Liam Mannix of The Age has won the inaugural 2021 Excellence in Science, Medical and Health Reporting, Sponsored by University of Melbourne.

Judges' citation

Amid a competitive field of high quality nominations, Liam Mannix’s selection of COVID-19 reports stood out for their meticulously researched and crafted reporting and analysis on the most important story of the decade. Mannix’s reports challenged expectations that vaccines signalled the end of the pandemic, outlined the real impact of Delta on children and investigated the rise of new variants. These stories drew on an extensive range of local and international scientific and medical research and expertise, wove in included historical context, and offered clear and concise explanations of scientific developments. His stories consistently stood out in a saturated media environment.

The winning entry

'The end of the pandemic? More like the rebirth of the pandemic age', The Age, 13 March 2021

'Where are we at with COVID-19 variants – and what are they?', The Age, 24 March 2021

'How does the Delta variant of COVID-19 affect children?', The Age, 27 August 2021

Highly commended

Chris Vedelago, The Age, 'Doubts over shaken baby science used to convict'

Other finalists

Alexis Daish, A Current Affair, 'The Shadow Pandemic'

Please note: the above link/s may not comprise the entirety of an entry submitted for consideration.