Written by Sophie Babic

Last week, the 2025 Kennedy Awards recognised the very best in Australian journalism. Now in its 14th year, the event has become one of the country’s most prestigious media honours.

Established in 2012 and run by the Kennedy Foundation in memory of renowned crime reporter Les Kennedy, the awards celebrate excellence across the industry. With 37 categories spanning everything from investigative reporting and Indigenous affairs to photography, sport and commentary.

From groundbreaking exposés to powerful storytelling, this year’s winners showcased the critical role of the media in holding power to account and amplifying important issues.

With every major media and medium outlet represented, here are some of the standout stories that captured Australia’s attention:

Scoop of the Year

Peter Badel and Jacquelin Magnay – Paris Olympics: Boxing’s Gender War – News Corp Australia

Set against the background of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games clash between Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori and Algeria’s Imane Khelif, the story highlighted the growing tension and controversy surrounding gender eligibility in Olympic boxing. Hamori’s provocative social media post and bold commentary of her opponent triggered the article and explored how athletes are responding to the inclusion of competitors flagged for XY chromosomes amid ongoing safety and fairness concerns.

Outstanding Reporting on the Environment

Michael Bachelard and Charlotte Grieve – Dollars in the dust: Is outback scrub really saving the planet? –  The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald

The Fairfax story explored Australia’s massive investment in Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR), a carbon offset scheme paying farmers to let native scrub regrow. It’s reshaped outback economics, turning marginal land into a carbon market goldmine. But while HIR now supplies nearly half of Australia’s carbon credits, critics, including scientists and former policymakers, argue the scheme is deeply flawed.

Outstanding Investigative Reporting

9Network Team – Building Bad – The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes, 9Network

The Nine Network’s explosive probe exposed the deep entanglement of the CFMEU with underworld figures on public projects. After almost two decades of reporting by Nick McKenzie and colleagues, the revelations led to the dramatic resignation of CFMEU boss John Setka, federal court hearings, and widespread calls for reform across the construction industry.

Outstanding Consumer Affairs

Adele Ferguson, Chris Gillett and Ben Butler – Betrayal of Trust – Four Corners, ABC

This powerful investigation by Australia’s national public broadcaster uncovered systemic failures in early childhood education and care. Six months of reporting revealed how corporate interests and profit-driven agendas have compromised the values of education and care, exposing the serious consequences for children, families, and educators.

Individual honours

This year, Nick McKenzie of The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, AFR and 60 Minutes as Journalist of the Year, recognising his pursuit of truth through decades of high-impact investigations. It’s the third time Nick has taken home this award, a testament to his consistent track record of uncovering major national stories.

Michelle Grattan was celebrated with the Lifetime Achievement Award, a fitting tribute to her extraordinary more than 40-year career and contribution to Australian political journalism. One of the country’s most respected political commentators, Grattan has reported for The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Conversation, and was the first woman to become editor of a metropolitan daily newspaper in Australia.

The full list of winners can be found here.