Liam Petterson of University of Melbourne won the 2019 Student Journalist of the Year award for ‘IBM Australia to roll out neurodiversity program, hiring people with autism to fill variety of IT roles’.
Judges' citation
Liam Pettersen’s story showed excellent news instincts and initiative. While interning with ABC Radio Ballarat, Liam spotted the potential for a story in a job ad for IBM. The company was seeking up to ten candidates with autism for their neurodiversity program. Liam demonstrated strong research and reporting skills to craft a human story which attracted national attention.
The winning entry
'IBM Australia to roll out neurodiversity program, hiring people with autism to fill variety of IT roles', ABC News, 2 April 2019
Breakfast radio package
Other finalists
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Freia Lily, RMIT, Interview with Wilma and Meg Curnow For National Dementia Awareness Month
Julia Montesano, La Trobe University, Revealed: Blues Star Headlines Small AFLW Groups’ Pay and Conditions Fight
Ciaran O’Mahony, University of Melbourne, The Scottish Explorer Who Became The Butcher Of Gippsland
Andrea Thiis-Evensen, Monash University, ‘It Was The Worst Day Of Our Lives’: Bereaved Parents Say We Must Talk About Youth Suicide