 before joining the Dateline team as a Video Journalist in 2005.

She was a Walkley Award finalist for Best Camera in 2007. Sophie is currently living in Beirut.

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