Chris Vedelago, Sumeyya Ilanbey & Cameron Houston of The Age won the 2019 Coverage of an Issue or Event Quill for their investigation into toxic waste in Melbourne.
Judges' citation
This outstanding series highlighted the journalistic trio’s dogged refusal to accept official explanations. Their work broke exclusive stories about unprecedented toxic waste dumping and obfuscation by government agencies in Victoria. It carefully explained complex issues and humanised the health concerns of firefighters. The entry was of significant public benefit and prodded important change.
The winning entry
'New toxic factories and West Footscray factory fire link to same man', The Age, 2 January 2019
'Authorities failed to act on potential toxic waste disaster two years ago', The Age, 19 March 2019
'Massive illegal chemical dump found buried on bush block in country Victoria', The Age, 19 July 2019
'What happened to us in West Footscray? Firefighters call for answers after toxic fire', The Age, 7 November 2019
'Toxic waste dumpers face up to a decade in jail under new law', The Age, 14 June 2019
Highly commended
Clay Lucas & Benjamin Preiss, The Age, Wasted: Victoria’s Recycling Crisis
Other finalists
Ed Giles, Hamish MacDonald, Anthony Hawwa & Krystal Keller, Network Ten The Project, 'Hong Kong in Crisis'
Chris Vedelago, Sumeyya Ilanbey & Cameron Houston, The Age, 'Toxic Cowboys'
Cassie Zervos, 7NEWS, 'Victorian Bushfires'
Please note: the above link/s may not comprise the entirety of an entry submitted for consideration.