2015 Young Journalist of the Year

"Journalism can take heart that the next generation of industry leaders is ready to accept the challenges of our times," the judges said. "Entries in the 2015 Young Journalist of the Year Award demonstrated flexibility, multi-skilling, clever use of social media and innovation. One entrant developed a piece of software to create a tool that produced a good story by synthesising data bases."

Tom Minear

Tom Minear, of the Herald Sun, was the winner of the 2015 Melbourne Press Club Young Journalist of the Year Award.

Judges comments

Tom's persistence and contacts exposed the indentity and backgrounds of Islamic State supporters in Melbourne, including those with links to the men accused of plotting the Anzac Day bombing. Tom also secured the vision of Bill Shorten using his phone while driving and wrote an impressive narrative of the Christmas Day bushfires. Breaking news coverage of the Wyndham Lake tragedy and his help with a Herald Sun campaign for swimming lessons in schools completed a distinctive portfolio.

About the award

The Young Journalist of the Year receives a $1000 cash grant, return travel to the United States to attend the annual Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) conference and one year’s international membership of the IRE organisation. The Award is supported by the Wilnic Family Trust and Josephine Nicholls, widow of David Wilson, who headed The Age Insight team for 10 years.

Tom's acceptance speech


Tom Minear's winning entry


Highly Commended

Reid Butler (A Current Affair, Nine Network)

Other finalists

Liam Mannix (The Age); Therese Allaoui (Leader)


Read some of Tom's work online:

Bill Shorten fined for using phone while driving

Children die in car lake plunge at Wyndham Vale

Download pdfs of Tom's work

Tom Minear terror stories 1

Tom Minear terror stories 2

Tom Minear 2015 breaking stories

Tom Minear 2015 politics stories

Apply to join the Melbourne Press Club

Membership is $100 for journalists, $150 for associate members and $40 for students.

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